Updated July 2026. IRCC’s Express Entry draw on March 2, 2026 (Draw #399) invited 264 candidates through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream — the first draw of March and the fifth PNP-specific round of the year.
Draw Details
- Date: March 2, 2026
- Program: Provincial Nominee Program
- CRS cutoff: 710
- Invitations issued: 264
- Tie-break rule: August 7, 2025 at 18:02:56 UTC
As with every PNP round, the 710 cutoff reflects the automatic 600-point CRS bonus that comes with a valid provincial nomination — without it, a base score anywhere from roughly 110 upward can clear this kind of draw once nominated.
How 2026 Had Shaped Up by Early March
This was the eleventh Express Entry selection round of 2026, bringing the year-to-date total to 35,112 invitations. The mix through the first two months leaned heavily toward candidates already connected to Canada:
- Provincial Nominee Program: 5 draws
- Canadian Experience Class: 3 draws
- French-Language Proficiency: 1 draw
- Physicians with Canadian Work Experience: 1 draw
- Healthcare and Social Services: 1 draw
PNP rounds were the single most frequent draw type, consistent with the broader 2025-2026 pattern of IRCC prioritizing candidates with a demonstrated regional or in-Canada connection over general, all-program invitations.
What This Means If You’re in the Pool
If you hold a provincial nomination, cutoffs in the 700-790 range have been typical for PNP draws this year — your nomination’s 600-point bonus does most of the work. Without one, your realistic path depends on which category-based draws match your profile (CEC, healthcare, French-language, or one of the skilled-trades and STEM categories introduced later in 2026).
Source: IRCC, Express Entry: Rounds of invitations.
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