IRCC Issues 648 ITAs in the Latest PNP-Only Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 648 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its latest Express Entry draw, focusing exclusively on candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 791 to qualify for this round.

This draw marks the second PNP-only draw of October, with the previous one occurring on October 7, which invited 1,613 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 743.

In recent months, IRCC has established a pattern of conducting multiple Express Entry draws every two weeks, including at least one PNP-only draw. Since May 30, the department has issued a total of 12,815 ITAs in these specific draws, reflecting IRCC's commitment to increasing the number of domestic draws for Express Entry candidates already living and working in Canada as temporary residents.

This strategy aims to help IRCC meet its target of reducing the number of temporary residents in Canada while also aligning with the planned admissions for permanent residents as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan. The next plan is anticipated to be released by November 1, detailing targets for 2025-2027, with the current goal set to welcome 110,770 newcomers in 2024.

Candidates receiving an ITA in the latter half of the year are likely to be admitted in 2025, given IRCC's standard processing time of six months for Express Entry applications.