Key Takeaways

Type of draw: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Invitations issued: 574

Minimum CRS score: 711

Tie-breaking rule: October 06, 2025 at 01:54:31 UTC

Prediction for next draw: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw

As we predicted, IRCC has kicked off 2026 with a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw. This draw sent out 574 ITAs to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 711 on January 5.

What’s interesting is that IRCC started 2025 the same way. The first PNP draw last year happened on January 7, 2025, and invited 471 candidates with a CRS cut-off of 793.

Compared to that first PNP round in 2025, today’s CRS is lower by 82 points. That gap likely comes down to the usual two things: how big the draw was and how many PNP candidates were sitting in the pool.

As of January 4 (which is the latest look into the Express Entry pool), there were 236,554 candidates in the Express Entry pool. Of those, 559 had CRS scores in the 601–1200 range. This is where PNP candidates fall, since a provincial nomination adds 600 points. Today’s draw means that a few more candidates entered the pool since that glimpse in — and likely all, or almost all, PNP candidates in the pool were invited to apply for Express Entry.

But the bigger story in 2026 is that PNP is expected play a larger role this year. After PNP targets were cut sharply in 2025, Canada has increased its federal PNP allocation in the Immigration Levels Plan to 91,500, up from the 2025 projected target of 55,000. With that jump, it wouldn’t be surprising if PNP draws remained larger in 2026 than we saw through most of 2025.

It’s also worth noting that the federal government has set aside an extra 5,000 spots for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors who already have job offers, through PNPs. These spots are on top of the regular PNP numbers, so provinces won’t have to take space away from their usual nominations to nominate doctors.

What This Means for Candidates

2026, starting with a PNP draw is a good reminder that provincial nominations are an effective way to get invited through Express Entry. This is especially relevant now that Canada has increased its PNP allocation for 2026.

This is a good time for candidates to:

• check which provinces are reopening or expanding nomination streams

• watch what job categories provinces are targeting (especially healthcare, skilled trades, and in-demand roles)

• and make sure their Express Entry profile is up to date so they’re eligible if a province selects them

What This Could Mean for PNP Draws in 2026

We expect to see fairly regular PNP draws through 2026, and they’ll likely be larger than the average PNP draw in 2025. With the allocation increase, a continuation of last year’s bi-weekly PNP draw pattern also wouldn’t be surprising this year.

Over the next few months, candidates should watch for:

• whether IRCC keeps PNP draws steady (or increases them)

• which provinces start issuing nominations early in the year

• and whether provinces begin using the extra physician nomination spaces quickly

If your CRS score is currently below typical CEC or general cut-offs, exploring PNP options early in 2026 may be one of the best ways to improve your chances.

Further Resources for PNP Candidates 

For more information:

• Track PNPs with our Live PNP tracker 
• Learn more about PNPs in our beginner’s guide