IRCC Issued 511 ITAs in New PNP-Targeted Express Entry Draw for Permanent Residency in Canada
May 13, 2025
On May 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a fresh round of invitations under the Express Entry regime, continuing with its focus of luring expert professionals via Permanent Residency in Canada avenues. The draw, reported as Express Entry Draw #346, targeted particular candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and led to 511 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
This development marks Canada’s further resolve to engage skilled professionals who have been nominated by the provinces and are in a position to contribute to Canada’s economic development and regional growth.
Highlights of Express Entry Draw #346
- Draw Date: May 12, 2025
- Number of ITAs Issued: 511
- CRS Cut-off Score: 706
- Draw Type: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Tie-Breaking Rule: March 04, 2025, at 22:35:42 UTC
- Total Candidates in the Pool (as of May 12, 2025): 249,969
What Is a PNP-Specific Draw?
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enables Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who are seeking to immigrate to Canada and settle in a particular province. If a candidate is nominated by a province, they are given an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, greatly enhancing their possibility of being invited to apply for an ITA in an Express Entry draw and finally gaining Permanent Residency in Canada has to offer. This draw was specifically for PNP candidates, highlighting the critical role that regional immigration streams still have in Canada’s immigration strategy.
Canada’s Immigration Momentum in 2025
Up to this draw, IRCC has invited 33,940 candidates under Express Entry alone in the year 2025. Out of them, 4,590 ITAs have gone to PNP nominees, which indicates Canada’s concerted efforts to welcome those who can fulfill the province’s labor market requirements. This forward-thinking measure reflects IRCC’s commitment to matching immigration activity with regional labor gaps and demographic requirements, facilitating provinces in recruiting talent suited to their particular economic needs and enhancing routes to Permanent Residency in Canada.
Why Provincial Nomination Is a Game-Changer?
Receiving a provincial nomination is the most effective way to enhance your prospects in the Express Entry pool. With the extra 600 CRS points, most candidates transition from being tentative applicants to strong invitees. This renders the PNP pathway attractive and extremely strategic for talented workers who seek to immigrate to Permanent Residency in Canada via a focused and dependable route. Regardless of whether you are a healthcare professional, an engineer, a technologist, or possess in-demand skills, a provincial nomination can speed up your path to Canadian permanent residence.
Express Entry Pool Snapshot
As of May 12, 2025, there are 249,969 active Express Entry pool profiles. This totals candidates from each category—Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades, and PNP nominees. With so many profiles in the system, focused draws such as this one provide better chances for those candidates who take the extra step and tailor their applications to match particular provincial needs, greatly improving their chances of obtaining Permanent Residency in Canada.
What This Means for Prospective Immigrants?
If you’re exploring options to move to Canada, now is an excellent time to consider provincial nomination as a viable route to Permanent Residency in Canada. With continued PNP draws and targeted selection, IRCC is clearly valuing candidates who demonstrate ties to specific provinces through job offers, work experience, education, or other criteria relevant to provincial needs. Provinces like Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia are often nominating highly qualified professionals to ensure that Canada is meeting its long-term immigration objectives.
What is the meaning of PNP draw in Express Entry?
A PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) draw within the scope of Express Entry is an act by which provinces and territories of Canada invite applicants to submit provincial nomination applications. Such draws fall within the scope of the Express Entry system, which is Canada’s primary immigration pathway for skilled workers. If a candidate is nominated by a province, they gain extra points for their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which has a high chance of getting an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
The PNP draw gives provinces the ability to choose those who can meet certain labor market requirements or who can benefit the local economy, focusing on candidates with skills matching regional demands. This is an important process for individuals applying for Permanent Residency in Canada, as the provincial nomination tends to fast-track the immigration process and increases the applicant’s profile in the federal Express Entry pool.
How to immigrate to Canada without job offer?
It is possible to immigrate to Canada without having a job offer by going through several immigration streams, including the Express Entry program, provincial nominee programs (PNPs), and family sponsorship. The most popular is the Express Entry program, in which candidates are evaluated on the basis of age, education, work experience, and language skills instead of a job offer.
Another alternative is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), under which provinces and territories nominate foreign nationals on the basis of their qualifications and skills, even if they do not have a job offer in hand.
Further, people having relatives in Canada can also become eligible for family sponsorship, whereby Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor their family members for permanent residence. These choices create avenues for Permanent Residency in Canada without needing a job offer.
How Can We Help?
We are experts in dealing with the intricacies of Canadian immigration, such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs. Our decades of practice and extensive familiarity with the new immigration policies position us to enable you to acquire Permanent Residency in Canada as well as guide you through all the steps of the process:
- Choose the best PNP stream for your profile
- Make your Express Entry application stronger
- Strategize your way to a high CRS score
- Get the latest draw results and immigration news
- Submit and complete your PR application confidently
Our experienced and dedicated team is with you all the way—right from assessing your eligibility to final submission—guaranteeing your immigration process to be seamless and successful.
If you want to know more details about “IRCC Issued 511 ITAs in New PNP-Targeted Express Entry Draw for Permanent Residency Canada“ you can contact one of our immigration specialists at Gunness & Associates.
Gunness & Associates has helped thousands of people successfully immigrate to Canada with their families. Our skilled and experienced immigration experts have the expertise to accurately examine your case and advise you on the best method of proceeding to serve your needs.
For Honest And Straightforward Advice, Contact The Experts
Get a Free Assessment
All rights reserved ©2025 Gunness & Associates
