Canada’s Express Entry system saw a sharp slowdown in April, issuing just 1,246 invitations across two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws — a steep drop from over 13,000 in March. Despite earlier promises to prioritize Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, none have been invited since February.
May brought a shift in focus: IRCC held its first-ever draw for education professionals, inviting 1,000 candidates with CRS scores of 479 or higher. This new category-based selection is also the first draw under Prime Minister Carney’s Liberal government.
At the same time, the Express Entry backlog is worsening. Although the total number of applications across all programs has declined for four consecutive months, nearly 44% of PNP-linked Express Entry files are now delayed — the highest rate in nearly three years.
With traditional draws slowing, new categories emerging, and processing delays rising, many candidates may need to adjust expectations or explore alternative pathways.
