Express Entry 334th Round Draw: 455 Invitations Issued for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Candidates, Minimum CRS Score of 802
On February 4, IRCC issued 455 invitations to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the 334th round of Express Entry. The draw requires applicants to submit their profiles before the deadline (by 19:39 UTC on December 7, 2024), with a CRS score of no less than 802.
Since July 2024, IRCC has gradually adjusted its draw strategy, focusing more on candidates who meet the criteria for PNP, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and other specific categories. This strategy adjustment aligns with the federal annual immigration plan and aims to attract applicants with relevant professional skills and language advantages in Canada. In 2025, IRCC is particularly focused on priority categories, including healthcare, skilled trades, and French language proficiency, to ensure that newly introduced talents can better serve the country’s economic and social development.
Overview of the Express Entry System
As Canada’s primary economic immigration management platform, the Express Entry system integrates the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program. Applicants must first submit their profiles online, which are evaluated based on the CRS. The CRS score is based on factors such as the applicant’s education, work experience, language proficiency, and other criteria. Candidates with higher CRS scores have a greater chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the draw and can submit a complete permanent resident (PR) application within 60 days after receiving an ITA.
The application process can be broken down into the following seven steps:
- Confirm eligibility: Understand and ensure eligibility for one of the Express Entry-managed programs.
- Prepare documents: Complete language tests, collect educational credentials, and other required documents.
- Submit the candidate profile: Register and submit the personal profile on the IRCC website, where the system will assign a CRS score.
- Wait in the candidate pool: After submission, applicants enter the pool and await selection based on IRCC’s draw strategy.
- Submit complete application: After receiving an ITA, applicants must submit their complete PR application documents (including police certificates, proof of funds, medical reports, etc.) within 60 days.
- Biometrics collection: If required, visit a designated location to collect biometric information.
- Approval and landing: After IRCC processes the application and approves it, the applicant will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and the corresponding visa, and must complete the final landing procedures in Canada.
Through this draw and the subsequent improved application process, IRCC has not only optimized the mechanism for attracting skilled workers but also injected new vitality into Canada’s economic development and population structure optimization. Experts believe that this trend in the draws signals precise adjustments in Canada’s immigration policy, and more eligible applicants will have the opportunity to achieve their Canadian dream.
2025 Express Entry Invitation Summary
| Date | Invitation Category | Invitations Issued | Minimum CRS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 5, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4000 | 521 |
| February 4, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4000 | 527 |
| January 8, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1350 | 542 |
| January 7, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Canada Express Entry Latest Draw: 345 Invitations Issued to Provincial Nominee Program Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 345 invitations to apply to Provincial Nominee Program candidates through the Express Entry system on October 14, 2025. This draw required candidates to have a minimum CRS score of 778 points and to have created their Express Entry profile before July 17, 2025. This marks the 19th Provincial Nominee draw conducted by IRCC this year and the third draw in October.
10/15/2025
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Issues 862 Invitations, Focusing on Healthcare and Caregiving Sectors
On October 9, 2025, Manitoba issued invitations to apply for provincial nomination to 862 candidates through the Skilled Worker stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw was conducted through two main pathways: the occupation-specific Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway and the employer-driven Skilled Worker Overseas selection. Notably, this draw continued to prioritize candidates under the Temporary Public Policy (TPP), with 203 candidates also holding valid federal Express Entry profiles.
10/14/2025
Alberta Conducts Three Provincial Nominee Draws in One Week, Issuing 1,324 Invitations
Between October 1 and October 7, 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held three separate provincial nomination draws, issuing a total of 1,324 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Among them, the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) accounted for the majority, with 1,003 invitations, maintaining its lead as the province’s largest channel of nominations. The Accelerated Tech Pathway and Priority Sectors (Construction) streams, both aligned with the federal Express Entry system, targeted applicants in high-demand occupations. In addition, the Government of Alberta received an increase of 1,528 nomination spots in September, raising its total 2025 allocation to 6,403. As of October 10, the province had issued 4,228 nominations, leaving 2,175 available for the remainder of the year.
10/13/2025
Manitoba Successfully Secures Immigration Allocation Increase, Adding Nearly 1,500 Nomination Spots
Manitoba has successfully secured an increase in its 2025 immigration nomination allocation from the federal government, gaining an additional 1,489 nomination spots, bringing the province's total allocation for this year to 6,239. This adjustment will enable Manitoba to nominate more candidates to obtain permanent residence and settle in the province before the end of 2025. This allocation increase represents a partial recovery following the significant reduction in provincial nominee program allocations nationwide at the beginning of 2025.
10/11/2025
British Columbia Receives Additional 1,254 Provincial Nominee Allocations, Will Process Backlogged International Post-Graduate Applications
The Government of British Columbia announced on October 2, 2025, that the province's Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has received an additional 1,254 nomination allocations from the federal government. This brings British Columbia's total allocation for 2025 from 4,000 to 5,254. The provincial government stated that it will prioritize using these additional allocations to process backlogged International Post-Graduate (IPG) stream applications from 2024, while continuing to focus on attracting healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and high economic impact candidates.
10/10/2025
IRCC Announces 2025 Permanent Residence Application Processing Plan
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently disclosed its 2025 permanent residence (PR) application processing plan in its latest Minister Transition Binder. According to the document, the immigration department will not clear all categories of application backlogs this year, but will instead adopt a categorized processing strategy. Express Entry-related programs, community pilot programs, and Quebec's skilled worker pathways will process all pending applications, while other economic immigration programs will only process a portion of their backlogs, with processing ratios ranging from 2% to 35%.
10/09/2025
Newfoundland and Labrador Issues 217 Provincial Nominee and Atlantic Immigration Invitations
On September 26, 2025, the Newfoundland and Labrador Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism issued a total of 217 immigration application invitations through the Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This marks the first time since the province implemented an Expression of Interest system for both immigration programs in February of this year that the number of Atlantic Immigration Program invitations exceeded those for the Provincial Nominee Program. To date, the province has issued a cumulative total of 2,821 provincial immigration invitations in 2025.
10/08/2025
IRCC Issues Over 4,000 Invitations, Benefiting French-Language Category Applicants
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system on October 6, 2025, specifically targeting candidates with French-language proficiency. This marks the second draw in October and one of the largest French-language category draws this year. To date, the Express Entry system has issued over 70,000 invitations in 2025, with French-language category candidates receiving the highest number of invitations.
10/07/2025
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Issues 485 Invitations to Skilled Workers and Entrepreneurs
On October 2, 2025, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) conducted another round of draws for the year, issuing a total of 485 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination to candidates across two major immigration categories. The Skills Immigration category issued 474 invitations, marking the first reopening of this category since May 8, 2025. The Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream issued 11 invitations, continuing the province's policy direction of attracting entrepreneurial talent.
10/06/2025
Canada Targets U.S. H-1B Visa Applicants, Plans New Immigration Pathway
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently confirmed that the federal government is studying targeted measures to attract technical professionals affected by the new U.S. H-1B visa policy. This move comes in response to President Trump's sudden announcement of a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas. Canada previously launched a work permit program specifically for H-1B holders in July 2023, with 10,000 spots filling up in less than 48 hours, demonstrating strong market demand. Immigration experts and business groups are urging Canada to seize this opportunity, while also noting the need to streamline permanent residence application processes to truly retain talent.
10/04/2025
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