Ottawa, October 27, 2025 — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted a new round of invitations under the Express Entry system. The latest draw, Round #374, was held on October 27, 2025, at 14:49:22 UTC, and issued 302 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category.
This marks another targeted draw aimed at candidates who have received a provincial nomination, which gives them an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Consequently, the minimum CRS score required in this round was 761, reflecting the high standard associated with nomination-based invitations.
The tie-breaking rule for this round was set for September 26, 2025, at 02:14:06 UTC, meaning that only candidates who submitted their Express Entry profile before this date and time were considered if multiple candidates had scores of 761.
Draw Highlights
- Date of draw: October 27, 2025
- Number of invitations issued: 302
- Program category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- CRS cutoff score: 761
- Tie-breaking date: September 26, 2025, at 02:14:06 UTC
The October 27 draw continues the recent pattern of targeted Express Entry rounds focusing on PNP candidates. IRCC has prioritized these nomination-based invitations to help provinces and territories meet their regional labor market needs and population growth strategies.
Over the past few months, IRCC has balanced its invitation rounds among various categories, including general draws, French language proficiency draws, and occupation-specific draws for trades, healthcare, STEM, and transport candidates. However, this latest round reinforces the importance of the Provincial Nominee Program within Canada’s 2025 immigration strategy.
A CRS cutoff of 761 indicates that all candidates invited in this draw already held a provincial nomination, as the base CRS score for PNP nominees before the 600-point boost usually ranges between 150 and 200 points.
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
For prospective applicants, this draw underscores the advantage of securing a provincial nomination. The additional 600 CRS points provided by a nomination virtually guarantees an invitation to apply in future Express Entry rounds.
Candidates in professions aligned with provincial labor demand are encouraged to explore PNP streams actively, especially through programs such as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), and Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). With several provinces conducting regular targeted draws for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, and tech talent, provincial nomination remains one of the most strategic routes to Canadian permanent residency.
Looking Ahead
IRCC is expected to continue holding category-based and PNP-focused draws throughout the remainder of 2025 as part of its plan to meet national immigration targets outlined in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. Observers anticipate that upcoming draws may focus on in-demand sectors like STEM and healthcare, along with potential expansions in French language proficiency category draws.
The next Express Entry round is expected in early November 2025 if IRCC maintains its typical two-week draw interval pattern.
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