Canada holds first Express Entry draw of 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
The immigration department issued 574 ITAs in a draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have
A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 711; and
Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 1:54 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on October 6, 2025.
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is
Today’s draw marks the first Express Entry selection of the year.
While IRCC has telegraphed through their Immigration Levels Plan announcement that the department will continue to prioritise in-Canada applicants for permanent residence, and that Express Entry category-based draws will continue, much remains to be seen regarding how Express Entry draws will be shaped throughout the year.
Based on previous IRCC messaging, we can, however, anticipate an increase in French category-based selection draws (as Canada’s targets for Francophone immigration outside of Quebec continue to rise) and the start of selections for IRCC’s newly announced “Physicians with Canadian work experience” category.
Thus far, IRCC has issued 574 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2026.
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