Express Entry Draw Targets Provincial Nominees

Another Express Entry Draw Focuses on Provincial Nominees

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada just issued more invitations to apply through the Express Entry system.

The immigration department sent out 681 ITAs in a draw specifically for Provincial Nominee Program candidates.

If you wanted to be considered in this draw, you needed two things. First, a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 746. Second, you had to create your Express Entry profile before 4:09 a.m. UTC on November 19, 2025.

What’s Happened So Far in 2026

This latest draw marks the second Provincial Nominee Program draw and the third Express Entry selection overall this year. It follows a PNP draw on January 5 and a Canadian Experience Class draw on January 7.

The pattern is pretty clear. IRCC has started the year by continuing to prioritize candidates already in Canada and those with Canadian labour market experience or provincial nominations.

Here’s the breakdown of draws by type. The Canadian Experience Class has seen one draw, while the Provincial Nominee Program has also had one draw.

The Numbers Tell the Story

Looking at the specific draws so far, the January 7 Canadian Experience Class draw had a CRS cutoff of 511 and issued 8,000 ITAs.

The January 5 Provincial Nominee Program draw required a score of 711 and issued 574 invitations.

In total across 2026 so far, IRCC has issued 9,255 ITAs. The Canadian Experience Class accounts for 8,000 of those, while the Provincial Nominee Program makes up 574.

Why January Matters

January typically sees increased Express Entry activity. IRCC looks to issue more invitations that count towards its admissions target through federal pathways for the year.

There’s always a lag between when someone receives an ITA and when they actually land in Canada. Between application processing and wait times, admissions usually happen at least six months after IRCC delivers an invitation.