Why PNP Closures in 2025 Could Help Skilled Workers in Canada

Several provinces in Canada have paused or closed some of their immigration streams under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in 2025. While this may sound like bad news, it can actually be a positive shift for skilled foreign workers already living in Canada and hoping to get permanent residence (PR).

That’s because Canada is now putting more focus on federal immigration programs, especially Express Entry.

More Opportunities Through Express Entry

With lower admission targets for PNPs in 2025, Express Entry now plays a bigger role in Canada’s economic immigration system.

• In 2025, Canada plans to admit 124,590 immigrants through Express Entry – that’s over 53% of the total economic immigration target.
• In contrast, the 2024 target was 110,770, only 39% of the total.
  
  

If you’re a skilled worker and your preferred PNP stream has closed, Express Entry could be a better pathway.

The government is also focusing more on candidates with Canadian work experience, especially those eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). That gives skilled workers already in Canada a stronger chance of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Important Note About Draws

As of now, there have been no general Express Entry draws since April 23, 2024. Instead, IRCC has focused on:

• French-language draws
• Canadian Experience Class draws
• PNP-specific draws
• Category-based draws (e.g., healthcare, trades, STEM, and education)
  
  

Express Entry vs. PNP: What Makes Express Entry Better?

1. More Freedom to Move

With PNP, you must plan to live in the province that nominated you.

With Express Entry, you can move to any province or territory (except Quebec), even before you become a permanent resident. That means more flexibility in where you live and work.

2. Simpler Eligibility Criteria

There are over 80 PNP streams, each with its own rules. You have to figure out which one suits you best.

By comparison, Express Entry under Canadian Experience Class has straightforward requirements:

• 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid, skilled work in Canada in the last 3 years
• Meet minimum language requirements (CLB 7 or CLB 5, depending on your job)

Note: The work must be done while not studying full-time and as a paid employee.

3. Faster Application Process

To get PR through a PNP, you usually have to go through two levels:

1. Apply to the province
2. Then apply to the federal government

Express Entry is quicker. You only need to:

• Create a profile in the Express Entry pool
• Wait for an ITA from IRCC
  
  

4. Shorter Processing Times

Current estimated processing times:

• Express Entry: 5 months
• Base PNP: 20 months

The target for Express Entry processing is 6 months or less.

Who Benefits from These Changes?

Let’s look at two examples to understand how these changes can help skilled workers:

Example 1: Clara

• 27 years old, math degree from Ontario
• Worked 2 years in Manitoba under a Post-Graduation Work Permit
• Has CLB 9 English and 2 years of foreign work experience
  
  

Clara would lose points under Manitoba’s PNP because she studied outside the province and doesn’t qualify for Ontario’s PNP.

But with a CRS score of 537, Clara would be highly competitive under Express Entry. In 2025, some CEC draws had cut-off scores like 527, 521, and 547.

Example 2: Mathias

• 28 years old, completed teacher training in British Columbia
• Worked as an elementary school teacher for 1 year
• Has CLB 8 English
  
  

Mathias may not qualify for BC’s PNP due to its focus on healthcare and high-impact jobs. But with a CRS score of 532, he’s well-placed for a future Education category-based draw – the last cut-off was 479.

Changes to PNPs in 2025

Some key PNP changes this year:

• British Columbia shut down its International Graduate streams and delayed launching new ones.
• New Brunswick paused its Strategic Initiative stream due to a backlog.
  
  

These changes follow a federal decision to cut PNP admissions in half – from 110,000 in 2024 to just 55,000 in 2025.

Final Thoughts

If you're a skilled worker in Canada, especially with Canadian work experience, now is a great time to look into Express Entry.

It’s faster, simpler, and more flexible than most PNP options – and in 2025, it’s getting more attention than ever.