Express Entry Draw #212 | 746 PNP Candidates Invited

Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 746 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in the latest Express Entry draw. Canada continues to hold smaller PNP-only Express Entry draws as IRCC works toward eliminating the application backlog leftover from COVID-19.

Draw Summary

Draw Number: 212
Date of Draw: December 22, 2021
Number of Invitations Issued: 746
Minimum CRS: 720
Program Specified: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Tie-breaking rule:  November 24, 2021

Canada invited candidates from the Express Entry pool that hold a provincial nominee certificate. As IRCC pauses all-program draws, provinces continue to use the Express Entry pool to select immigration candidates and fill local labour market gaps.

Individuals that receive a nomination through an Express Entry-aligned PNP program receive an additional 600 points toward their CRS score. For this reason, the CRS cut-off for PNP-specific draws is typically much higher than draws for other federal programs.

Before receiving a provincial nomination, the lowest-ranking candidate had a CRS score of just 120.

Why hasn’t Canada held an all-program Express Entry draw?

According to data from Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as of October 27, Canada had a backlog of close to 1.8 million immigration applications.

An internal memo from IRCC revealed that the department plans to all-program Express Entry draws until they have tackled the large application backlog. Instead, to limit the number of new applications to process, IRCC has been holding smaller PNP-only Express Entry draws.

In the last few months, Canada has been admitting new permanent residents at an unprecedented rate. With new modernized processing measures in place, IRCC can process applications faster and more efficiently.

Should I enter the Express Entry pool now if I don't have a PNP nomination?

Just by having an Express Entry profile in the pool, candidates have the opportunity to be invited to apply for provincial nomination. Provinces have continued to use the Express Entry pool throughout the pandemic to hand-select potential nominees.

In addition, the next all-program Express Entry draw could happen at any time. Having a profile in the Express Entry pool will ensure you don’t miss an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in case an all-program draw is held.

How can I be nominated by a province?

Each province operates their own nominee programs, each with its own requirements; many require a connection to the province to apply (work experience, a job offer, a family member, or education in the province). Other programs may operate with an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

Many PNPs also hold draws and invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool to apply for nomination. These draw requirements often change from draw to draw in response to labour market needs. For this reason, just by having an Express Entry profile, there is always a chance of receiving an invitation to apply for a nomination.

Invitations issued in 2021

Canada aims to welcome a record-breaking 401,000 immigrants in 2021. Included in this total, Canada plans to target 232,500 economic newcomers, including:

• 108,500 Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class candidates
• 80,800 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates

So far this year, Canada has issued a total of 114,431 invitations.

Interested in learning more about your options to immigrate to Canada? Complete our free online assessment today!