Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)–only Express Entry draw on September 14, issuing 576 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off was set at 734—37 points higher than the previous PNP round on August 31, when the threshold fell to a year-low of 697. All invited candidates already held a provincial nomination worth 600 CRS points, meaning a base score of just 134 was sufficient to clear the bar. IRCC reported 226,793 active profiles in the pool on September 13, of which only 574 sat in the 601–1,200 score range reserved for nominees. The agency therefore drew virtually every eligible nominee in the system plus two newly-added profiles. The draw opens what consultants call “the September cluster.” Historically, a Canadian Experience Class draw follows within two business days, with occupation- or language-specific rounds later in the week. Candidates now have 60 days to lodge a full e-application, including police certificates and upfront medicals. IRCC’s posted processing time for PNP permanent-residence files is six to seven months. For employers, the message is twofold. First, provincial nomination remains the fastest route to securing permanent residence for key staff in tight labour markets—particularly in the technology, health-care and clean-energy sectors targeted by many provinces. Second, record pool inventories mean that baseline CRS scores below 470 still need a nomination or job offer to be competitive. Companies planning 2027 relocation budgets should note that PNP allocations are finite; several provinces have already used more than 80 % of their quotas. Mobilising in-house immigration teams now—or retaining outside counsel—to identify candidates for the next intake will be critical to maintaining talent pipelines.
Source: Immigration News Canada
