On August 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry round #431, inviting 507 candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 768.
This was a category-specific round limited to candidates who hold a provincial nomination. Candidates without a nomination from a Canadian province or territory were not eligible for this round, regardless of their CRS score.
How Draw #431 Compares to the Previous Round
The previous round, #430, was held on July 23, 2026, and targeted Skilled Military Recruits. It was much smaller, with only 4 invitations issued at a CRS cutoff of 368. Because the two rounds targeted different categories, the CRS scores are not directly comparable - PNP draws typically require a much higher score since a provincial nomination adds 600 points to a candidate's CRS total.
| Draw # | Date | Category | Invitations Issued | CRS Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 431 | August 4, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 507 | 768 |
| 430 | July 23, 2026 | Skilled Military Recruits | 4 | 368 |
Round #431 is the only Provincial Nominee Program draw included in the data reviewed for this report, so a multi-round PNP-only trend line cannot be shown here. Readers tracking PNP-specific CRS movement over time can check our Express Entry draw history for 2026 for a fuller record of past PNP rounds.
Tie-Break Rule
For round #431, IRCC's tie-break cutoff time was May 15, 2026, at 15:58:19 UTC. This date and time is used to rank candidates who have identical CRS scores; it is separate from the draw date itself.
Candidate Pool Snapshot
According to IRCC's pool distribution figures dated August 3, 2026, there were 229,100 active candidates in the Express Entry pool at the time of the draw. Score bands nearest the cutoff for this round showed several thousand candidates clustered just below and above the 768 mark, though IRCC's published bands do not break this down by PNP nomination status.
Who Is Affected
Only candidates who held a valid provincial or territorial nomination and had a CRS score of 768 or higher were invited in round #431. Candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, French-language streams, or other occupation-specific categories were not part of this particular round.
Who Is Not Affected
Candidates without a provincial nomination were not eligible for this round, regardless of score. Applicants using immigration pathways outside Express Entry, such as employer-specific work permits or family sponsorship, are not affected by this draw.
What Remains Uncertain
IRCC has not announced when the next PNP-specific round will occur, nor what CRS cutoff or invitation size it will use. Future rounds could target different categories entirely, based on IRCC's published Ministerial Instructions.
What to Do Next
Check your Express Entry profile directly, or review the latest Express Entry draw results for the most recent round after #431. If you received an Invitation to Apply, review the deadline and document requirements listed in your IRCC account before submitting your application.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
At a glance
| Official source | https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/submit-profile/rounds-invitations.html |
|---|---|
| Announced | 2026-08-04 |
| Effective | 2026-08-04 |
| Checked by editor | 2026-08-04 |
| Who is affected | Provincial Nominee Program candidates with a CRS score of 768 or higher who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in Express Entry round #431 on August 4, 2026. |
| Who is NOT affected | Candidates in other Express Entry categories (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades, French-language, or occupation-specific streams) were not invited in this round; applicants using non-Express Entry pathways are unaffected. |
| Permanent or temporary | N/A - routine periodic invitation round, not a policy change |
| What to do next | Check your Express Entry profile account and IRCC's official invitations page to see if you received an ITA; if invited, submit a complete application by the deadline stated in your ITA. |
| Still uncertain | IRCC has not announced the date, size, or CRS cutoff of the next Provincial Nominee Program round. |