Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its 15th Express Entry draw of 2026 on March 16, 2026, issuing 362 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence exclusively to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream.
This targeted draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 742 to receive an invitation. Due to the applied tie-breaking rule, only candidates who created or updated their Express Entry profile before 8:35 p.m. UTC on October 5, 2025, were eligible if they met or exceeded the cut-off.
This marks the sixth PNP-specific draw so far in 2026, continuing IRCC's pattern of prioritizing in-Canada applicants and those with provincial nominations. Compared to the most recent prior PNP draw on March 2, 2026 (which issued 264 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 710), this round invited 98 more candidates but at a notably higher score threshold of +32 points.
Key Highlights from 2026 Express Entry Activity (as of March 16, 2026)
IRCC has now issued a total of 45,604 ITAs across all categories this year, with a strong emphasis on candidates already in Canada—particularly those with Canadian work experience, provincial nominations, or French-language skills.
Breakdown of ITAs issued by category in 2026:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 24,000 ITAs
- French-language proficiency: 14,000 ITAs
- Healthcare and social services occupations: 4,000 ITAs
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 2,583 ITAs (including today's 362)
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 391 ITAs
- Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience: 250 ITAs
PNP draws remain highly competitive due to the automatic +600 CRS points awarded for a provincial nomination, which significantly boosts candidates' rankings and makes them strong contenders even in category-based or higher-cut-off rounds.
For candidates in the Express Entry pool:
- Holding a valid provincial nomination continues to provide a major advantage in these targeted PNP selections.
- The focus on in-Canada talent (via CEC, healthcare, physicians, senior managers, etc.) reflects IRCC's strategy to address immediate labor needs and support provincial economic priorities.
Stay tuned for future draws, as IRCC typically holds selections every 1–2 weeks, with sizes and categories varying based on inventory and immigration levels targets. If you're in the pool, regularly check your CRS score competitiveness—especially if you qualify for a provincial nomination or fall into one of the prioritized categories.
