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Express Entry Draw #403: Canada Invites 362 PNP Candidates

Canada Issues New Express Entry ITAs

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    Canada Issues New Express Entry ITAs, Focuses on Provincial Nominees in Latest Draw

    Canada has carried forward its targeted immigration approach in 2026 with another Express Entry selection round, this time centred on candidates nominated by provinces. The latest draw reflects the country’s continued effort to align immigration with regional workforce needs.

    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the draw on March 16, issuing 362 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Unlike category-based draws such as French-language or healthcare selections, this round specifically targeted applicants who had already secured a provincial nomination, an advantage that significantly boosts their CRS score.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Number of ITAs: 362
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 742
    • Date and time of round: March 16, 2026 at 11:32:52 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: October 05, 2025 at 20:35:25 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 45,224

    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 45,224 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 : 6 draw
    • CEC : 4 Draw
    • French-language skills : 2
    • Healthcare and social services : 1
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 1
    • Senior Managers 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.

    Eligible Occupations Under the New Category

    The senior manager category was introduced as part of immigration policy adjustments announced in February 2026, which added several new occupational groups to category-based selection. To qualify, applicants must have at least one year of Canadian work experience within the last three years in one of the following leadership roles listed under the National Occupation Classification (NOC):

    • Senior managers in construction, transportation, production, and utilities
    • Senior managers in trade, broadcasting, and other service sectors
    • Senior managers in health, education, social services, and community organisations
    • Senior managers in financial services, communications, and other business sectors

    These occupations represent executive-level roles that play a key part in managing major industries and organisations across Canada.

    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) : 24,000
    • French language proficiency: 14,000
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 2,583
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : 4,000
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 391
    • Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience : 250
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    403 March 16 PNP 362 742
    402 March 05 Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience 250 429
    401 March 04 French-Language proficiency 5,500 397
    400 March 03 CEC 4,000 508
    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 16, a total of 45,224 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.

    Why Provincial Nominees Continue to Be Prioritised

    Canada’s provinces and territories play a crucial role in selecting immigrants who can address specific regional labour shortages. Through the Provincial Nominee Program, local governments can nominate candidates who match their economic and demographic needs.
    Applicants who receive a provincial nomination are awarded 600 additional CRS points, which significantly improves their chances of receiving an ITA in Express Entry draws.

    This explains the consistently high CRS cut-offs seen in PNP-specific rounds.

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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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    Recent Express Entry Trends

    Recent draw patterns indicate that IRCC is rotating between different types of targeted selections, including:

    This structured approach allows Canada to address both short-term labour gaps and long-term demographic goals.

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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    The latest draw reinforces the growing importance of provincial nominations in securing permanent residence through Express Entry. Candidates looking to improve their chances of receiving an ITA should consider:

    • Applying for a provincial nomination to boost CRS scores
    • Gaining Canadian work experience where possible
    • Enhancing language proficiency in English or French
    • Keeping their Express Entry profile updated and competitive

    As Canada continues to conduct targeted draws throughout 2026, candidates who align with provincial and economic priorities are likely to see stronger opportunities for selection.

    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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