Canada Invites 192 Candidates in PNP-Specific Express Entry Draw

The latest Express Entry draw was announced by IRCC, that is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, on 18 August 2025 for candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program, with 192 invitations issued to apply for candidates with at least a CRS score of 800.

This was the fourth Express Entry draw for August 2025, thus proving the prominence that provincial nominations have played in Canada immigration program for the year 2025.

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Highlights of the Latest Express Entry Draw

The latest Express Entry draw held on August 18, 2025, invited 192 candidates with a minimum CRS cut-off score of 800 under the Provincial Nominee Program category.

• Draw date: August 18, 2025
• Program : Provincial Nominee Program
• Number of invitations issued: 192
• Minimum CRS score: 800
• Tie-breaking rule: February 11, 2025 at 19:17:09 UTC

Candidates receiving a provincial nomination automatically get an extra 600 CRS points, thus increasing their chance of being invited under PNP-based Express Entry draws.

Busy Month for Express Entry Draws

The draw on August 18 was the second PNP draw issued for the month, after three other rounds of invitations held this same month:

• August 6, 2025: PNP draw
• August 7, 2025: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw
• August 8, 2025: French language proficiency draw

So far, four separate Express Entry draws have been conducted in August, making it the second successive week that the system has opened its doors.

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Why is the CRS Cut-off Higher for PNP Draws?

This latest draw had the second-highest cut-off CRS for the current year; 800 points were required. So far, the only one to record a higher score in 2025 was 802 in the first PNP draw held in February.

This is an indication of competitive levels. PNP draws require strong human capital factors that, under normal circumstances, comprise a good mix of work experience, education, and language skills, in addition to having attained a provincial nomination.

PNPs' Key Role in Canada Immigration

The Provincial Nominee Program is an important route for Canada immigration for individuals who are looking forward to applying for permanent residency.

Skilled workers who are usually nominated by provinces and territories based on local labour market needs are assured that immigration will eventually develop the economy of that region.

As 2025 focuses on PNP and category-based invitations, priority is given to candidates who can contribute to a specific sector, language diversity, and regional development in Canada.

Express Entry Trends in 2025

By this year, IRCC had issued a total of 53,320 invitations under the Express Entry Draw. Most of these ITAs were issued within the Provincial Nominee Program, confirming the government’s intentions to assist provinces and territories in meeting their unique labour shortages.

Other draws this year targeted:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates
• French-language proficiency draws
• Category-based draws targeting priority occupations

The high CRS cut-off in this draw indicates how competitive the PNP stream is, giving candidates an additional 600 CRS points upon provincial nomination, which drastically improves their chances of receiving an ITA.

What Does This Mean for Candidates?

This recent draw adds more emphasis to provincial nominations concerning invitations by permanent residents, at least for the majority of applicants. Candidates who don't have a PNP nomination often find it next to impossible to get through those extremely high CRS thresholds.

It would still be advisable for those intending to apply for Canada PR from India and anywhere else to consider other options, such as:

• Express Entry-aligned PNPs
• Working on language tests or work experience to lift CRS score
• Discussing with an immigration consultant for proper navigation through eligibility.

Looking Ahead

Based on the four draws held in August, observers speculate on the possibility of periodic and category-based draws being held by IRCC in the coming months. Canada will only hold some draws during these months, focusing more on PNP candidates, CEC applicants, and French-speaking immigrants.

According to the current draw trends observed by mid-August, provincial nominations will surely remain among the strongest routes to Canada PR in 2025.

Source: canada.ca

Tags: Express Entry Express Entry Latest Draw Express Entry Program Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry Draw Canada Immigration Federal Skilled Worker Program Latest Express Entry Draw Canada Immigration News