Express Entry draw invites provincial nominees, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations through the Express Entry system.
In the latest round, the department invited 380 candidates through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw.
To qualify for this selection round, candidates needed:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 798; and
- An Express Entry profile created before 5:23 a.m. UTC on January 7, 2026.
Summary Of Express Entry Draws In 2026
| Draw Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off Score | ITAs Issued |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
This was the tenth Provincial Nominee Program draw held through Express Entry in 2026 and the twenty-seventh Express Entry selection overall this year.
PNP-specific draws focus on candidates who already received a provincial nomination from a Canadian province or territory.
It is important to note that a provincial nomination adds 600 extra CRS points to a candidate’s Express Entry profile. Because of this major score boost, nominated candidates usually receive invitations quickly in upcoming federal draws.
IRCC Continues Focus On In-Canada Candidates
So far in 2026, Express Entry draws have mostly focused on candidates already living and working in Canada.
This includes candidates with:
- Provincial nominations
- Canadian work experience
- Strong French-language ability
The table below shows how many draws have been held under each category this year:
| Draw Type | Number Of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 10 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 8 |
| French-Language proficiency | 5 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
French-language proficiency draws and Canadian Experience Class draws continue to account for the largest share of invitations in 2026.
Total Invitations Issued In 2026
Up to now, IRCC has issued 72,007 invitations to apply (ITAs) across all Express Entry categories this year.
The breakdown is listed below:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 34,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 26,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4,116 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
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