Last Updated on February 17, 2022

Ottawa surpassed its previous record for the largest Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry draw – set in early February – with a new draw in which it issued 1,082 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on Wednesday this week.

The previous record was set Feb. 2 with a draw in which Canada issued 1,070 ITAs requiring a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 674 points, 71 lower than the previous PNP draw.

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On Wednesday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) raised the minimum CRS score back up to 710,

The number of ITAs issued in Express Entry draws has been on an upward trajectory this year, with what was then a record number of ITAs, 1,036, issued in January. 

Canadian immigration officials are continuing to avoid conducting all-program draws, the last of which took place in December 2020. The IRCC says it is focusing on clearing the current significant backlog before it resumes issuing ITAs in even larger numbers.

Canada has so far issued 3,580 invitations, all to PNP candidates, in 2022.

IRCC issued a record 114,431 ITAs in 2021, all to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP candidates. It beat the previous record of 107,350 set in 2020.

During the coronavirus crisis, IRCC switched to draws for PNP and CEC candidates, to focus on candidates already in Canada on work or study permits.

The latest draw saw the tie-breaking rule implemented on Oct. 7, 2021 at 6:36:55 EST. If more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before this date and time received invitations.

This was the fourth round of invitations under Express Entry in 2022 and 216^th overall.

What Is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an immigration system implemented by Canadian immigration authorities (IRCC) on Jan. 1, 2015 which manages skilled worker applications under Federal Economic programs. This includes the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program the Canada Experience Class and parts of the Provincial Nomination Programs.

Stakeholders expect to see continued high numbers of invitations issued as Canada builds towards its target of 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022. CRS scores remain difficult to predict with program-specific draws during the COVID-19 crisis.

With the coronavirus crisis striking in March 2020, Canada switched to program-specific draws aimed at Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates. This had the effect of significantly increasing the number of individual draws beyond previous years.