Canada holds second consecutive provincial nominee draw
Canada held its second consecutive Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on May 22, 2025, issuing 1,612 invitations to apply for permanent residence to candidates with valid provincial nominations. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) set the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score at 785, unchanged from the previous PNP-specific draw held two weeks earlier on May 8.
The back-to-back PNP draws mark a shift from IRCC's 2024 pattern, when PNP-specific rounds occurred less frequently and were often interspersed with category-based or general draws. By holding two PNP draws in consecutive cycles, the department signals sustained demand for provincially nominated candidates, who receive an automatic 600 CRS points added to their base Express Entry score once a province issues a nomination certificate.
Provincial nominees must already hold a valid nomination from one of Canada's participating provinces or territories — including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon — before entering the Express Entry pool. The 785 CRS threshold means candidates needed a base score of approximately 185 points from factors like age, education, work experience, and language ability, since the provincial nomination itself accounts for 600 of the 785 total. Invited candidates now have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence through their IRCC online account.
The draw affects skilled workers and international graduates who secured provincial nominations through streams targeting occupations in demand at the regional level — often healthcare workers, tradespeople, tech professionals, and agriculture specialists. Provinces use their PNP allocations to address local labor shortages, meaning candidates with work experience in occupations listed on a province's in-demand list have a clearer pathway to nomination and, subsequently, to federal permanent residence.
Candidates who received an invitation in the May 22 draw should log into their IRCC account, confirm the invitation details, and begin gathering supporting documents — including police certificates, medical exams, proof of funds, and employment reference letters — to meet the 60-day submission deadline. Those still waiting for a provincial nomination should monitor their chosen province's PNP portal for new intake windows, as many streams open and close based on annual allocation limits.