Express Entry Draw 316: PNP Candidates Issued Invitations on October 7th

Key Takeaways for Express Entry Candidates

• Type of draw: Provincial Nominee Program
• Invitations issued: 1,613
• CRS score: 743
• Tie-breaking rule: March 22, 2024 at 18:36:54 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Canadian Experience Class on October 8, 2024.
• Learn more about the changes proposed for the 2025 Express Entry categories.
• Learn more about what we expect to see in Express Entry in the next six months.

Watch this reel for a quick breakdown

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw

This latest PNP draw was long overdue given we have not seen a PNP draw in Express Entry since September 9.

This may also explain why so many invitations were issued in this draw: 1,613 in total, over 600 more than the PNP draw in September.

Notably, the CRS score requirement for this draw was 743, the highest CRS cut-off score for a PNP-only draw so far in 2024.

Today’s draw brings the total number of Express Entry PNP draws in 2024 to nine, 12,167 invitations issued in those draws.

Per month, this is broken down as follows:

May: 2,985

June: 1,499

July: 3,275

August: 1,884

September: 911

From January to April, IRCC invited PNP applicants through general draws. We do not have the exact number of provincial nominees invited during these rounds, but if we go by the statistics from the second half of 2023, on average, 55% of candidates invited in general draws held a provincial nomination.

What Do We Expect For The Rest Of October?

Given September was a relatively slow month for Express Entry draws, we may find October will be a busier with around 10,000 invitations to be issued. That means we may still see another 8,500 or invitations issued this month.

We would expect at least one Canadian Experience Class draw along with a category- based draw. We should also see another PNP draw to make up for the lack of such draws in September.

What Should You Do if You Are Waiting for an ITA as an FSW candidate?

Things are looking a little bleak for FSW candidates, but that is not to say that they are out of options. 

FSW candidates are still being accepted under category-based draws, and those who qualify for these draws often enjoy a lower CRS cut-off than they would otherwise need to satisfy in a general draw. Category-based draws require the applicant to have certain work experience or French language proficiency. 

For those with eligible work experience, increasing your CRS score wherever possible should be your goal. We offer a great resource on the steps you should take to increase your CRS.  It is also important to remember that the work experience being targeted in category-based draws is set to change in 2025, with jobs in education and natural resources being added. 

For those with work experience not currently being targeted, learning French may be your best bet. In 2023, 92% of French-proficiency category-based draws went to FSW applicants. With a commitment to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants to 8% of all immigrants by 2026, learning French now could be your best bet to get an ITA as an FSW applicant.

For more information:

• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draws.
• Learn more about the state of the Express Entry pool.
• Learn when to expect the next Express Entry draw.

For up-to-date information about Express Entry draws, consider creating a free Moving2Canada account and subscribing to our newsletter. We share news about the draws and our analysis as it happens, so you’ll never miss the latest results.