February 2026 was a busy month across both Express Entry and several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). One important point: Express Entry issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, while provinces usually issue invitations to apply for a provincial nomination (a step that can lead to PR later).
Below is what February activity looks like based on published draw results.
How many Express Entry PR invitations were issued in February 2026?
IRCC held six Express Entry draws in February 2026 and issued 19,593 ITAs in total.
The month included large targeted draws for:
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French-language proficiency (8,500 ITAs)
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Canadian Experience Class (CEC) (6,000 ITAs)
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Healthcare and social services (4,000 ITAs)
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A smaller draw for physicians with Canadian work experience (391 ITAs)
Which provinces issued invitations in February 2026?
These are provincial invitations to apply (not PR approvals).
Ontario (OINP): 3,229 invitations
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Feb 2: 1,825 invitations
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Feb 18: 1,404 invitations
Alberta (AAIP): at least 1,356 invitations (plus 2 draws listed as “less than 10”)
Alberta’s official draw table shows seven February draws, including 915 invitations on Feb 2 and other draws (212, 147, 32, 50), plus two draws reported as “Less than 10”. That means the exact February total is not stated publicly, but it is at least 1,356.
British Columbia (BC PNP): 889 Skills Immigration invitations
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Feb 4: 429 invitations
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Feb 11: 460 invitations
(BC also ran a small entrepreneur draw around the same period, but the 889 figure above reflects the two Skills Immigration rounds.)
Atlantic provinces (NB + PEI): 635 invitations
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New Brunswick: 170 + 160 (Feb 2), and 196 (Feb 11)
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Prince Edward Island: 109 (Feb 19)
What February 2026 suggests about selection priorities
IRCC has confirmed that French proficiency and healthcare/social services remain priority categories, and it added new 2026 categories (including physicians with Canadian work experience).
This supports a clear trend: targeted selection matters more than “waiting for a general draw.”
Practical guidance if you’re trying to position your profile
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If you received an Express Entry ITA, you generally have 60 days to submit your PR application.
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If you received a BC PNP invitation, the BC guide states you may have up to 30 days to submit a complete application (check your ITA for the exact deadline).
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If you are in a provincial process, remember: provinces can invite you, but IRCC still makes the final PR decision (medical, criminal, security, and program rules).
FAQ
Is a provincial invitation the same as a PR invitation?
No. Provinces usually invite you to apply for a nomination. Express Entry ITAs are invitations to apply for PR.
How long do I have after an Express Entry ITA?
IRCC states the ITA is valid for 60 days.
Can I have more than one Express Entry profile?
No—IRCC says you may only have one profile at a time.
Does a provincial nomination guarantee PR approval?
No. IRCC still applies admissibility and selection rules and makes the final decision.
Reality check (before you make decisions)
High invitation numbers do not mean guaranteed results. Cut-offs and targeting can change quickly, and provinces can pause or narrow invitations without notice. Also, an invitation is not approval—your outcome depends on eligibility, document quality, and admissibility checks.
