Canada has kicked off July with a fresh round of invitations under the Express Entry system, allowing another group of Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates to move one step closer to permanent residence.
The latest selection round, conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), invited hundreds of candidates who had already secured a provincial nomination. Notably, this draw recorded the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) requirement seen in a PNP-specific invitation round so far in 2026, signalling a positive development for many provincial nominees waiting in the Express Entry pool.
Also Read IRCC Issues 534 ITAs in PNP Express Entry Draw
IRCC Issues New Invitations Through Provincial Nominee Program
The July 6 Express Entry draw focused exclusively on candidates holding a provincial nomination. Since a provincial nomination automatically adds 600 CRS points to an applicant’s profile, PNP draws generally have much higher CRS cut-offs than other Express Entry categories.
This latest invitation round selected 534 candidates, while the CRS requirement dropped to 708, marking the lowest score required in any PNP-specific Express Entry draw this year.
Candidates also needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 2:49 p.m. UTC on June 4, 2026, to qualify under the tie-breaking rule.
Draw Summary
July 6, 2026 – Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program Draw
- Draw Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Invitations Issued: 534
- Minimum CRS Score: 708
- Tie-Breaking Rule: June 4, 2026, at 2:49 p.m. UTC
- Notable Highlight: Lowest CRS cut-off recorded in a PNP draw during 2026
Lower CRS Requirement Could Encourage Provincial Nominees
Although Provincial Nominee Program draws naturally require high CRS scores because nominees receive an additional 600 points, the latest reduction in the cut-off may encourage candidates expecting future provincial nominations.
Compared with several earlier PNP rounds held this year, the latest score reflects a noticeable decline. Earlier invitations under this category frequently required CRS scores approaching or exceeding 800 points.
For many applicants, provincial nomination continues to be one of the strongest pathways to Canadian permanent residence, especially for candidates whose CRS scores may not be competitive enough for general Express Entry selections.
Top Stories
- Express Entry Resumes in July with 534 ITAs for Provincial Nominee Candidates
- Manitoba Strengthens Skilled Immigration Strategy with New Provincial Invitation Round
- Saskatchewan Reports Strong Mid-Year Progress in 2026 Immigration Program
- Ontario Launches New Workforce Immigration Pathway, Replacing Previous Employer-Driven PR Streams
- Canada Invites 4,000 Healthcare and Social Services Professionals Through Latest Express Entry Draw
2026 Express Entry Strategy Continues to Prioritize Targeted Groups
Throughout 2026, Canada’s Express Entry system has largely moved away from broad all-program invitation rounds. Instead, IRCC has consistently conducted category-based and program-specific selections.
Most invitations this year have gone to:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates
- Provincial Nominee Program applicants
- French-speaking candidates
- Healthcare professionals
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Skilled trades workers
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
This targeted approach supports Canada’s labour market priorities while helping provinces address regional workforce shortages.
Express Entry Activity Remains Strong in 2026
With this latest round, IRCC has now held 35 Express Entry draws since the beginning of the year.
Thousands of invitations have been distributed across multiple immigration categories, demonstrating Canada’s continued commitment to welcoming skilled immigrants through economic immigration programs.
The latest Provincial Nominee Program selection also stands out because it represents the lowest CRS threshold recorded in this category since late 2025, reflecting gradual changes in invitation trends over recent months.
Complete Express Entry Draw History for 2026
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off | ITAs Issued |
| 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 | 786 | 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 |
Related Stories
- Express Entry Resumes in July with 534 ITAs for Provincial Nominee Candidates
- Canada Invites 4,000 Healthcare and Social Services Professionals Through Latest Express Entry Draw
- Canada Holds Second Physicians Express Entry Draw of 2026, Invites 271 Medical Professionals
- Canada Invites 4,000 CEC Candidates in Biggest Express Entry Round Since March
- Canada Resumes Express Entry Invitations with Major Provincial Nominee Draw since May 2026
Number of Express Entry Draws by Category in 2026
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 13 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 10 |
| French-Language proficiency | 6 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and social services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
Invitations Issued Across Express Entry Categories in 2026
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 41,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 30,500 |
| Healthcare and social services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5,939 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
The latest Express Entry round reinforces Canada’s continued reliance on targeted immigration selections rather than large all-program draws. Candidates with provincial nominations remain in a strong position to receive invitations, while applicants with Canadian work experience and those who qualify under category-based selection streams continue to benefit from frequent invitation rounds.
As immigration targets remain high for economic immigration, future Express Entry draws are expected to continue supporting candidates who align with Canada’s labour market priorities, making provincial nomination and category-based eligibility increasingly valuable pathways to Canadian permanent residence.
