Express Entry: Canada Invites 752 PNP Candidates in Latest Draw

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited another 752 candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence through its Express Entry system.

The latest invitation round, held on October 13, 2026, targeted candidates nominated under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 772 to receive an invitation.

This marks Canada's 60th Express Entry draw of 2026, bringing the total number of invitations issued this year to 135,967.

Eligibility Requirements for the October 13 Draw

To qualify for the latest round, candidates needed an eligible provincial nomination and a CRS score of at least 772.

IRCC also applied a tie-breaking rule for candidates with the minimum qualifying score.

Those candidates needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 1:57:33 p.m. UTC on July 15, 2026.

The rule determines which applicants receive invitations when multiple candidates share the cut-off score.

How Does the Latest Draw Compare?

The October 13 selection followed a September 28 PNP draw that invited 733 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 725.

The latest round therefore issued 19 additional invitations, while the qualifying score increased by 47 points.

Earlier, on October 1, IRCC invited 3,500 candidates through a trades-focused draw with a CRS cut-off of 476.

On September 29, another 2,000 candidates received invitations through the Canadian Experience Class, requiring a minimum score of 518.

These results demonstrate how invitation numbers and qualifying scores vary across immigration categories.

Canada Prioritizes Candidates With Canadian Connections

Throughout 2026, Express Entry selections have emphasized applicants with provincial nominations, Canadian employment experience, and skills that support labour market needs.

Of the 60 invitation rounds conducted this year, 20 targeted provincial nominees, while 17 focused on Canadian Experience Class candidates.

French-language proficiency accounted for another 10 rounds.

IRCC has also selected candidates through healthcare, trades, transport, physician, senior management, and skilled military recruitment categories.

Overall, Canadian Experience Class candidates received 55,250 invitations, followed by 50,500 invitations for French-language proficiency candidates.

Provincial nominees received 10,022 invitations, while healthcare and social services candidates received 11,500.

These selections highlight Canada's continued focus on experienced workers and targeted immigration pathways.

What Happens After Receiving an Invitation?

Candidates who receive an invitation can submit their permanent residence applications through Express Entry.

Applicants must provide the necessary documents and satisfy the eligibility requirements before IRCC makes a final decision.

Some foreign nationals already working in Canada may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit while awaiting their permanent residence decision.

Eligible applicants may maintain their authorization to work under existing conditions when their work permits expire, provided they meet the applicable requirements.

Certain family members may also qualify for open work permits.

An invitation to apply does not guarantee permanent residence approval, but it allows candidates to proceed to the next stage of Canada's immigration process.