Know the most active provinces with PNP drawings in September 2025

The recent September 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws demonstrate that provinces in Canada are active in selecting candidates that best fit their labour and economic development needs. 

In this blog, I will tell you which provinces have had the highest number of invitations issued, in order for you to know the current trend of NPPs and plan your process. Read with me to the end - let's get started!

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Provincial drawings in September and key programs

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Several provinces have made relevant announcements about new additional quotas for permanent residency and lotteries for foreigners with specific skills and skilled workers. Here I share the provinces and their lotteries:

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• Manitoba: immigration leader with mass draws

On September 4, Manitoba opened the month with one of its largest rounds, issuing more than 3,000 invitations to candidates. This draw focused on highly competitive profiles in the following tracks:

• International education
• Skilled worker in Manitoba
• Skilled worker abroad

On September 18, two weeks later, it issued 911 Letters of Recommendation for Application (LAA) under a more direct approach:

• No cut-off score: the province did not rely on a minimum score, but prioritized labor demand.
• Main criterion: Invitations were targeted to candidates who directly fit the strategic recruitment initiatives and immediate needs of the labor market.

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• Alberta: more quotas and record activity in September

Alberta obtained an increase of 1528 slots in its provincial nomination allocation for 2025. The new cap amounts to 6403 nominations, giving it a greater ability to invite qualified immigrants.

The province held a large number of draws in the first half of the month:

• Total invitations: 1376 ITA between September 2 and 10.
• Largest draw: September 4 invited 891 applicants through the Alberta Opportunity Stream alone.
• Focus: the majority of invitations were concentrated on the Alberta Express Entry lanes and the health care route, demonstrating the urgency to fill key vacancies.

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• Ontario: the hallmark of labor supply 

The Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP) issued 1893 invitations on September 3. This draw was aimed at candidates with job openings in 77 priority occupations currently residing in Canada. Ontario is clearly focusing on profiles that already have secure employment in high-demand sectors.

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• Newfoundland and Labrador: 353 invitations in ninth round of the year

On September 12, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) conducted its ninth selection round of the year, sending out a total of 353 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates. These were distributed through two key programs: 

1. The Provincial Nominee Program (NL-PNP) 
2. and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

Importantly, this round set a new record for 2025, representing the largest number of AIP-specific invitations issued by the province to date, confirming the momentum of its intensive recruitment strategy.

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• Prince Edward Island (PEI): recent draw and anticipated schedule

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI-PNP) is one of the few in Canada that publishes its draw schedule in advance.

The most recent draw scheduled in this advance planning was on September 18 (Draw #8). As of the date of this article, we expect to see its official publication.

Although PEI-PNP publishes these dates in advance, the province clarifies that the selections are not guaranteed to take place exactly on that day, but are a tentative schedule for information purposes.

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Eligibility factors in PNP lotteries

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While requirements vary, each province emphasizes a key factor that candidates should consider:

• Manitoba: in this province, eligibility depends on fitting into one of its specific pathways, especially those focused on International Education and Provincial Experience.

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• Ontario: here it is essential to have a valid job offer in a priority occupation. This is a determining factor.

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• Newfoundland and Labrador: eligibility for their NL-PNP or AIP programs (which often require a job offer) is the starting point.

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• Alberta (AAIP): eligibility often focuses on having a profile in Express Entry with a high-demand occupation, or demonstrating current work experience in the province (through the Alberta Opportunity Stream). 

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• Prince Edward Island (PEI): Selection depends heavily on the candidate's Expression of Interest (EOI) score. It is also key to have work experience or an active job offer in a priority sector on the Island, such as health care or technology.

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This year 2025, Canada has focused on offering permanent residency to international talent and skilled workers through various provincial nomination programs. Now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity!

Need help finding your immigration pathway? Visit our website at Immiland Canada and learn about the immigration services available to you.  

If you would like to have your immigration profile evaluated by one of our CICC regulated consultants, click here, or schedule a consultation directly.

I hope this topic will be helpful for your travel plans to Canada. Thank you very much for reading, see you in the next blog!

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With love, 

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Immiland Canada