Draw #356

Express Entry draw #356 was held on July 21, 2025, issuing 202 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee category with a minimum CRS score of 788.

The CRS cutoff rose 38 points from the previous Provincial Nominee draw, indicating higher competition among candidates in this category.

A cutoff of 788 is on the higher end for Provincial Nominee draws, meaning candidates needed strong profiles across age, education, language, and work experience to qualify.

Provincial Nominee Program draws are for candidates who already hold a provincial nomination, which adds 600 CRS points.

Candidates below this cutoff should consider strategies like improving language scores, obtaining a provincial nomination, or gaining Canadian work experience to close the gap.