August 5, 2026
Canada has conducted its first Express Entry draw of August, inviting provincial nominees to apply for permanent residence. On August 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 507 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates who had received a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Candidates invited in this latest draw needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 768. They also had to create their Express Entry profile before 3:58 p.m. UTC on May 15, 2026.
The latest draw highlights the continued importance of provincial nominations for candidates seeking Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry. A provincial nomination can provide a significant boost to a candidate’s CRS score and can substantially improve their chances of receiving an ITA.
The latest Express Entry draw was specifically targeted at candidates with a provincial nomination.
IRCC uses the Express Entry system to manage applications for several major economic immigration programs. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are ranked according to their CRS scores, with invitations generally issued to the highest-ranking eligible candidates.
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French Language Proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French Language Proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and Social Services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French Language Proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| 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 selection is part of a broader trend in Canada’s 2026 Express Entry draws, with provincial nominees continuing to receive significant attention.
Out of the 43 Express Entry draws conducted so far in 2026, Provincial Nominee Program selections have accounted for 15 draws. Canadian Experience Class selections have accounted for 12 draws, while French-language proficiency draws have accounted for eight.
The remaining draws have focused on healthcare and social services, physicians with Canadian work experience, senior managers with Canadian work experience, trades workers and skilled military recruits.
This indicates that IRCC continues to use category-based and program-specific draws to target candidates who meet Canada’s changing economic and labour-market priorities.
According to the latest figures, IRCC has issued 105,123 Invitations to Apply through Express Entry draws in 2026.
The Canadian Experience Class has received the largest share, with 45,250 ITAs issued so far this year. French-language proficiency draws have resulted in 40,500 ITAs.
Provincial Nominee Program candidates have received 6,957 ITAs, while healthcare and social services candidates have received 8,000 invitations.
The remaining ITAs have been distributed among trades workers, physicians with Canadian work experience, senior managers with Canadian work experience and skilled military recruits.
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued in 2026 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 45,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 40,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6,957 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
| Total | 105,123 |
The August 4 draw shows that candidates with a provincial nomination can remain competitive in Canada’s Express Entry system.
A provincial nomination provides additional CRS points to an Express Entry candidate, potentially helping them move significantly higher in the ranking system. However, candidates must first meet the eligibility requirements of the relevant provincial immigration stream before receiving a nomination.
For candidates with CRS scores that may not be high enough for certain federal Express Entry draws, exploring suitable PNP options can therefore be an important part of their Canadian immigration strategy.
Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply in the August 4 draw can proceed with their application for Canadian permanent residence, provided they continue to meet the applicable requirements.
After receiving an ITA, candidates need to submit their complete permanent residence application within the timeframe specified by IRCC. Applicants should ensure that their documents, work experience, education, language test results, police certificates and other supporting information are accurate and up to date.
The latest Express Entry draw once again demonstrates that Canada is continuing to select candidates through targeted immigration pathways based on provincial nominations, Canadian work experience, language ability and specific occupational priorities.
For prospective immigrants, monitoring Express Entry draws and provincial nomination opportunities can help identify the most suitable pathway toward Canadian permanent residence.
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