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Express Entry Draw #393 : IRCC Issues 423 ITA to PNP Candidates for PR

Express Entry with Fresh PNP Invitations

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    Canada Opens February Express Entry with Fresh PNP Invitations

    Canada’s Express Entry system has entered February with another targeted round of invitations, continuing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) strategic focus on candidates already contributing to the country’s workforce. The latest selection round further reinforces the federal government’s preference for provincially nominated applicants and those with established ties to Canada.

    On February 3, IRCC conducted a new Express Entry draw specifically for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, issuing 423 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. This draw marks the fifth Express Entry selection of 2026, highlighting a steady pace of invitations early in the year.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Number of ITAs: 423
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 749
    • Date and time of round: February 3, 2026 at 13:21:40 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: December 16, 2025 at 22:30:36 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 15,678

    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

    Across all Express Entry rounds conducted in 2026 to date, IRCC has issued a total of 15,678 ITAs. The majority of invitations have gone to CEC candidates:

    With this latest selection, IRCC has now completed four 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 : 3 draw
    • CEC : 2 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) : 14,000
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 1,678
    • 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
    393 February 3 PNP 423 749
    392 January 21 CEC 6,000 509
    391 January 20 PNP 681 746
    390 January 07 CEC 8,000 511
    389 January 05 PNP 574 711

    As of February 3, a total of 15,678 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026. CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 509

    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.

    February Draw Reflects IRCC’s Targeted Immigration Strategy

    This latest selection aligns with a broader immigration trend observed since the beginning of 2026. Rather than conducting all-program draws, IRCC has focused exclusively on candidates who are either already working in Canada or nominated by a province to meet specific labor market needs.
    Such an approach allows provinces to directly address workforce shortages while helping the federal government meet its permanent residence targets more efficiently. For skilled workers, this signals that provincial nominations and Canadian work experience continue to be among the strongest pathways to PR.
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    A Look at the Two Most Recent Express Entry Draws

    Just days before the February PNP draw, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program draw on January 20, issuing 681 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 746. That round demonstrated strong provincial demand for skilled professionals across sectors such as healthcare, construction, and technology. The slightly lower CRS score compared to February’s draw suggests fluctuations based on nomination volumes and provincial allocation limits.

    Earlier, on January 21, IRCC conducted a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, inviting 6,000 candidates with a CRS requirement of 509. This draw was particularly significant as it reaffirmed IRCC’s emphasis on retaining temporary residents who already possess Canadian work experience. The lower CRS cut-off compared to PNP draws made this round more accessible for international graduates and foreign workers already employed in Canada.
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    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 Shift Toward In-Canada Candidates

    All Express Entry draws held in 2026 so far have been limited to candidates who are already established in Canada. The department has focused exclusively on:

    • Provincial Nominee Program applicants,
    • Canadian Experience Class candidates with local work experience
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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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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    For prospective immigrants, the early 2026 Express Entry trends send a clear message. Candidates with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience are currently in the strongest position to receive an invitation. Those outside Canada or without provincial support may need to explore PNP streams, improve CRS scores, or gain Canadian experience to remain competitive.
    As IRCC continues its targeted approach, Express Entry applicants can expect more program-specific draws in the coming weeks, particularly as provinces finalize their annual nomination allocations.

    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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