May 12, 2026
Canada has held another Express Entry draw targeting Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, issuing 380 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the latest round of invitations conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The May 11, 2026 Express Entry draw specifically targeted candidates who had already secured a provincial nomination under one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs. To qualify for this round, applicants were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 798 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 5:23 a.m. UTC on January 7, 2026.
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French Language Proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French Language Proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French Language Proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French Language Proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| 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 |
The latest draw reflects Canada’s continued focus on selecting skilled immigrants who can contribute to regional labour market demands and support long-term economic growth across provinces and territories.
PNP-specific Express Entry draws generally have higher CRS cut-off scores because candidates receive an additional 600 CRS points after obtaining a provincial nomination certificate. This major CRS boost almost guarantees an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
The latest selection round became:
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program allows provinces and territories to nominate skilled foreign workers based on regional economic and labour market requirements. Provinces use the PNP pathway to attract immigrants with skills and work experience needed in specific industries facing labour shortages.
Many provinces, including:
continue to actively use Express Entry-linked provincial streams to invite highly skilled candidates.
Once a candidate receives a provincial nomination, their CRS score increases by 600 points, significantly improving their chances of receiving an ITA in future Express Entry draws.
Canada’s Express Entry system in 2026 has heavily focused on selecting candidates who already have strong connections to the Canadian labour market. IRCC has continued prioritizing:
The immigration department has also increased category-based selections to address labour shortages in key sectors across Canada.
So far in 2026, IRCC has conducted draws under the following categories:
Canada has issued 72,007 Invitations to Apply through Express Entry in 2026 so far.
Breakdown of invitations issued:
| Draw Type | Total Number of Invitations |
| Canadian Experience Class | 34,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 26,000 |
| Healthcare & social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4,116 |
| Physicians with Canadian experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian experience | 250 |
The latest Express Entry draw highlights Canada’s strategy of selecting candidates who can quickly integrate into the workforce and contribute to the country’s economic recovery and long-term immigration goals.
Immigration experts expect Canada to continue conducting regular Express Entry draws throughout 2026, particularly for candidates already working in Canada or nominated by provinces.
With labour shortages continuing across healthcare, construction, technology, transportation and skilled trades sectors, Canada remains committed to welcoming skilled immigrants through economic immigration pathways.
Candidates with provincial nominations, Canadian work experience and strong language scores are expected to remain highly competitive in upcoming draws.
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