Express Entry update: IRCC issues 442 ITAs to Provincial Nominee Program candidates (CRS 760) — August 16, 2026
On August 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held an Express Entry draw for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates and issued 442 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Eligible profiles needed a minimum CRS score of 760 and to have been created before 6:01 p.m. UTC on August 7, 2026.
This draw is one of 47 Express Entry selection rounds held so far in 2026. To date, IRCC has issued 113,865 ITAs across targeted and category-specific draws. Totals by draw type this year include:
– Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 48,250 ITAs
– French-language proficiency: 45,500 ITAs
– Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 7,399 ITAs
– Healthcare and social services: 8,000 ITAs
– Trades: 3,000 ITAs
– Physicians with Canadian work experience: 662 ITAs
– Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience: 750 ITAs
– Transport: 300 ITAs
– Skilled Military Recruits: 4 ITAs
PNP draws have appeared 16 times in 2026 and frequently show CRS cut-offs in the 700–800 range (examples this year include 708, 742, 768, 789, 795, 802 and 805). By contrast, CEC and French-language proficiency draws have often been larger in volume and featured lower CRS thresholds.
What this means for candidates
– IRCC’s 2026 selection pattern favors candidates with Canadian ties: provincial nominees and those with Canadian work experience.
– Large-volume CEC and French-language draws create more frequent opportunities for eligible candidates, often at lower CRS cut-offs than many PNP rounds.
– PNP rounds continue to require high CRS scores despite nomination; keeping a strong overall CRS remains important.
– Pay attention to profile creation/update timestamps—IRCC enforces these deadlines for eligibility in specific draws.
Recent representative draws to watch
– Aug 16 — Provincial Nominee Program: CRS 760, 442 ITAs (profile creation deadline Aug 7, 2026)
– Aug 7 — Transport: CRS 470, 300 ITAs
– Aug 6 — French-language proficiency: CRS 391, 5,000 ITAs
– Aug 5 — Canadian Experience Class: CRS 516, 3,000 ITAs
Practical checklist
– Confirm your profile creation date and any upcoming draw deadlines.
– Keep language results, work experience, education and nomination status current in your profile.
– Track CRS trends for the streams that match your profile (CEC, PNP, French-language, healthcare, trades, etc.).
– If relying on a PNP route, monitor both provincial nomination processes and national draw behaviour.
For personalized support with your Canadian immigration pathway, contact GTR Immigration. Call us: +91-8810-686-447
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