Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently conducted a draw through the Express Entry system, issuing 264 Invitations to Apply (ITA) for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. To qualify for this draw, candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 710 and have created an Express Entry profile before 6:02 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on August 7, 2025.
| Draw date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and Social Services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language Proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Today’s draw marks the fifth PNP draw and the eleventh Express Entry selection of the year. It is also the first draw of March. PNP candidates continue to be a priority under the Express Entry system, with those holding a provincial nomination receiving an additional 600 CRS points, essentially ensuring an ITA.
Throughout 2026, Express Entry draws have predominantly focused on candidates within Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience. PNP draws have been the most frequent so far this year.
Draw Type Distribution in 2026
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 1 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 |
So far in 2026, IRCC has issued a total of 35,112 ITAs across various draw types. These include Canadian Experience Class, French-Language Proficiency, Healthcare and Social Services, Provincial Nominee Program, and Physicians with Canadian Work Experience.
Latest draw results (March 2, 2026)
In the March 2 draw, IRCC issued:
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264 Invitations to Apply (ITAs)
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Minimum CRS score: 710
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Tie-breaker timestamp: profile created before August 7, 2025 at 6:02 p.m. UTC
Why PNP draw CRS scores look “high”
A provincial nomination gives 600 additional CRS points under Express Entry. Because of that, PNP draw cut-offs are usually well above 600 and can’t be compared directly to CEC or category-based draws.
Internal guidance: If you recently got nominated, make sure you accept/confirm the nomination in Express Entry so the 600 points are added correctly.
What the tie-breaker means
When multiple candidates have the same CRS score at the cut-off, IRCC uses the date and time the Express Entry profile was submitted to decide who gets invited first. Updating your profile later does not change the original submission timestamp for tie-break purposes.
What to do if you received an ITA
If you received an ITA in this draw:
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You have 60 days to submit your complete PR application through your IRCC account.
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Start document collection early (police certificates and other items can take time).
Official government outlinks (bookmark)
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Express Entry rounds of invitations (latest + previous): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html
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Ministerial instructions table for Express Entry rounds: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/ministerial-instructions/express-entry-rounds.html
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CRS points breakdown (shows 600 for nomination): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score/crs-criteria.html
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Provincial nominees via Express Entry (600 points explained): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html
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Apply after ITA (60-day deadline): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/apply-permanent-residence.html
