Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, marking the second consecutive week of invitations issued to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. 

In the latest draw, IRCC issued 399 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates who had received a provincial nomination. 

Key details of the PNP draw 

To be eligible for this round, candidates were required to meet the following conditions: 

This draw continues IRCC’s trend of prioritizing candidates who already have strong provincial support through nomination programs. 

Overview of Express Entry draws in 2025 

Throughout 2025, IRCC has carried out a wide range of Express Entry draws across multiple categories. These include the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, education, and trade occupations. 

Recent highlights include: 

The consistency of draws shows IRCC’s ongoing effort to meet Canada’s labour market and regional immigration needs. 

December draws show strong momentum 

The latest PNP draw is the fourth Express Entry draw in December. It follows: 

This pattern suggests that IRCC is accelerating invitations toward the end of the year. 

Total Express Entry invitations issued in 2025 

So far in 2025, IRCC has issued 106,998 Invitations to Apply through the Express Entry system. 

Most of these invitations have been issued through targeted and category-based draws rather than general draws, reflecting a more focused selection strategy. 

Breakdown of Express Entry draws by category in 2025 

The number of draws conducted under each category this year includes: 

This clearly shows that PNP and CEC candidates have remained a major focus for IRCC. 

Invitations issued by stream so far in 2025 

When looking at the total number of ITAs issued by category, the majority have gone to candidates in French-language proficiency and Canadian Experience Class draws: 

What this means for Express Entry candidates 

The continued focus on PNP, CEC, and French-language proficiency categories suggests that candidates with Canadian work experience, provincial nominations, or strong French skills continue to have a competitive advantage in the Express Entry system. 

For candidates in the pool, keeping profiles updated and exploring provincial nomination options remains crucial as IRCC continues to prioritize targeted draws over general selections.