Latest PNP Draw Details and FSWP Draws to be Resumed Soon

Canada holds another Express Entry draw, the second round of invitations to be held this month. CEC and FSWP draws are to be resumed in the coming months. 

On April 27, 2022, the Canadian government invited another 829 to apply under the Express Entry system managed by the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applying for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry of Canada is by invitation-only. 

This is the 17th consecutive PNP draw to be held by IRCC. 

Since March 18, 2020 - when international travel restrictions were imposed by Canada due to COVID-19 - the focus has been more on candidates with a higher likelihood of already being within Canada when invited. 

Such candidates can be those with - 

• Previous and recent Canadian work experience, making them eligible for Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or
• A PNP nomination by a provincial or territorial government. 

Recently, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced that Express Entry invitations to FSWP and CEC candidates will resume by “early July”.

Who got an invitation in the latest Express Entry draw?

As a tie-break rule of March 24, 2022 at 8:00:50 UTC was applied by IRCC, candidates who received an invitation to apply (ITA) in the latest Express Entry Draw #221 were those with - 

• a PNP nomination, 
• a minimum ranking score of CRS 772, and
• their Express Entry profile created before the tie-break applied. 

The tie-breaking rule is applied by IRCC to prioritize candidates that had created their profile at an earlier date over those entering the pool at a later point in time. 

Why the high CRS score in recent Express Entry draws?

A PNP nomination is worth CRS 600 in itself, under “D. Additional Points” of the Comprehensive Ranking System Criteria. Hence, Express Entry draws specifically targeting provincial nominees tend to have a minimum CRS requirement on the higher side. 

Am I eligible for Canadian PNP?

The PNP of Canada is for skilled foreign workers that - 

• Want to settle in Canada as permanent residents, 
• Wish to live within a particular Canadian province or territory, and 
• Have the education, skills, and work experience to make a positive contribution to the local economy of that province/territory. 

With their own specific requirements, each of the PNP streams targets a specific class of immigrants. A PNP stream can be aimed at - skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, international students, or business people. 

How to apply to the PNP of Canada?

The application process will be as per the immigration steam applying under. A PNP stream can be either linked with IRCC Express Entry or run independently. 

Enhanced nominations: Linked with IRCC Express Entry system, following a completely online electronic application (e-application) process. 

Base nominations: Non-Express Entry streams that can have either a paper-based or online application process. 

Are all provinces and territories part of Canadian PNP?

Canada comprises 10 provinces and two territories. Of these, nine provinces (except Quebec) and two territories (except Nunavut) are a part of the PNP of Canada. 

With a greater autonomy over the selection of newcomers, Quebec runs its own immigration programs. Nunavut has no immigration program as such.

Which PNP can I apply to?

The specific eligibility requirements must be met to be able to apply for Canada PR through the PNP route. A PNP Nomination Certificate can be used to submit an application for permanent residence to IRCC.