Canada Conducts First Express Entry Draw of 2026 — 574 PNP Invitations Issued With CRS 711 Cut-off
Canada Opens 2026 With First Express Entry Draw — 574 Invitations Issued Under the Provincial Nominee Program
The new year has officially kicked off with Canada’s first Express Entry draw of 2026, marking a strong start for immigration hopefuls. On January 5, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted Round #389 of invitations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), issuing 574 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.
This latest draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 711, making it one of the higher PNP-specific thresholds in recent months. Candidates who received nominations from provincial programs benefited from the additional 600 points typically added to their CRS scores, effectively boosting their chances of selection.
According to IRCC’s official update, the tie-breaking rule for this round was October 6, 2025, at 01:54:31 UTC, meaning that candidates who had a CRS score of 711 but submitted their Express Entry profiles before this timestamp received invitations.
As the first draw of 2026, this event signals continued emphasis on supporting provinces and territories through the PNP stream — a key pathway for addressing regional labour market needs and population growth across Canada. Immigration experts expect further category-based and targeted draws to resume later in January, focusing on sectors like healthcare, STEM, and trades.
Key Details – Express Entry Draw #389 (January 5, 2026)
- Program: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Number of invitations: 574
- Lowest CRS score: 711
- Date of draw: January 5, 2026
- Tie-breaking rule: October 6, 2025, 01:54:31 UTC
For official details and future Express Entry updates, visit Canada’s IRCC website.
What to expect next in 2026
The first Express Entry draw of 2026 suggests that IRCC will continue using program-specific and category-based draws to control intake and target priority groups like provincial nominees and in-Canada workers. With PNP-only draws maintaining high CRS cut-offs due to the 600-point nomination boost, many candidates without nominations will likely need to rely on general or occupation-based rounds later in the year.
Recent trends from late 2025 show overall CRS scores remaining higher than in previous years, especially after policy changes such as the removal of CRS points for arranged employment and a stronger focus on Canadian work experience. However, as IRCC continues category-based selection, candidates in priority sectors like healthcare, STEM, trades, French-speaking professionals, and new physician-focused categories may see more opportunities even if their CRS is below recent PNP cut-offs.
For candidates planning ahead in 2026, building a stronger profile through higher language scores, gaining Canadian work experience, securing a provincial nomination, or targeting in-demand occupations will remain crucial. Those who are currently below the 700+ CRS range should monitor upcoming general and category-based draws closely, as these rounds typically invite profiles in lower score bands than PNP-only draws.
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