The Express Entry draw on September 29, 2025 set a new milestone being the Provincial
Nominee Program (PNP)–only draw with a CRS cutoff score of 855-the highest since 2018. This limelight in the draw with 291 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued depicts the high competitiveness in Canadian immigration and IRCC tightening its selection standards.
This draw sends a very clear message to prospective candidates coming through the
Express Entry system about the importance of strong credentials, early submission of a
profile and provincial nomination options.
Key Highlights of the Express Entry Draw
● Date & Type – September 29, 2025
● Program – Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
● Number of Invitations Issued – 291
● Lowest CRS Score Invited – 855
● Rank Needed – 291 or above
● Why This Is Historic – This is the highest PNP cutoff since 2018.
It’s actively demonstrating the highly selective nature of PNP-only draws, wherein
competition only gets fiercer for candidates once provincial nomination comes their way.
Why Did the CRS Score Jump Up So High?
● High Concentration of PNP Candidates – Strong candidates are being nominated
by the provinces, creating a pool of very competitive profiles.
● Limited ITAs – With only 291 invitations issued, the cutoff became steep.
● Policy Direction – IRCC is molding the filters for the best potential PNP candidates
in light of a long-term labor market vision.
Top 5 Highest CRS Cutoff Scores Ever in Express Entry
This recent draw now holds a position among the top five draws with highest CRS scores
in the Express Entry’s history.
| Date | Round Type | Invitations Issued | CRS Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2018 | Provincial Nominee Program | 200 | 902 |
| Jan 31, 2015 | No Program Specified | 779 | 886 |
| Sept 29, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 | 855 |
| Feb 7, 2015 | No Program Specified | 779 | 818 |
| Nov 18, 2024 | Provincial Nominee Program | 174 | 816 |
The 855 cutoff draw is now sitting third-highest ever in terms of CRS since the time
Express Entry was set up.
Latest CRS Score Distribution in the Pool
On September 29, the distribution of the Express Entry Draw pool looked like this –
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 601–1,200 | 288 |
| 501–600 | 24,531 |
| 451–500 | 70,583 |
| 491–500 | 12,255 |
| 481–490 | 12,473 |
| 471–480 | 15,150 |
| 461–470 | 15,781 |
| 451–460 | 14,924 |
| 401–450 | 74,481 |
| 441–450 | 14,806 |
| 431–440 | 16,354 |
| 421–430 | 14,820 |
| 411–420 | 14,839 |
| 401–410 | 13,662 |
| 351–400 | 53,066 |
| 301–350 | 19,963 |
| 0–300 | 8,081 |
The sharp concentration in the 451-500 band only serves to emphasize the intense
competition among candidates who are just shy of the cutoff but do not get issued
invitations.
Examples of profiles crossing CRS 855 (after nomination)
Although the draw is based on provincial nomination, the article provides sample candidate
profiles (for illustration) who would surpass the threshold of 855 in CRS after being
increased by the PNP –
● Amandeep – software engineer (CRS 877 after nomination)
● Sophie – registered nurse (CRS ~ 869)
● Diego – electrician (CRS ~ 862)
● Fatima – business analyst (CRS ~ 858)
September 2025 Express Entry Draws Recap
| Date | Category | CRS Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2 | General (no program specified) | 249 | 772 |
| September 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 514 |
| September 4 | French Language Proficiency | 4,500 | 446 |
| September 15 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 | 746 |
| September 17 | Education Occupations | 2,500 | 462 |
| September 29 | Provincial Nominee Program | 855 | 291 |
What This Means for Candidates
● It’s clear that PNP candidates will have to keep improving their basic profile after
nomination, as cutoffs are going up.
● Early submission matters – When tied, the tie-breaker rule determines which
candidate receives the ITA.
● Better alternatives – Candidates might find better opportunities and lower cutoffs in
the category-based draws in education, trades and French levels
● If the pool is above 250,000, then the competition remains surely high for Canadian
immigration through Express Entry.
