The September 2025 first Express Entry draw issued 249 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to permanent residency under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
This particular draw was restricted to applicants who have a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 772 or more, which matches our estimates published on September 1.
We will discuss the main particularities of the current Express Entry draw, recent CRS score distribution in the pool, and a review of all the PNP draws of 2025.
Key Details of the September 2 Express Entry Draw
Program: Provincial Nominee Program
Date and Time: September 2, 2025
Number of Invitations: 249
Minimum CRS Score: 772
Rank Required: 249 or above
Tie-Breaking Rule: Applied to profiles submitted before August 28, 2025, at 19:19:18 UTC
The tie-breaking provision was necessary to guarantee that in the event that more than one candidate had the same CRS score of 772, it is only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles ahead of the set date and time that would be invited.
This is a reflection of the continued efforts of Canada to receive skilled immigrants via specific targeted streams of the PNP, which focus on those candidates nominated by a province to fit the needs of the regional labor market.
What sort of draw shall we have to-morrow? Will it be the first trade draw of 2025 or a CEC? Wait and watch!
Latest CRS Score Distribution in the Express Entry Pool
By September 1, 2025 there were 254,672 candidates in the Express Entry pool. Below is a summary of the CRS score distribution:
| CRS score range | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 246 |
| 501-600 | 25,123 |
| 451-500 | 74,183 |
| 491-500 | 12,443 |
| 481-490 | 12,443 |
| 471-480 | 16,077 |
| 461-470 | 17,252 |
| 451-460 | 15,968 |
| 401-450 | 74,314 |
| 441-450 | 15,220 |
| 431-440 | 16,245 |
| 421-430 | 14,813 |
| 411-420 | 14,542 |
| 401-410 | 13,494 |
| 351-400 | 52,798 |
| 301-350 | 19,955 |
| 0-300 | 8,053 |
| Total | 254,672 |
The small sample size within the 601-1200 range (246) suggests the competitiveness of high CRS scores in PNP draws, in which provincial nominations generally add 600 points to a candidate score, which substantially increases his or her ranking.
All The 2025 PNP Draws
The September 2 draw is part of a series of smaller and specialized PNP draws in 2025.
The following is a comparison of some past PNP draws this year:
| Date | Number of invitations | CRS Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| September 2, 2025 | 249 | 772 |
| August 18, 2025 | 192 | 800 |
| August 6, 2025 | 225 | 739 |
| July 21, 2025 | 202 | 788 |
| July 7, 2025 | 356 | 750 |
| June 23, 2025 | 503 | 742 |
| June 10, 2025 | 125 | 784 |
| June 2, 2025 | 277 | 726 |
| May 12, 2025 | 511 | 706 |
| April 28, 2025 | 421 | 727 |
| April 14, 2025 | 825 | 764 |
| March 17, 2025 | 536 | 736 |
| March 3, 2025 | 725 | 667 |
| February 17, 2025 | 646 | 750 |
| February 4, 2025 | 455 | 802 |
| January 7, 2025 | 471 | 793 |
CRS cutoff of 772 in the most recent draw is somewhat below the highs of August, at 800, but is more positive than in previous draws, such as the May high of 706, due to the dynamics in the candidate pool and provincial needs.
The lesser number of invitations in recent draws can be attributed to the emphasis on accuracy, criteria of a candidate with solid provincial nomination and employability.
Why This Draw Matters
Provincial Nominee Program is another important entry route to Express Entry, and will provide a substantial CRS advantage to Express Entry candidates nominated by a Canadian province or territory.
Even at the low range of 601-1200 CRS (with 246 applicants) competition is intense, especially among those who are using PNP nominations to boost their scores.
The fact that this draw coincided with our September 1 forewarning shows that the Canadian immigration system is predictable, which is an important point to consider when an immigrant prepares his or her Express Entry trip.
What’s Next for Express Entry Applicants?
The pool candidates can keep upgrading their profiles to enhance their CRS scores.
Some of these factors that can affect CRS scores include:
Age: candidates who are below the age of 30 years get better points.
Education: University education and in particular Canadian degrees receive points.
Experience: Canadian and foreign experience does count.
Language Skills: Good performance on English and / or French exams (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP, TEF) is essential.
Provincial Nomination A nomination offers 600 points, and is usually the margin in competitive draws.
Candidates who scored lower than 772 are advised to seek provincial nomination or enhance their profiles by undertaking more schooling, work experience or undergoing language examinations.
Having 74,183 candidates in the 451-500 bracket and 74,314 in the 401-450 bracket, many are right on the edge of being called in the next PNP draw, but could require a nomination to have a chance of being invited.
Since Canada is still implementing Express Entry draws in 2025, it is important to keep informed.
Depending on the candidate pool and priorities of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the next draw may include changes to CRS cutoffs or numbers of invitations.
To anyone seeking to immigrate to Canada, tracking updates and creating a strong profile in the Express Entry is a necessary step towards achieving permanent residency.
To get the recent immigration news and draw forecasts, visit this page and subscribe to the updates provided by INC – Immigration News Canada.
Immigration in Canada is a dynamic system and each draw presents new opportunities to skilled workers to make Canada their home.
When was the latest Express Entry draw?
The most recent Express Entry issued invitations to apply dated September 2 to candidates who were selected based on provincial nomination and had a CRS score of 772 or higher.