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Express Entry Draw #391: IRCC Issues 681 ITAs to PNP Candidates for PR

Express Entry Draw Focuses on Provincial Candidates

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    Canada Conducts New Express Entry Draw Focused on Provincial Nominees

    IRCC Continues 2026 Immigration Push with Another PNP-Specific Selection

    Canada’s immigration department has carried out another Express Entry draw, reinforcing its ongoing strategy to prioritize candidates who already have strong connections to the country. In the latest round of invitations, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) targeted applicants who have received a provincial nomination, a pathway known for significantly boosting Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. The draw took place on January 20, with IRCC issuing 681 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) stream.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Number of ITAs: 681
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 746
    • Date and time of round: January 20, 2026 at 12:31:58 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: November 19, 2025 at 04:09:11 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 9,255

    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.

    Invitations to Apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program may be issued through this round of invitations.

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    Total Express Entry ITAs for 2026

    Following the latest draw, the total of ITAs issued under Express Entry for 2026 has come to 9,255.

    With this latest selection, IRCC has now completed three Express Entry draws in 2026, covering two different immigration categories. The year began with a strong emphasis on applicants who are either already living in Canada or who have been selected by provinces to meet local labour market needs.

    Category-Based Draws for 2026 up to Now

    Express Entry in 2026 has seen draws across several of its highest-priority streams. The breakdown of draws is below:

    The draws are now divided as follows:

    • PNP : 2 draw
    • CEC : 1 Draw
    • French-language skills : No Draws Yet
    • Healthcare and social services : No Draws Yet
    • Education: No Draws Yet
    • Trade Occupations : No Draws Yet

    When looking at total ITAs issued across streams, French-language draws and CEC rounds lead the pack, followed closely by healthcare and PNP streams.

    A Busy Period of ITAs for December 2026

    This is the 1st Express Entry draw of the month.

    • French language proficiency draw on December 17: 6,000 ITAs
    • CEC draw on December 16: 5,000 ITAs
    • PNP on December 15: 399 ITAs
    • Healthcare and Social Services draw on December 11: 1,000 ITAs
    • CEC draw on December 10: 6,000 ITAs
    • PNP draw on December 8: 1,123 ITAs

    With these rapid-fire invitation rounds, IRCC is closing out the year with one of the most active Express Entry periods in over the past 12 months.

    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Below is a snapshot of all Express Entry draws conducted so far this year:
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : 8,000
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 1,255
    • French language proficiency: No Draws Yet
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : No Draws Yet
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    391 January 20 PNP 681 746
    390 January 07 CEC 8,000 511
    389 January 05 PNP 574 711

    As of January 20, a total of 9,255 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026.

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    Number of Express Entry Draws by Category This Year:

    The Provincial Nominee Program category of the Express Entry categories leads the trend with the highest number of 14 rounds, followed by the Canadian Experience Class with 8 rounds. Also, IRCC has conducted 3 rounds each for French-speaking candidates and healthcare professionals. A single draw was also held for individuals in the education sector.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 14
    Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 8
    French-language proficiency 4
    Healthcare and social services 3
    Education 1

    The trend since June 10, 2025, reveals a pattern of alternating draws between PNP and CEC categories roughly every two weeks. Additionally, healthcare-focused draws have taken place monthly since May, reflecting IRCC’s commitment to addressing sector-specific shortages in Canada’s healthcare system.

    Current Express Entry Trends and Category Breakdown

    With the latest draw, the healthcare and social services category now joins a growing list of specialized selection categories implemented this year. The distribution of draws in 2025 highlights a more nuanced approach to selecting candidates who meet Canada’s urgent labour and demographic needs.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program 7
    French-language proficiency 3
    Canadian Experience Class 3
    Education 1
    Healthcare and social services 1

    Clear Preference for In-Canada and Province-Selected Candidates

    Early 2026 draw patterns indicate a deliberate approach by IRCC. Instead of broad, all-program draws, the department is prioritising candidates who:
    • Have Canadian work experience
    • Are already contributing to the Canadian labour market
    • Have secured provincial nominations aligned with regional workforce shortages
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    Why January Is a Key Month for Express Entry

    Historically, January sees increased Express Entry activity as IRCC works to align invitation numbers with its annual permanent resident admissions targets. Since there is typically a six-month or longer gap between receiving an ITA and officially landing in Canada, early-year draws are essential for meeting yearly immigration goals.

    This lag accounts for application processing times, background checks, and final approvals before applicants can become permanent residents.
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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    For candidates in the Express Entry pool, these developments underline the growing importance of:
    • Provincial Nominee Programs
    • Canadian work experience
    • Building strong provincial or employer ties within Canada
    Applicants without provincial nominations may continue to see limited opportunities unless they qualify under targeted categories such as the Canadian Experience Class or future category-based draws.
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    Final Takeaway

    As IRCC continues rolling out its 2026 immigration strategy, further program-specific draws are expected in the coming weeks.

    Also check out Canada Immigration Plan 2025 to 2027 | Canada Immigration Levels Plan For 2024-2026 | Canada Immigration Level Plan for 2023-2025​

    Stay tuned for future updates on Express Entry draws and immigration news.

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