IRCC conducts new Express Entry draw for PNP candidates

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has carried out another round of invitations through the federal Express Entry system, targeting applicants nominated under a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The department distributed 362 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an invitation in this draw was 742. Candidates were also required to have created their Express Entry profiles before 8:35 p.m. UTC on October 5, 2025.

This latest invitation round marks the fifteenth Express Entry draw of 2026.

Draw type: Provincial Nominee Program
ITAs issued: 362
Minimum CRS score: 742
Profile submission deadline: October 5, 2025, at 8:35 p.m. UTC
Total draws in 2026 so far: 15
Focus: Candidates with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience

Overview of Express Entry and Provincial Nominations

The Express Entry system manages applications for three main federal economic immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Through this system, candidates receive a CRS score based on factors such as age, education, language ability, and work experience.

Applicants with a provincial nomination, such as those selected through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, receive an additional 600 CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an ITA. These nominations allow provinces to select individuals who can contribute to their local labour markets.

Summary of Express Entry activity in 2026

According to IRCC data, this year’s draws have largely prioritized applicants already in Canada or those holding provincial nominations. The pattern reflects a focus on candidates with established ties to the Canadian labour market.

Between January and March 2026, IRCC held 15 draws across various categories. These included rounds for the Canadian Experience Class, French-speaking candidates, and multiple sector-specific invitations in healthcare, management, and skilled trades.

Recent Express Entry draws in 2026

Earlier draws this year have included several notable invitation rounds. On March 5, 2026, IRCC invited 250 senior managers with Canadian work experience, while a day earlier, 5,500 French-speaking candidates were selected with a CRS cut-off of 397. Other draws throughout February and March targeted healthcare professionals, Canadian Experience Class applicants, and additional PNP nominees.

The following table summarises the 2026 Express Entry draws reported to date:

March 5 – Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience (CRS 429, 250 ITAs)
March 4 – French-language proficiency (CRS 397, 5,500 ITAs)
March 3 – Canadian Experience Class (CRS 508, 4,000 ITAs)
March 2 – Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 710, 264 ITAs)
February 20 – Healthcare and social services (CRS 467, 4,000 ITAs)
February 19 – Physicians with Canadian work experience (CRS 169, 391 ITAs)
February 17 – Canadian Experience Class (CRS 508, 6,000 ITAs)
February 16 – Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 789, 279 ITAs)
February 6 – French-language proficiency (CRS 400, 8,500 ITAs)
February 3 – Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 749, 423 ITAs)
January 21 – Canadian Experience Class (CRS 509, 6,000 ITAs)
January 20 – Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 746, 681 ITAs)
January 7 – Canadian Experience Class (CRS 511, 8,000 ITAs)
January 5 – Provincial Nominee Program (CRS 711, 574 ITAs)

Distribution of draws by category

So far in 2026, IRCC has conducted multiple rounds under specific selection categories. These include five PNP draws, four for the Canadian Experience Class, two for French-language proficiency, and one each for healthcare, senior managers, and physicians with Canadian work experience.

In total, 45,604 invitations have been issued across all draw types this year. The largest share was allocated to Canadian Experience Class candidates, accounting for 24,000 ITAs, followed by 14,000 for French-speaking applicants. PNP draws have produced 2,221 invitations to date, while smaller categories such as healthcare and management have seen fewer but targeted selection rounds.

Public interest and regional significance

Provincial nomination draws continue to play a key role in Canada’s immigration system, enabling provinces to address local labour shortages and demographic needs. Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta are among the jurisdictions regularly nominating candidates through their respective PNPs. In Manitoba’s case, the MPNP remains a central pathway for attracting skilled workers and international graduates to the province.

PNP-linked Express Entry draws, such as the most recent one, demonstrate how federal and provincial selection mechanisms operate together to manage immigration levels under Canada’s annual targets.

Context within IRCC’s 2026 immigration framework

The 2026 Express Entry activity aligns with IRCC’s multi-year immigration plan, which emphasises economic migration and regional distribution of newcomers. Category-based draws introduced in 2023 have continued to evolve, targeting candidates in priority sectors and linguistic groups that support economic growth.

While CRS thresholds vary between draws, PNP-linked invitations consistently remain among the highest-scoring categories due to the additional points awarded for provincial endorsement.

Outlook and monitoring

IRCC has not announced the schedule for future draws, but the department’s 2026 activity indicates continued emphasis on applicants already contributing to the Canadian labour market. Stakeholders across provinces are monitoring these trends closely as part of broader workforce planning efforts.

Readers can follow ongoing updates on Express Entry and PNP developments through official immigration news sources and public data releases from IRCC.