Express Entry: More PNP candidates invited in latest draw
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
The immigration department issued 202 ITAs in a draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have:
A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 788; and
Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 11:50 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on 5 June 2025.
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025
DateDraw TypeNumber of ITAsCut-off CRS score
July 21Provincial Nominee Program202788
July 8Canadian Experience Class3,000518
July 7Provincial Nominee Program356750
June 26Canadian Experience Class3,000521
June 23Provincial Nominee Program503742
June 12Canadian Experience Class3,000529
June 10Provincial Nominee Program125784
June 4Healthcare and social services500504
June 2Provincial Nominee Program277726
May 13Canadian Experience Class500547
May 12Provincial Nominee Program511706
May 2Healthcare and social services 500510
May 1Education1,000479
April 28Provincial Nominee Program421727
April 14Provincial Nominee Program825764
March 21French language proficiency7,500379
March 17Provincial Nominee Program536736
March 6French language proficiency4,500410
March 3Provincial Nominee Program 725667
February 19French language proficiency 6,500428
February 17Provincial Nominee Program 646750
February 5Canadian Experience Class4,000521
February 4Provincial Nominee Program455802
January 23 Canadian Experience Class4,000527
January 8Canadian Experience Class1,350542
January 7Provincial Nominee Program471793
Today’s Express Entry draw is the third of the month, and follows a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on 8 July, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on 7 July, and another CEC draw on 26 June.
Thus far, IRCC has issued 45,403 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2025.
Express Entry draws this year have primarily focused on PNP draws, with the remainder of Express Entry ITAs dedicated to CEC candidates, candidates with French-language proficiency, and those in the Express Entry priority occupation categories.
Draw TypeNumber of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)13
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)7
French-language proficiency3
Healthcare and social services2
Education1
More recently, the Express Entry system has followed a pattern of PNP and CEC draws held every two weeks.
Is 40 years of age too old to immigrate through Express Entry?
Age is one of the factors that impact your CRS score. Candidates aged 20 to 29 receive the highest age-related points (110). From age 30 onward, the points gradually decline each year, reaching 0 at age 45. For example, at age 40, you receive 50 points for age, while at 45 or older, you receive none.
Although this scoring system lowers your age-related points after 40, it doesn’t mean your chances through Express Entry are gone. Two important pathways remain available and competitive for older applicants: category-based draws and provincial nominations.
Qualifying for a Category-Based Draw
Category-based draws offer a way to receive an ITA even with a lower CRS score. These draws focus on specific skills, work experience, or language ability that Canada wants to prioritize. For example, the lowest CRS cut-off for category-based draws in 2025 so far has been 379, compared to over 520 for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws.
IRCC has established six current categories for these draws. The categories serve as filters for candidates in the Express Entry pool, sorting them first by their occupational experience or language proficiency, before ranking them on their CRS scores (a process that tends to yield lower CRS cut-offs).
For more information on using category-based draws to immigrate through Express Entry, visit our dedicated article on the topic.
Securing a Provincial Nomination
Another highly effective strategy for Express Entry candidates over 40 is pursuing a provincial nomination through a PNP. All provinces and territories except Quebec and Nunavut participate in the PNP and offer over 80 pathways to permanent residence (PR).
If you receive a nomination through an Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) stream, you will gain an additional 600 CRS points. This bonus almost guarantees that you will surpass the CRS cut-off in an upcoming draw and receive an ITA.
More information on enhanced PNP streams and other immigration options for candidates over the age of 40, can be found here.
