Canada issues 202 ITAs in latest Express Entry PNP draw with a minimum CRS score of 788

By Vicky
In one of the smallest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draws of the year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued just 202 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its latest Express Entry Draw 356, held on July 21, 2025. The draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 788, making it one of the most competitive PNP-only draws this year.

Key Highlights of Canada Express Entry Draw 356

  • Date of Draw: July 21, 2025
  • Draw Type: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
  • Number of ITAs Issued: 202
  • Minimum CRS Score: 788
  • Tie-Breaker Timestamp: Profiles submitted before June 5, 2025 at 23:50:45 UTC

As of July 21, 2025, there have been 13 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific Express Entry draws in 2025. These draws are exclusively for candidates who have been nominated through the Provincial Nominee Program. The total number of invitations issued through PNP-specific draws in 2025 is 6,053.

Compared to earlier Canada Express Entry Draws in 2025, including 646 invitations issued on February 17 (Draw #336) and 471 on January 7 (Draw #331). The July 21 draw marks a sharp decline in the number of ITAs issued. Experts suggest that this trend reflects the growing pressure on provinces to operate within their federally set nomination limits, which are often restrictive and based on annual allocations.

The sources state that PNP draw sizes are getting smaller because “provinces near their allocation limits for the year” due to “restrictive caps on the amount of nominations each province can issue”. This trend is expected to continue for the rest of the year. This aligns directly with the expert suggestion you mentioned, that the trend reflects “the growing pressure on provinces to operate within their federally set nomination limits, which are often restrictive and based on annual allocations.”

For the latest updates on Express Entry and PNP draws, we encourage you to Book a FREE Consultation with our regulated consultants and be one among our many successful clients who’ve achieved their dream of moving abroad.

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