On October 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry draw #372, issuing 345 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targeted round. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 778. The tie-breaking rule was set for July 17, 2025, at 19:58:49 UTC.
This PNP-specific draw marks a significant development for provincial nominees in the Express Entry pool. The CRS cut-off score of 778 is a notable 77 points lower than the previous PNP-only draw. This substantial drop suggests that IRCC is prioritizing candidates who already have a provincial nomination, providing them a clear pathway to permanent residency. A lower score threshold can be attributed to the targeted nature of the draw, which filters the pool to a specific group of candidates, leading to less competition on the CRS score alone.
What does the CRS cut-off score mean?
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is a points-based system used to score and rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS cut-off is the minimum score a candidate needed to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a specific draw. If your score was 778 or higher, you would have been invited in this round, provided you submitted your profile before the tie-breaking time.
How does the tie-breaking rule work?
The tie-breaking rule is used to rank candidates who have the same CRS score as the cut-off. In this draw, only candidates with a score of 778 who had submitted their Express Entry profile before July 17, 2025, at 19:58:49 UTC received an invitation. It ensures a fair and orderly process when many candidates have the same score.
Who should expect invitations in PNP-specific draws?
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who have successfully received a nomination from a Canadian province or territory should expect invitations in these draws. A provincial nomination automatically adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an ITA.
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