Canada has opened its Express Entry invitations for August with a new round of invitations targeting candidates who have already secured a provincial nomination. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 507 candidates to apply for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), continuing its strategy of prioritizing applicants who can meet specific regional labour market needs.
The latest selection round marks the first Express Entry draw of August and further reflects IRCC’s ongoing emphasis on provincial immigration pathways alongside candidates with Canadian work experience.
Also Read Canada Starts August with 507 Invitations in New Express Entry PNP Draw
August 4 Express Entry Draw Results
The August 4 draw was conducted exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program candidates. To receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), applicants were required to:
- Hold a valid provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned PNP stream.
- Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 768.
- Submit their Express Entry profile before 3:58 p.m. UTC on May 15, 2026, which served as the tie-breaking rule.
Because a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to an applicant’s profile, PNP-specific draws typically have much higher CRS cut-offs than other Express Entry invitation rounds.
Latest Express Entry Draw at a Glance
| Draw Date | Category | Invitations Issued | CRS Cut-off |
| August 4, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 507 | 768 |
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IRCC Continues Strong Focus on Targeted Immigration
The latest invitation round increases the total number of Express Entry draws held in 2026 to 43. Rather than conducting only general invitation rounds, IRCC has continued to organize category-specific draws designed to attract candidates who match Canada’s economic and labour market priorities.
Throughout the year, invitations have largely been directed toward candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), French-language proficiency category, healthcare occupations, physicians, trades, senior managers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits.
This targeted approach allows Canada to address workforce shortages while supporting provincial economic development and long-term immigration objectives.
Recent Express Entry Draw History
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Score | 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 |
Breakdown of Express Entry Draws in 2026
The 43 Express Entry rounds conducted so far this year have been distributed across several categories.
| Draw Category | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 15 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 12 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 8 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
Provincial Nominee Program draws remain the most frequently conducted invitation rounds in 2026, followed closely by Canadian Experience Class selections.
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- Canada Begins August Express Entry Draws with 507 Invitations for Provincial Nominees
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- Newfoundland and Labrador Invites 445 Immigrants in Major July 2026 Selection Round
- Manitoba Invites 766 Candidates in Targeted PNP Draw for Manufacturing, Utilities and Skilled Workers
More Than 105,000 Invitations Issued This Year
With the latest round completed, IRCC has now issued 105,123 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry in 2026.
The majority of invitations have been distributed to applicants already working in Canada or those who meet specialized economic priorities identified by the federal government.
| Express Entry Category | 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 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 662 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
The figures demonstrate that CEC and French-language proficiency candidates have received the largest share of invitations this year, while targeted occupation-based categories continue to support Canada’s workforce demands.
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
The latest PNP draw highlights the continued value of obtaining a provincial nomination for candidates seeking Canadian permanent residence. While PNP-specific CRS cut-offs remain high due to the additional 600 points awarded with a nomination, successfully securing a nomination significantly improves an applicant’s chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.
With IRCC maintaining a steady schedule of category-based draws throughout 2026, candidates who qualify under provincial programs, Canadian work experience streams, French-language categories, or other priority occupations may continue to see opportunities in the months ahead as Canada advances its economic immigration objectives.
