Last Updated On 15 December 2025, 7:39 PM EST (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on December 15, 2025, issuing 399 invitations to apply for permanent residency.
This round targeted candidates with a provincial nomination with a similar Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff as in last week’s Monday draw.
This is the consecutive week of back-to-back PNP draws, which underscores the federal government’s continued reliance on provincial nominations to select candidates who are already closely aligned with regional labour market needs.
Or IRCC could be just finishing the work to compensate for Christmas and New Year vacations.
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Key details of the December 15 PNP Express Entry draw
- Program: Provincial Nominee Program
- Tie-breaking rule: October 18, 2025 at 7:18:52 UTC
- Date and time: December 15, 2025
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 731
- Number of invitations issued: 399
- Rank needed: 399 or above
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For those sharing the lowest CRS score, a tie-breaking rule applied: profiles submitted before October 18, 2025, at 7:18:52 UTC took precedence.
Provincial nominations remain one of the most reliable ways to secure an invitation, particularly for candidates with moderate CRS scores.
Candidates without a nomination should actively explore provincial nominee streams linked to Express Entry.
Provincial nomination confers 600 additional points to the candidates in the pool.
So the candidates invited in the Express Entry draw today had a CRS score of 131 plus 600 additional CRS points from provincial nomination.
For those already nominated, this draw confirms that maintaining an active and accurate Express Entry profile is critical, as invitations are still subject to tie-breaking rules.
As of December 15, 2025, the Express Entry pool held 237,302 candidates just before the Express Entry draw.
Here’s a breakdown of the CRS score ranges after today’s draw, captured just before the invitation round (note: distributions can shift with new profiles or expirations):
| CRS score range | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| 501-600 | 21,783 |
| 451-500 | 68,700 |
| 491-500 | 12,315 |
| 481-490 | 12,149 |
| 471-480 | 14,859 |
| 461-470 | 14,535 |
| 451-460 | 14,842 |
| 401-450 | 66,948 |
| 441-450 | 13,992 |
| 431-440 | 14,244 |
| 421-430 | 12,750 |
| 411-420 | 12,367 |
| 401-410 | 13,595 |
| 351-400 | 52,574 |
| 301-350 | 18,829 |
| 0-300 | 8,069 |
| Total | 236,903 |
This distribution shows a concentration of candidates in the 401-500 range, making higher scores increasingly vital for selection in category-based draws.
We expect PNP draws to remain frequent and highly competitive, with 236,903 candidates in the pool and provinces continuing to issue nominations.
For candidates with CRS scores around 131 and eyeing a provincial nomination, this draw underscores the value of pursuing provincial nominations to enhance competitiveness.
Provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta frequently target specific occupations, offering pathways even for those with moderate scores.
If you’re in the pool, experts recommend optimizing your profile by improving language proficiency, gaining Canadian work experience, or securing a job offer.
With the immigration targets aiming for over 380,000 newcomers in 2026, more draws are expected soon—stay updated via official IRCC channels.
As Canada moves deeper into its 2026 immigration transition, provincial programs are set to remain one of the strongest and most predictable pathways to permanent residence for skilled workers already contributing to the economy.
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