Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues its steady pace of invitations through the Express Entry system. On May 11, 2026, the department issued 380 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a targeted draw for candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
This marks the first Express Entry draw of the month and the tenth PNP-specific selection round so far in 2026. Overall, it represents the twenty-seventh Express Entry draw of the year.
Eligibility Requirements for This Draw
Candidates needed to meet these specific criteria to be considered:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 798
- An Express Entry profile created before 5:23 a.m. UTC on January 7, 2026
The relatively high CRS cut-off reflects the strong competition among PNP-nominated candidates, who benefit from a significant boost in their scores.
Understanding the PNP Advantage in Express Entry
The Provincial Nominee Program allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate skilled workers who meet their local labour market needs. Once nominated, candidates receive an additional 600 CRS points in their Express Entry profile. This substantial boost almost guarantees an ITA in future draws, making PNP nominations one of the most effective pathways to permanent residence.
IRCC has focused heavily this year on candidates already in Canada, especially those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience. This strategy supports economic immigration goals while helping provinces address specific skill shortages.
Express Entry Activity in 2026 So Far
Here is a chronological list of all Express Entry draws conducted in 2026 up to May 11:
- May 11: Provincial Nominee Program – 380 ITAs, CRS cut-off 798
- April 29: French-Language proficiency – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 400
- April 28: Canadian Experience Class – 2,000 ITAs, CRS 514
- April 27: Provincial Nominee Program – 473 ITAs, CRS 795
- April 15: French-Language proficiency – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 419
- April 14: Canadian Experience Class – 2,000 ITAs, CRS 515
- April 13: Provincial Nominee Program – 324 ITAs, CRS 786
- April 2: Trades – 3,000 ITAs, CRS 477
- March 31: Canadian Experience Class – 2,250 ITAs, CRS 509
- March 30: Provincial Nominee Program – 356 ITAs, CRS 802
- March 18: French-Language proficiency – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 393
- March 17: Canadian Experience Class – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 507
- March 16: Provincial Nominee Program – 362 ITAs, CRS 742
- March 5: Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience – 250 ITAs, CRS 429
- March 4: French-Language proficiency – 5,500 ITAs, CRS 397
- March 3: Canadian Experience Class – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 508
- March 2: Provincial Nominee Program – 264 ITAs, CRS 710
- February 20: Healthcare and social services – 4,000 ITAs, CRS 467
- February 19: Physicians with Canadian work experience – 391 ITAs, CRS 169
- February 17: Canadian Experience Class – 6,000 ITAs, CRS 508
- February 16: Provincial Nominee Program – 279 ITAs, CRS 789
- February 6: French-Language proficiency – 8,500 ITAs, CRS 400
- February 3: Provincial Nominee Program – 423 ITAs, CRS 749
- January 21: Canadian Experience Class – 6,000 ITAs, CRS 509
- January 20: Provincial Nominee Program – 681 ITAs, CRS 746
- January 7: Canadian Experience Class – 8,000 ITAs, CRS 511
- January 5: Provincial Nominee Program – 574 ITAs, CRS 711
Distribution of Draws by Category
IRCC has conducted the following number of draws by category this year:
- Provincial Nominee Program: 10 draws
- Canadian Experience Class: 8 draws
- French-Language proficiency: 5 draws
- One draw each for Physicians with Canadian work experience, Healthcare and social services, Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience, and Trades
Total Invitations Issued in 2026
So far this year, IRCC has issued a total of 72,007 ITAs across all categories. The breakdown includes:
- Canadian Experience Class: 34,250 ITAs
- French-Language proficiency: 26,000 ITAs
- Provincial Nominee Program: 4,116 ITAs
- Healthcare and social services: 4,000 ITAs
- Trades: 3,000 ITAs
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 391 ITAs
- Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience: 250 ITAs
What This Means for Candidates
The latest PNP draw highlights the continuing importance of securing a provincial nomination for those aiming for permanent residence through Express Entry. While general draws can have lower CRS cut-offs in category-based rounds, PNP-targeted draws maintain higher thresholds due to the added points and strong pool of nominated candidates.
Prospective immigrants should focus on improving their language skills, gaining Canadian work experience where possible, and exploring PNP streams in provinces that align with their profile. Staying updated with draw results and maintaining an active, competitive Express Entry profile remains essential in this dynamic system.
As Canada works toward its immigration targets, Express Entry continues to serve as a fast and efficient pathway for skilled workers. The emphasis on in-Canada candidates and provincial priorities is expected to shape the remainder of 2026 as well. (
