IRCC Announce First Express Entry Draw of 2026

Canada held its first Express Entry draw of 2026. This draw is only for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. Last year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted 24 PNP-specific Express Entry draws that invited 10,898 candidates to apply for permanent residence (PR).

If you have been invited to Latest Express Entry draw, you will have 60 days to submit a complete application for PR to the IRCC. Your Invitation to Apply (ITA) will no longer be valid if this timeframe passes.

Express Entry Draw - Result

The Express Entry latest draw was held on January 05, 2026. ITAs were issued to 574 candidates across a PNP-specific draw. Invited candidates were required to have a minimum CRS score of 711 to be eligible for an invitation.

• Draw Number: 389
• Date of Round: January 05, 2026
• Type of Draw: Provincial Nominee Program
• Number of ITAs Issued: 574
• CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate Invited: 711
• Tie-Breaking Rule: October 06, 2025, at 01:54:31 UTC

If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

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How the First Express Entry Draw of 2026 Affects PNP Applicants?

The first Express Entry draw of 2026 signals IRCC’s continued focus on Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. Since this draw was exclusively for PNP applicants, it highlights strong demand for candidates who Canadian provinces have already selected based on local labour market needs.

With a high CRS cut-off score of 711, the draw reflects the additional 600 CRS points awarded to nominees, making provincial nomination a decisive factor for receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

However, according to the overall admission plan for the Canada Immigration Plan 2026-2028. They are inviting 3,80,000 permanent residents for economic immigration. 91,500 candidates will be welcoming through the PNP-specific draw.

For PNP applicants, this draw underscores the importance of securing a provincial nomination to improve their chances of PR early in the year. It also suggests that IRCC may continue to issue targeted PNP draws in 2026, providing a clear and reliable pathway for candidates aligned with provincial priorities.

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Source: canada.ca

Tags: Express Entry Express Entry Latest Draw Express Entry Program Canadian Experience Class Express Entry Draw Canada Immigration Federal Skilled Worker Program Latest Express Entry Draw Canada Immigration News