On December 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the first Express Entry draw of the month. This draw, focused on the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), offered 1,123 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. It marked the largest PNP-specific Express Entry draw of the year, reflecting the government’s commitment to expanding provincial immigration under the Immigration Levels Plan unveiled earlier in November 2025.
Express Entry Draw Details
The December 8 draw provided key statistics that underscore the trend toward nomination-driven selections in Canada’s immigration strategy:
- Program: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Date: December 8, 2025
- Lowest CRS Score of Invited Candidates: 729
- Total Invitations Issued: 1,123
- Rank Required: 1,123 or above
- Tie-breaking Rule Date: March 5, 2025, at 05:10:48
According to the tie-breaking rule, candidates with identical lowest CRS scores were selected based on who submitted their profiles first.
Eligibility Criteria for Invitations
To qualify for an invitation in this draw, candidates needed to meet specific requirements:
- A valid Express Entry profile
- A base Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 129
- An approved provincial nomination, which grants an additional 600 CRS points
This process elevated their total score to 729 or higher, making them eligible for selection as part of this draw.
CRS Score Distribution in the Pool
IRCC also released an updated distribution of CRS scores among candidates in the Express Entry pool. Here’s the breakdown:
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601–1200 | 1,110 |
| 501–600 | 27,096 |
| 451–500 | 68,679 |
| 491–500 | 12,445 |
| 481–490 | 12,303 |
| 471–480 | 14,851 |
| 461–470 | 14,351 |
| 451–460 | 14,729 |
| 401–450 | 66,302 |
| 441–450 | 13,844 |
| 431–440 | 14,166 |
| 421–430 | 12,613 |
| 411–420 | 12,193 |
| 401–410 | 13,486 |
| 351–400 | 52,344 |
| 301–350 | 18,799 |
| 0–300 | 8,049 |
The total number of active profiles in the Express Entry pool is 242,379.
Next Steps for Candidates
Candidates who received invitations on December 8 have a 60-day window to submit a complete application for permanent residence. This submission must include:
- Police certificates
- Medical exams
- Proof of funds (if needed)
- Work experience documentation
- Confirmation of the validity of their provincial nomination
Upon submission, most applications linked to the PNP will continue to follow the standard six-month processing target.
This draw sends a clear message: provincial nominations play a critical role in Express Entry selections. Candidates without such nominations should prepare for future category-based draws, focusing not only on their scores but also on aligning with regional labor market needs.
