Honeywiz: Your Trusted Partner for Immigration to Abroad
October 24, 2024
Canada Drops Field of Study Requirements for College Bachelor’s Graduates Seeking PGWP
March 19, 2025
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its tenth Express Entry draw of the year, focusing specifically on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The draw, held today, March 17, 2025, issued 536 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to individuals with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 736 or higher.
This marks the fifth PNP-only Express Entry draw conducted by IRCC in 2025, highlighting the government’s continued focus on attracting candidates with provincial nominations.
Express Entry draw on 17 March
The IRCC has opened the PNP only Express Entry draw of 2025 inviting 536 PNP candidates who had the CRS Score of 736 or higher.
- EE Draw number: 340
- Date: 17 March 2025
- Number of invitations: 536
- Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Cut-off score: 736
The PNP allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who meet their specific labor market needs. A provincial nomination automatically adds 600 points to a candidate’s Express Entry CRS score, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an ITA.
The high CRS score requirement of 736 reflects the added 600 points from the provincial nomination, indicating that the base CRS scores of the invited candidates were considerably lower.
Express Entry Draw Result – 17 Mar 2025
| Date | EE Draw Category | No. of ITAs | Minimum CRS Score Requirement | Tie-breaking rule |
| March 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 536 | 736 | March 12, 2025 at 14:02:14 UTC |
This year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted ten Express Entry draws, resulting in 23,183 invitations to apply (ITAs).
This draw demonstrates IRCC’s ongoing efforts to manage the Express Entry system and address regional labor shortages through the PNP. Candidates who received ITAs now have the opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
2025 Express Entry: IRCC Announces Priority Categories for Targeted Draws
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled the priority categories for its 2025 category-based Express Entry draws. These designated categories will receive preferential treatment for Invitations to Apply (ITAs), with the goal of addressing specific and critical labor market needs across Canada. The following are the priority categories for 2025:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social service occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations
