The Government of Canada invited 1,070 candidates in the federal Express Entry pool to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a draw held on February 2.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) only invited Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in this draw. 

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score needed to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the latest Express Entry draw was 674.

IRCC uses the Express Entry system to manage applications for those seeking permanent residence (PR) through Canada’s three main economic-class programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

When travel restrictions were introduced at the onset of the COVID-19, Canada moved away from all program draws and started holding mostly program-specific draws, alternating between PNP and CEC-specific draws. However, since mid-September 2021, Express Entry invitations rounds have been focused on PNP candidates only. 

Although the Canadian government has not yet indicated when it intends resuming draws for CEC or FSWP, FSTP candidates, it has nonetheless affirmed its commitment to continuing to hold PNP-specific express entry draws.

How do I immigrate as a provincial nominee through Express Entry?

Candidates start by creating an Express Entry profile after which they are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This score is based on age, education, work experience, language proficiency as well as other human capital factors. CRS points can be given to one person or to a couple if they are applying together. 

PNPs are operated by the provinces and territories themselves and allow them to nominate candidates who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to their local economies.  

Each province and territory tailors their PNP "streams" to the current needs on their territory. Provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward and  Saskatchewan have streams that are ed with the federal Express Entry system. This means that the province can search the Express Entry pool for candidates who meet a set of specific criteria and who have declared their interest in settling on its territory.

Candidates who receive a provincial nomination from a province automatically earn an additional 600 CRS score points. 

The highest-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool are then invited to apply for permanent residence in Express Entry draws.

Once a candidate receives an invitation to apply for permanent residence (PR), they must submit their application to IRCC, which will then make a final decision. 

Complete our FREE Assessment form to see if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada