Second Draw of 2022 Focuses on PNP Candidates with CRS
Cut-Off of 745
On January 19, 2022, IRCC held Express Entry Draw #214, the
second draw of the year, again targeting candidates under the Provincial
Nominee Program (PNP). In this round, 1,036 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were
issued, with a minimum CRS score of 745.
Compared to the first draw of the year, this round invited
nearly three times more candidates, showing strong momentum for provincial
nominations early in 2022. Although the CRS cut-off was lower than Draw #213,
it remained high due to the 600 additional CRS points that all PNP nominees
receive automatically.
This draw confirmed
that IRCC was continuing to rely heavily on provinces and territories to select
candidates who best fit regional labor market needs. By prioritizing PNP
applicants, Canada ensured that newcomers arriving through Express Entry
already had strong connections to specific provinces—often through job offers,
local experience, or in-demand skills.
For many candidates, provincial nomination became the most
realistic and powerful pathway to permanent residence, especially for those who
could not reach high CRS scores in general draws alone.
Draw #214 reinforced one clear message: in early 2022, PNP
was the fastest lane to Canadian permanent residence.
