Recently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant increase in invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.

The latest draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates saw a total of 574 ITAs being issued by the immigration department.

To qualify for this draw, candidates were required to meet specific criteria:

• Attain a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 711
• Create an Express Entry candidate profile before 1:54 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on October 6, 2025

Notably, this recent draw represents the inaugural Express Entry selection of the year.

While IRCC has indicated its commitment to prioritizing in-Canada applicants for permanent residence as per the Immigration Levels Plan, the specifics of future Express Entry draws remain uncertain.

According to previous communications from IRCC, it is likely that there will be a surge in French category-based selection draws to align with Canada’s increasing targets for Francophone immigration outside of Quebec. Additionally, the introduction of selections for the newly established “Physicians with Canadian work experience” category is anticipated.

As of now, IRCC has already issued 574 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2026.