Canada’s immigration department has issued a fresh round of invitations to apply (ITAs) for candidates holding a provincial nomination under the Express Entry system.
The July 20 draw allocated 511 ITAs to applicants who met two conditions:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 744.
- An Express Entry profile created before 6:11 p.m. UTC on May 26 2026.
2026 Express Entry draw snapshot
| Date | Draw type | CRS cut‑off | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| … | … | … | … |
(Full list of draws from January 5 to July 20 is available in the source table.)
Overall 2026 draw activity
- 39 draws have been held so far in 2026.
- 14 draws targeted the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
- 11 draws were for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- 7 draws focused on French‑language proficiency.
- Other categories included physicians, healthcare workers, senior managers, and trades.
Across all draw types, IRCC has issued 92,612 ITAs in 2026, broken down as follows:
- Canadian Experience Class: 43,250 ITAs
- French‑Language proficiency: 35,500 ITAs
- Provincial Nominee Program: 6,450 ITAs
- Healthcare and social services: 8,000 ITAs
- Trades: 3,000 ITAs
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 662 ITAs
- Senior Managers with Canadian work experience: 750 ITAs
Key takeaways for prospective applicants
- Provincial nominations remain a strong pathway: The latest draw’s high CRS threshold (744) underscores the advantage of securing a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score.
- Timing matters: Profiles must be submitted before the specified deadline (May 26 2026, 6:11 UTC) to be eligible for this round.
- CRS scores vary by draw type: While PNP draws have required scores in the mid‑700s, CEC and French‑language draws have accepted scores in the low‑500s to high‑400s. Candidates should monitor upcoming draws to gauge the most realistic target score for their profile.
Applicants meeting the above criteria should ensure their Express Entry profiles are up‑to‑date and that any provincial nomination letters are uploaded promptly to maximize their chances in future draws.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
