Canada conducted a new Express Entry draw for candidates with a provincial nomination
The minimum score increased, and the number of invitations went up.
On December 8, 2025, the Canadian government held another selection round in the Express Entry system for candidates with provincial nominations. A total of 1,123 people received invitations to apply for permanent residence status.
The minimum passing score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 729. For comparison, in the previous draw on November 25, the minimum score was 699, and 777 candidates received invitations. In this new round, the threshold was higher and the number of invitations increased significantly.
The increase in the passing score may be related to changes in the number of candidates with provincial nominations or adjustments to priorities within Canada's current immigration plan.
Candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 CRS points, which significantly improves their ranking. This means that in this draw, having just 129 points based on core criteria was enough to receive an invitation: age, education, English or French language skills, work experience, and adaptability in Canada.
Want to know how many points you could score? Use our online CRS calculator to get a preliminary assessment of your immigration chances.
The results of this round once again confirm the importance of provincial immigration programs and their contribution to distributing invitations among candidates who are in demand in specific regions of the country.
How provincial immigration programs work
Each Canadian province sets its own selection criteria for candidates based on labor market needs and demographic conditions. To receive a nomination, you typically need to:
- qualify under one of the federal immigration programs;
- create a profile in the Express Entry system;
- receive a provincial nomination, which adds 600 CRS points and significantly increases your chances of receiving an invitation.
Follow the latest Express Entry draws to stay informed about new immigration opportunities to Canada.
