Prince Edward Island releases immigration draw schedule for 2026

Prince Edward Island has officially shared its expected Invitation to Apply (ITA) schedule for 2026, giving immigration applicants an early idea of when provincial nomination draws may take place during the year.

By releasing a tentative draw calendar in advance, Prince Edward Island continues to stand out as the only Canadian province or territory to offer this level of transparency for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates.

The Government of Prince Edward Island published the anticipated invitation schedule on its official immigration website on January 7, 2026.

PEI PNP draw plans for 2026

As per the published schedule, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) is planning to conduct 12 Expression of Interest (EOI) draws throughout 2026. These draws are expected to take place every month, generally around the middle of each month.

Below is the list of tentative draw dates announced by the province:

PEI has clearly stated that this schedule is shared for general information purposes only. The province does not guarantee that every draw will occur exactly on the listed dates.

Draws may be conducted earlier or later than scheduled and PEI may also hold more than one draw in a month, something the province has done in the past.

Important points for PEI PNP candidates

In 2025, Prince Edward Island conducted three unexpected or “surprise” draws outside of its original schedule: one in January, one in October and another in December.

Candidates planning to apply through the PEI PNP should also be aware that an Expression of Interest profile remains valid for six months from the date of submission. This is shorter than the validity period in many other provinces, where EOIs often remain active for up to one year.

Applicants are advised to keep their EOI profiles updated at all times. If an EOI expires, a new profile must be submitted to remain eligible for future draws. PEI also encourages candidates to submit their EOI as soon as they meet the eligibility criteria of their selected stream.

How PEI selects candidates

The number of invitations issued and the profiles selected in each draw may vary. Selections depend on several factors, including PEI’s nomination allocation for 2026, labour market requirements and the province’s priority sectors and occupations.

Looking back at PEI PNP draws in 2025

In 2025, Prince Edward Island conducted a total of 14 draws, even though only 11 were originally listed in its anticipated schedule. This increase was due to the three unscheduled draws held during the year.

Out of the 11 scheduled draws, PEI followed the planned dates for eight rounds.

Overall, the province issued 1,609 Invitations to Apply in 2025. Almost all invitations were issued under the Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry categories.

Most invitations targeted candidates working in priority occupations, as well as international graduates from selected designated learning institutions. Only one invitation was issued through the Business Impact Category under the Work Permit Stream.

In 2025, PEI’s priority sectors included healthcare, trades and manufacturing. The province has not yet announced its priority sectors for 2026.

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