IRCC Issues 473 PNP-Specific Invitations in New Express Entry Draw (April 27, 2026)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on April 27, 2026, issuing 473 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category. This draw, recorded as Ministerial Instructions #412, targeted PNP candidates exclusively, reflecting Canada's ongoing strategy of leveraging provincial nominations to fill specific labour market needs.
The results were published in the Canada Gazette and signed by Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Lena Metlege Diab in Ottawa on the same day. Below is a full breakdown of the draw details, the scoring rules, and what this means for Express Entry candidates.
Express Entry Draw #412: Key Results at a Glance
The PNP-specific round of invitations was held on April 27, 2026, at 10:47:44 UTC. Here are the official numbers from IRCC:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Ministerial Instructions # | 412 |
| Program | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| Number of invitations issued | 473 |
| Rank required to be invited | 473 or above |
| Date and time of round | April 27, 2026 at 10:47:44 UTC |
| CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited | 795 |
| Tie-breaking rule (submission date/time) | April 13, 2026 at 23:10:05 UTC |
Note: The minimum CRS cut-off score for this draw was 795 points. This high threshold is typical for PNP-specific draws because successful PNP candidates automatically receive an additional 600 points for their provincial nomination, bringing their baseline CRS well above regular draws. The draw issued exactly 473 invitations, and only candidates who ranked among the top 473 in the group were considered.
Who Was Eligible for This Draw?
According to the Ministerial Instructions, IRCC created a grouping of eligible foreign nationals specifically for this round. This grouping consisted only of candidates who were eligible to be members of the class referred to in subsection 2(d) of the Express Entry Instructions — meaning candidates with a valid provincial nomination from a Canadian province or territory.
In practical terms, you were only eligible to receive an ITA in this draw if you had:
- Submitted an Express Entry profile that met the general eligibility criteria.
- Been nominated by a Canadian province or territory under the PNP.
- Received the additional 600 CRS points for the nomination (which typically pushes your total score well above 700 points).
CRS Score Breakdown & Tie-Breaking Rule
The lowest-ranked candidate who received an invitation had a CRS score of 795. Since PNP nominees are awarded 600 points for their provincial endorsement, the remaining 195 points came from other factors such as age, education, work experience, language skills, and Canadian ties.
A tie-breaking rule was applied. If more than one candidate had the same lowest score (795), IRCC used the date and time the candidate submitted their Express Entry profile to determine the winner. Only those who submitted their profile on or before April 13, 2026 at 23:10:05 UTC were invited.
This means that even if you had a CRS of 795, you would not have received an ITA if you entered the pool after that specific tie-break time.
Invitation Period & Legal Framework
The period during which invitations could be issued under these Instructions ran from April 27, 2026 to April 28, 2026. This is a standard 24-hour window used by IRCC to process and send ITAs to the selected candidates.
These instructions were made under subparagraph 10.3(1)(h.1)(ii) and paragraphs 10.3(1)(i) and (j) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The definitions used in the draw align with the original Express Entry Instructions published in the Canada Gazette on December 1, 2014, and as amended from time to time.
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
This PNP-specific draw is a strong signal that Canada continues to prioritize skilled workers who have already secured a provincial nomination. Here are a few key takeaways for applicants:
- PNP remains a fast track to PR. If you don't have a high-enough CRS score for a general draw (typically in the 480-530 range), getting a provincial nomination can give you an instant 600-point boost, making you highly competitive in PNP-specific draws.
- The cut-off score of 795 is normal for PNP draws. Because all PNP candidates already have 600 extra points, the final cut-off is usually between 700 and 800. Your underlying CRS (before the nomination) only needs to be around 195 to 200, which is achievable with a master’s degree, strong language scores, and a few years of work experience.
- Tie-breaking matters. If your CRS is exactly at the cut-off, your profile submission date becomes critical. Submitting your Express Entry profile as early as possible can give you the edge in a tie situation.
- Limited invitations. Only 473 ITAs were issued in this draw. PNP draws are typically smaller than general or category-based draws, so competition remains high.
How the Group Ranking Worked
The Ministerial Instructions defined a specific group ranking for this draw. According to the document:
- A grouping was established consisting of eligible foreign nationals who were members of the PNP class.
- The group ranking was then created among these eligible candidates based on their CRS scores.
- IRCC invited the first 473 candidates in that ranking.
This ensures that only PNP-holding candidates were competing against each other, rather than against all Express Entry candidates.