The first draw after recent changes to Canada’s Express Entry immigration selection system came into force has seen only those candidates with a provincial nomination certificate invited to apply for permanent residence. A provincial nomination is not required in order to enter the Express Entry pool or to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

This is the first time in the history of Express Entry that candidates with a provincial nomination certificate, issued by a province through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), have been singled out in a program-specific draw.

The only other previous program-specific draw took place in February, 2015, when candidates in the pool eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) were issued an ITA.

Every other Express Entry draw has seen candidates invited to apply based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score only, without regard to which immigration program they may be eligible under. At the recent Annual Immigration Law Summit, held in Toronto, representatives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicated that program-specific draws may take place.

In the latest draw, the 48th in total since Express Entry was first launched in January, 2015, a total of 559 candidates in the pool were issued an ITA. The minimum CRS score required was 786.

Given that candidates who obtain a nomination from a province are awarded 600 points under the CRS (out of a possible total of 1,200), it follows that candidates with core CRS scores as low as 186 were issued an ITA in this latest draw. Core CRS indicates a candidate’s score without the additional points for a provincial nomination or a qualifying job offer.

This reality may give candidates — as well as other individuals thinking of creating an Express Entry profile — real hope of achieving their Canadian immigration objectives. IRCC plans to welcome around 51,000 new immigrants through the PNPs next year, a seven percent increase on the target for 2016. This is in addition to the target of 71,700 to come to Canada through the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Canada Federal Skilled Trades Class, and the Canadian Experience Class in 2017. It is expected that many provinces will continue to launch or re-open dedicated PNP streams for candidates in the Express Entry pool throughout 2017.

With a provincial nomination, an Express Entry candidates gets a 600-point boost under the CRS, making PNPs by far the single most valuable factor under the new system. The fact that a qualifying job offer, which was also worth 600 points until the changes introduced on November 19 came into force, is now worth 50 or 200 points, depending on the position, makes a provincial nomination the only factor that guarantees an ITA being issued at a subsequent draw from the pool. (To learn more about the recent improvements made to Express Entry, click here.)

In 2015, around 13 percent of candidates issued an ITA had obtained a provincial nomination certificate through one of the many PNPs ed with Express Entry. Over the first nine months of 2016, however, this increased to 23 percent, showing the increasing importance of these programs.

With Express Entry PNP categories opening, changing, and filling quickly, sometimes within hours, it is arguably more important than ever before for candidates to stay up to date.

Candidates remaining in the pool should note that program-specific draws have been rare through the history of Express Entry. Of the 48 draws that have taken place, only two have been program-specific.

In addition, given that candidates with core CRS scores of as low as 186 were invited in the latest draw, it is likely that most, if not all, candidates in the pool with a provincial nomination when the draw was made were issued an ITA.

Express Entry

Express Entry is the system used by IRCC to select candidates for immigration to Canada through the federal economic immigration programs. Candidates who wish to apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class are required to do so through Express Entry.

Eligible candidates create a profile which is submitted to the Express Entry pool. Upon entering the pool, candidates are assigned a CRS score which determines their ranking in the pool. The highest-ranking candidates are issued an ITA in IRCC’s periodic draws.

Candidates in the pool may increase their ranking in a number of ways. Learn more about increasing CRS score and ranking.

For more information on draws from the Express Entry pool that have taken place so far, consult this table.

Express Entry quick facts, from January 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016

• Launch date: January 1, 2015
• First draw from the pool: January 31, 2015
• Most recent draw from the pool: November 30, 2016
• Minimum CRS points required for selection in any one draw: 450 (September 18, 2015 & October 2, 2015)
• Largest number of invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 2,427 (November 16, 2016)
• Fewest invitations to apply issued in any one draw: 559 (November 30, 2016. Note: This draw invited candidates with a provincial nomination only.)
• Largest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 273 (from May 22, 2015 to June 12, 2015 draws)
• Smallest decrease in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on three occasions)
• Largest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 316 (from November 16, 2016 to November 30. Note: The latter draw invited candidates with a provincial nomination only.)
• Smallest increase in CRS points required between two consecutive draws: 0 (on three occasions)
• Longest gap between two consecutive draws: 35 days (from April 17, 2015 to May 22, 2015 draws)
• Shortest gap between two consecutive draws: 7 days (on seven occasions)
• Total number of ITAs issued in 2015: 31,063
• Total number of ITAs issued in 2016: 27,164
• Total number of ITAs issued since system was launched: 58,227

Draws From The Express Entry Pool (Updated)

Express Entry Draws: 2016

Express Entry Draws: 2015

To find out if you are eligible for immigration to Canada, please fill out a free online assessment today.