Express Entry-aligned provincial nominee streams having a busy FebruaryExpress Entry candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 CRS points

Canada’s provincial nominee programs have been active over the past few weeks, with invitation rounds taking place in Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario.  

Combined, the three provinces have issued more than 900 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence since the start of February.

Many of these invitations were issued through so-called “enhanced” nomination streams that allow provinces to nominate candidates in the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada’s main economic immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively moved to the front of the line for an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence (ITA).

A good example of how these points can be beneficial is the recent three-week gap between Express Entry invitation rounds that followed the January 30 draw.

More time between draws allows the Express Entry pool to replenish with higher-scoring candidates, which can have the effect of increasing the cut-off score.

However, Express Entry candidates who obtain the additional 600 points for a provincial nomination are effectively guaranteed an ITA regardless of the minimum score drawn.