Canada's latest express entry draw explained: New immigrants wanted, but only via provinces

Canada continues to open its doors to skilled immigrants, but selectively. On April 28, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 421 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draw, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 727. Applicants needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 5:11 PM UTC on September 9, 2024, as reported by CIC News.

This marks the second PNP-focused draw in April, following the April 14 round which saw 825 ITAs with a higher CRS cut-off of 764. It signals a continued focus on provincial nominees as Canada navigates its 2025 immigration priorities.

So far this year, 31,929 ITAs have been issued, mostly to PNP and French-speaking applicants. Notably, no general draws or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) rounds were held in April. The last CEC-specific draw happened on February 5, underscoring the government’s shift toward targeted, category-based selections.

Canada’s broader immigration plan remains ambitious. The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan aims to welcome 395,000 new permanent residents this year, with 232,150 spots allocated to economic immigrants, including those in the Express Entry system.

For successful applicants, the program also extends to family members, spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children can be included in the PR application. Later, parents and grandparents may be sponsored or invited via the Super Visa program.