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Canada Conducts Third Express Entry Draw This Month for PNP Applicants
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited 536 candidates to apply for permanent residency in the latest Express Entry draw focused on the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
To be eligible, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 736 and must have submitted their Express Entry profile before 2:02 PM UTC on March 12, 2025.
Express Entry Draws List of 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| March 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 |
| March 6 | French Language Proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| February 19 | French Language Proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Third Express Entry Draw in March
This marks the third Express Entry draw this month. Prior to this, IRCC held a French-language proficiency draw on March 6 and another PNP-specific draw on March 3.
Express Entry Trends in 2025
This year, Express Entry draws have alternated between categories such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), PNP, and French-language proficiency. IRCC has also conducted larger draws, inviting thousands of candidates. The most recent CEC draw on February 5 issued 4,000 ITAs with a CRS cutoff of 521. Additionally, the French-language proficiency draws on February 19 and March 6 each invited over 4,000 candidates.
IRCC’s 2025 Priority Categories
On February 27, IRCC introduced education as a new focus area in its list of priority categories for the year. The updated priority categories include:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- Trade occupations
- Education occupations
IRCC reaffirmed its commitment to inviting candidates with Canadian work experience and strong French-language skills.
How Express Entry Works
Express Entry is Canada’s immigration system that manages applications for three key economic immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The system ranks candidates based on the CRS, which evaluates factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. PNP nominees receive an additional 600 CRS points, making them more competitive in draws.
Candidates may also earn extra points for having family in Canada or applying with a spouse or partner. Those with the highest CRS scores receive invitations to apply in future draws.
Upcoming Changes in Express Entry
Currently, candidates can gain additional CRS points for job offers under arranged employment. However, IRCC has announced plans to remove these extra points in spring 2025.