Canada Conducts Another Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry Draw in May 2025

Canada has continued its active immigration selection process with another round of invitations under the Express Entry system. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has now conducted its second consecutive Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw, showing that the department is still prioritizing candidates who already have provincial support and strong ties to the Canadian labour market.

Latest Draw Details

In the latest draw, IRCC issued 334 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program category. Candidates who received invitations needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 805. In addition, applicants had to create their Express Entry profile before 6:16 p.m. UTC on October 16, 2025.

Express Entry Draw Result – 25 May 2026

Date	EE Draw Category	No. of ITAs	Minimum CRS Score Requirement	Tie-breaking rule
25 May 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	334	805	October 16, 2025 at 18:16:33 UTC

 

Click here to see the complete list of Express Entry draws until date

The draw reflects Canada’s ongoing strategy of selecting immigration candidates who are considered more likely to integrate quickly into the workforce and provincial economies. A provincial nomination itself adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score, which explains the relatively high cut-off score seen in this round.

This was the twenty-eighth Express Entry draw held in 2026 and only the second draw conducted in May. While the number of invitations issued in this round was comparatively small, it continues a broader trend seen throughout the year. IRCC has mainly focused on candidates already living and working in Canada, especially those with Canadian work experience or provincial nominations. Below is the breakdown of Express Entry draws conducted so far in 2026:

Draw Type	Number of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program	11
Canadian Experience Class	8
French-Language proficiency	5
Physicians with Canadian work experience	1
Healthcare and social services	1
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	1
Trades	1

The numbers clearly indicate that Provincial Nominee Program draws have dominated Express Entry selections this year. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates have also continued to receive strong attention from IRCC, which aligns with Canada’s preference for applicants who already possess local employment experience and familiarity with the country’s labour market.

At the same time, category-based selection remains an important part of Canada’s immigration strategy. French-speaking candidates, healthcare professionals, trades workers, and senior managers have all received targeted invitations in 2026. These categories are closely connected to labour shortages being experienced across different provinces and sectors.

So far this year, IRCC has issued a total of 72,341 ITAs through Express Entry across multiple categories. The distribution of invitations highlights where the current immigration priorities are concentrated.

Draw type	ITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class	34,250
French-Language proficiency	26,000
Provincial Nominee Program	4,450
Healthcare and social services	4,000
Trades	3,000
Physicians with Canadian work experience	391
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	250

The Canadian Experience Class category remains the largest source of invitations this year, accounting for nearly half of all ITAs issued. French-language proficiency draws have also played a major role as Canada continues efforts to strengthen francophone immigration outside Quebec.

 

Meanwhile, PNP draws continue to remain important despite lower invitation numbers. Provincial programs allow provinces and territories to select candidates based on local labour market needs, making them one of the most strategic pathways to permanent residence in Canada.

EE Draws in Second Quarter (April- May 2026)

 

Immigration experts believe IRCC may continue alternating between category-based draws, CEC rounds, and PNP selections throughout the coming months. Much will depend on Canada’s economic priorities, labour shortages, and overall immigration targets for 2026.

Need Help with Canada PR Process?

If you are planning to apply for Canada Permanent Residency through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program, professional guidance can help you understand the latest draw trends, CRS requirements, and eligibility pathways. Call Toll-Free at 78-18-000-777 or email info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar