Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again turned its focus to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the latest Express Entry invitation round.
On April 27, 2026, the department issued 473 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to candidates who hold a provincial nomination. The draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 795.
To be eligible, candidates had to have created their Express Entry profile no later than 11:11 p.m. UTC on April 13, 2026.
This was the 23rd Express Entry draw of 2026 and the ninth PNP-specific round so far this year.
Why PNP Draws Matter
A provincial nomination is one of the most powerful ways to boost your CRS score — it adds 600 points automatically. This explains why the cutoff scores in PNP-only draws remain significantly higher than in general or category-based rounds. For many candidates, securing a nomination is the fastest and most reliable pathway to an ITA and eventual permanent residence.
Express Entry Activity in 2026 So Far
IRCC has maintained a strong pace in 2026, issuing a total of 65,627 ITAs across 23 draws. The department continues to prioritize candidates already in Canada, especially those with Canadian work experience or provincial nominations.
2026 Draws by Category
| Draw Type | Number of Draws | ITAs Issued |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9 | 3,736 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 7 | 32,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 4 | 22,000 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 | 4,000 |
| Trades | 1 | 3,000 |
| Physicians (Canadian work exp.) | 1 | 391 |
| Senior Managers (Canadian work exp.) | 1 | 250 |
Full List of 2026 Express Entry Draws
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off | ITAs Issued |
| Apr-27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| Apr-15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| Apr-14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| Apr-13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| Apr-02 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| Mar-31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| Mar-30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| Mar-18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| Mar-17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| Mar-16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| Mar-05 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| Mar-04 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| Mar-03 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| Mar-02 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| Feb-20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| Feb-19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| Feb-17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| Feb-16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| Feb-06 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| Feb-03 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| Jan-21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| Jan-20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| Jan-07 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| Jan-05 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
What This Means for You
If you hold a provincial nomination, your chances of receiving an ITA remain excellent — IRCC is clearly committed to inviting PNP candidates at regular intervals. Even without a nomination yet, many provinces continue to issue nominations through aligned streams, especially in high-demand occupations.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool should:
- Keep their profiles up to date
- Monitor provincial nomination opportunities
- Consider improving language scores or gaining more Canadian work experience to strengthen their CRS ranking
The next draw could come as early as this week. Stay tuned for updates!
