On October 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the third Express Entry draw of the month, issuing 345 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This draw highlights the ongoing federal preference for candidates with strong provincial nominations.
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The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff for this round dropped by 77 points compared to the previous PNP-only draw on September 29, signaling a shift toward selecting candidates with lower CRS scores than before.
Key Highlights of the Draw
- Program: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Date of Draw: October 14, 2025
- Number of ITAs Issued: 345
- CRS Score of the Lowest-Ranked Candidate Invited: 778
- Tie-Breaking Rule: July 17, 2025, at 19:58:49 UTC
Candidates with a CRS score of 778 or higher, who submitted their profiles before the tie-breaking timestamp, were invited to apply for permanent residency.
Provincial nominations are a significant advantage in the Express Entry system, with nominated candidates receiving an additional 600 CRS points. This gives invited candidates a base CRS score of 178, plus the 600 points from their provincial nomination, greatly enhancing their chances of selection.
CRS Score Distribution in the Pool as of October 14
As of October 14, 2025, the Express Entry pool contained 247,997 candidates. Here’s the breakdown by CRS score range:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 501-600 | 25,411 |
| 451-500 | 70,641 |
| 491-500 | 12,289 |
| 481-490 | 12,571 |
| 471-480 | 15,370 |
| 461-470 | 15,698 |
| 451-460 | 14,713 |
| 401-450 | 72,026 |
| 441-450 | 13,923 |
| 431-440 | 14,694 |
| 421-430 | 14,918 |
| 411-420 | 14,783 |
| 401-410 | 13,708 |
| 351-400 | 52,448 |
| 301-350 | 19,496 |
| 0-300 | 7,975 |
| Total | 247,997 |
The competition remains intense for candidates with CRS scores above 500, with over 25,000 individuals still waiting for an ITA.
What Does This Week Mean for Future Express Entry Draws?
The October 14 draw follows a series of category-based and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws earlier in the month. This demonstrates IRCC’s commitment to meeting its 2025 immigration targets. While PNP-specific draws tend to favor candidates with provincial nominations, future draws might focus on other categories, including skilled workers in healthcare, trades, education, or French-speaking candidates.
Candidates in the 450-500 CRS range should remain hopeful and keep their profiles up-to-date, as they may qualify for upcoming category-based draws. Improving your CRS score through a provincial nomination, language test improvements, or additional work experience could significantly boost your chances.
As mentioned earlier, IRCC may be shifting towards a weekly draw pattern rather than biweekly draws. This means that future draws could alternate between PNP, CEC, and category-based invitations.
If this week’s draw is a PNP-only round, we could see a CEC draw next week, followed by a category-based draw toward the end of October. However, as the year draws to a close, IRCC may adjust the frequency of draws as it plans for the 2026 Immigration Levels.
Why Are CRS Scores Higher in PNP-Only Draws?
PNP draws tend to have higher CRS scores because candidates who have been nominated by a Canadian province automatically receive 600 additional CRS points. This means their total CRS score will generally be much higher than those in regular draws.
Will There Be More Express Entry Draws in October 2025?
Yes, it is highly likely that there will be at least two more draws in October. These could include a CEC draw followed by French-speaking or occupation-specific category draws, depending on IRCC’s ongoing strategy.
What Was the Latest Express Entry Draw?
The most recent draw, #372, took place on October 14, 2025, for the Provincial Nominee Program. A total of 345 ITAs were issued to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 778.
- Date of Draw: October 14, 2025
- Type of Draw: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Number of ITAs Issued: 345
- Minimum CRS Score: 778
