Express Entry Draw #223 | 589 PNP Invitations Issued

The Canadian government issued 589 invitations to apply for permanent residence in the latest Express Entry draw.

The lowest-ranking candidate had a CRS score of just 141 prior to receiving a provincial nomination.

Draw Number: 223
Date of Draw: May 25, 2022
Number of Invitations Issued: 589
Minimum CRS: 741
Program Specified: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Tie-breaking rule: February 2, 2021

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to organize applications through three main programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Candidates must meet the requirements of one of these three programs to submit a profile to the Express Entry pool.

Once in the pool, Express Entry candidates are ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and given a score. Every two weeks, the government holds Express Entry draws, where they invite the highest-ranking candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Canada’s immigration minister does not currently have the authority to invite candidates based on additional qualifications, such as work experience, or language skills. However, the government is currently in the process of passing a bill that may change this. If Bill C-19 is passed, the minister can select candidates based on groupings. Groupings may include candidates with certain work experience, language skills, or education, and will be determined based on Canada’s economic goals at the time of selection.

How can I be invited through a PNP Express Entry draw?

Each Canadian province and territory (except Quebec and Nunavut) operate its own nominee programs. Each nominee program has its own unique eligibility requirements; while many require a connection to the province to apply (work experience, a job offer, a family member, or education in the province), there are also programs available to overseas workers without any connections to Canada.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that are aligned with the Express Entry system allow candidates to apply for permanent residence through an expedited process. Many of these programs also scan the Express Entry pool and invite profiles based on their skills or work experience.

Candidates that receive a nomination through an Express Entry PNP receive an additional 600 CRS points, essentially guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

FSW and CEC draws

In September 2021, the Canadian government paused Express Entry draws for both Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. The pause was put in place while Immigration, Refugee, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) worked toward eliminating a backlog of applications that built up during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, Canada has been holding Express Entry draws for PNP recipients only.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser recently announced that FSW and CEC draws would resume in early July 2022.

If you are planning to immigrate to Canada, it is a good idea to start your Express Entry profile right away. Preparing the documents required for an Express Entry profile can be a lengthy process. With FSW and CEC draws resuming soon, beginning now will ensure you don’t miss out on a draw in favour of your score or qualifications.

In the meantime, provinces continue to invite overseas candidates directly from the Express Entry pool. Just by having a profile in the pool of candidates, you could be invited through a provincial or federal draw.

Interested in learning more about your immigration options? Complete our free online assessment today!