March 3 PNP-specific Express Entry Draw Sees Lower Points Requirement (2025)

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Key Takeaways for Express Entry Candidates

• Type of draw: Provincial Nominee Program
• Invitations issued: 725 (was this you?! Congratulations! Don’t forget to update your profile in your Moving2Canada account for more information about your next steps!)
• CRS score: 667
• Tie-breaking rule: June 05, 2024 at 18:25:22 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Canadian Experience Class on March 3, 2025
• New to the excitement of Express Entry draws? Check out our guide to Express Entry.

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw

The March 3 Express Entry draw for provincial nominees was around the usual size we expect for PNP-specific draws. But the CRS cut-off requirement, at 667 points, is notably lower than it has been for such draws.

Indeed, this draw had the lowest CRS score requirement of a PNP-specific draw since last June, when a PNP-specific draw on June 19 offered invitations to eligible candidates with 663 or more points.

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What If You Didn’t Get An Invitation in This CEC Round?

There are a few reasons you may not have received an invitation through this Express Entry round:

1. You were not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class draw. This program-specific draw only invited candidates with eligible work experience in Canada.
2. You did not have a high enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. If your score is below today’s cut-off score, check out past results to view trends in the CRS in your program/category. Need to improve your score? Our CRS calculator tool can help. It’s free, you just need to create or log into your Moving2Canada account.
3. Finally, what if you were eligible for the program AND had the right CRS score? Well, it’s possible the tie-breaking rule excluded you. If you entered the Express Entry pool after the tie-breaking date and you had a CRS that was equal to the CRS for this round, unfortunately, you will miss out this round.

Need To Improve Your CRS for a CEC Draw?

If this is you, we suggest doing what you can in the short term to improve your CRS. Your language proficiency results are the lowest hanging fruit here, and we suggest retaking your language test if possible to improve your results. But you can use our interactive CRS calculator to learn what you have received points for and what areas you have for improvement.

Applying for a provincial nomination is another option, since competition remains low at the moment in the Express Entry pool. That said, competition is extremely high at the provincial level, with many provinces delaying or pausing programs to cope with very high levels of demand. So, receiving a provincial nomination is a strong strategy this year but, if you choose to go this route, you should have alternatives planned.

Canada launched its Rural and Francophone Community Pilots for 2025. These programs offer a pathway to permanent residency for those willing to move to and work in certain rural communities or communities looking to attract French speakers.

Finally, there is the option of learning French. We have a special offer for those looking to learn French — but you can only get it in our Facebook group or by joining our email list for Express Entry news.

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Hugo O'Doherty

Hugo O’Doherty has over a decade of experience and research in Canadian immigration, establishing him as a recognized authority on immigrant integration and adaptation. His personal and professional experiences with immigration have made him an expert on the practical aspects of successfully moving to and settling in Canada.

Read more about Hugo O'Doherty

By Hugo O'Doherty and Rebecca Major

Posted on March 3, 2025

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