IRCC Invites 562 Candidates in Aug 31 PNP Express Entry Draw 

Key Takeaways  

Type of draw: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)  

Invitations issued: 562 

Minimum CRS score: 697 

Tie-breaking rule: April 12th, 2026 at 04:32:26 UTC 

Prediction for next draw: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) on September 1, 2026. Check our dedicated page for more on when we’re expecting the next Express Entry draw. 

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw 

With today’s draw, 562 candidates with a provincial nomination will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. The minimum CRS score required for this PNP draw is 697.

So far this year, cut-offs for PNP draws had ranged between 708 (on July 6) and 805 (on May 25). Today’s draw landed slightly below that, making 697 the lowest PNP cut-off so far this year.

Although this cut-off may still seem high to those unfamiliar with PNP draws, it is important to keep in mind that a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to a candidate’s score. As of August 30, there were only 559 Express Entry profiles with a score above 601 in the pool. This suggests that nearly all eligible PNP candidates have received ITAs.

At 562, the draw size remained within the size range we’ve seen this year (279 to 955). Since PNP draws nearly empty the pool of eligible candidates with a provincial nomination, draw sizes are typically determined by the number of new nominees entering the pool, and these numbers are not always large enough to support bigger draws.

As of August 31, IRCC has issued 7,961 PNP invites this year, a 23% increase over the 6,470 PNP ITAs issued during the same period in 2025.

If you were already in the Express Entry pool with a provincial nomination, you likely received an ITA today. If you’re still trying to secure a nomination, you may have a strong chance in future draws. PNP draws have been a consistent, reliable feature this year, and we don’t expect any significant slowdown at present.

Most provinces still have ample nomination room left. Moreover, at least a few provinces, including Alberta and British Columbia, recently received additional allocation spaces from the federal government.

IRCC’s overall PNP admissions target for 2026 is 91,500, and it is expected to increase to 92,500 in 2027. The estimated processing time for PNP applications received through Express Entry is roughly seven months. So candidates who receive ITAs today will likely receive permanent residence in early 2027.

IRCC also has a large backlog for PNP applications. This includes 11,800 Express Entry PNP applications and 102,400 non-Express Entry (base) PNP applications that are still being processed.