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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system in a surprise Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw. In the latest round, IRCC invited 279 candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program stream.

CRS Score and Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this draw, candidates were required to:

  • Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 789
  • Have created their Express Entry profile before 12:59 a.m. (UTC) on September 5, 2025

Candidates with a provincial nomination automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points, which significantly boosts their ranking in the Express Entry pool.


Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

So far, 2026 has seen seven Express Entry draws. Below is a breakdown of the draws conducted this year:

Draw DateDraw TypeCRS Cut-Off ScoreITAs Issued
February 16Provincial Nominee Program789279
February 6French-Language Proficiency4008,500
February 3Provincial Nominee Program749423
January 21Canadian Experience Class5096,000
January 20Provincial Nominee Program746681
January 7Canadian Experience Class5118,000
January 5Provincial Nominee Program711574

Express Entry Trends in 2026

This latest round marks:

  • The 7th Express Entry draw of 2026
  • The 4th Provincial Nominee Program draw this year

In 2026, IRCC has largely focused on candidates already in Canada, particularly those with:

  • Provincial nominations
  • Canadian work experience
  • Strong French-language proficiency

Number of Draws by Category

Draw TypeNumber of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program4
Canadian Experience Class2
French-Language Proficiency1

Total ITAs Issued in 2026 So Far

As of now, IRCC has issued 24,457 ITAs across different categories in 2026:

Draw TypeITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class14,000
French-Language Proficiency8,500
Provincial Nominee Program1,534

What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

The continued focus on Provincial Nominee Program and Canadian Experience Class draws suggests that Canada is prioritizing candidates who are already contributing to the labour market and provincial economies.

Candidates with a provincial nomination remain in a strong position due to the additional CRS points, which often push scores well above general category cut-offs.

If you are in the Express Entry pool, improving your CRS score through provincial nomination, gaining additional work experience, or strengthening language scores can significantly enhance your chances of receiving an ITA in upcoming draws.

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