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Express Entry Draw #399 : Targets PNP Candidates with 264 Invitations

Express Entry #399 Targets PNP Candidates with 264 Invitations

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    Canada Holds First March Express Entry Draw, Invites 264 PNP Candidates

    Canada has opened March with a new Express Entry selection round, this time targeting candidates who hold a provincial nomination. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the draw on March 2, issuing 264 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

    The latest round reinforces the federal government’s continued reliance on the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to meet regional labour market needs in 2026. Unlike occupation-based or general selections, this round was limited exclusively to candidates who had already secured a provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Number of ITAs: 264
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 710
    • Date and time of round: March 02, 2026 at 14:18:39 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: August 07, 2025 at 18:02:56 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 35,112

    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

    With this latest draw, IRCC has now issued 35,112 ITAs through Express Entry in 2026. The distribution of invitations clearly reflects the department’s priority streams.

    The high volume of Canadian Experience Class invitations indicates a growing emphasis on bilingual talent as Canada works to meet its long-term Francophone immigration targets.

    Category-Based Draws Conducted in 2026

    Express Entry rounds this year have been limited to specific streams rather than broad, multi-program draws.

    The draws are now divided as follows:

    • PNP : 5 draw
    • CEC : 3 Draw
    • French-language skills : 1
    • Healthcare and social services : 1
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 1
    • Education: No Draws Yet
    • Trade Occupations : No Draws Yet

    Provincial Nominee Program draws have been the most frequent in 2026, reflecting the federal government’s collaboration with provinces to address localized workforce shortages.

    Why PNP Candidates Continue to Receive Priority

    A provincial nomination significantly strengthens a candidate’s Express Entry profile by awarding an additional 600 CRS points. This bonus typically places nominees well above the selection threshold in PNP-specific rounds.
    The strategy allows provinces to nominate individuals who meet specific regional labour demands, while the federal government finalizes permanent residence through Express Entry. As a result, PNP candidates remain among the strongest contenders in the pool.

    Total Express Entry ITAs Issued in 2026 So Far

    Below is a snapshot of all Express Entry draws conducted so far this year:
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : 20,000
    • French language proficiency: 8,500
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 2,221
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : 4,000
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 391
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    399 March 02 Provincial Nominee Program 264 710
    398 February 20 Healthcare and Social Services Occupations 4,000 467
    397 February 19 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 391 169
    396 February 17 CEC 6,000 508
    395 February 16 PNP 279 789
    394 February 06 French-Language proficiency 8,500 400
    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 March 02, a total of 35,112 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026. CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 169

    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.

    Recent Express Entry Trends

    In recent weeks, IRCC has alternated between PNP rounds, Canadian Experience Class draws, and targeted category-based selections such as healthcare and French-language proficiency.

    The consistent absence of general all-program draws suggests that Canada is maintaining a highly targeted approach to immigration in 2026. Priority appears to be given to candidates with Canadian work experience or those selected by provinces.
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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

    The March 2 draw demonstrates that provincial nomination remains one of the most reliable pathways to securing an ITA. With CRS cut-offs in PNP rounds often exceeding 700 due to the 600-point nomination bonus, candidates without a nomination may need to explore provincial streams to improve their competitiveness.

    Applicants should ensure their Express Entry profiles are accurate and up to date, monitor provincial nomination opportunities, and consider strategies such as improving language scores or gaining additional work experience. As 2026 progresses, Express Entry continues to operate through focused and strategic rounds, with provincial nominees remaining a key priority in Canada’s immigration system.

    Also check out  2026-2028 immigration levels plan | 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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