Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
The immigration department issued 681 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 746; and
- Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 4:09 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on November 19, 2025.
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is
| Draw date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Today’s draw is the second Provincial Nominee Program draw and the third Express Entry selection overall, of the year. It follows a PNP draw on January 5 and a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on January 7.
IRCC has started the year by continuing to prioritize candidates in Canada, and those who have experience with the Canadian labour market, or who have been nominated by a province:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 1 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1 |
In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 9,255 ITAs across two draw types:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 574 |
January is typically a time marked by increased Express Entry activity, as IRCC looks to issue more invitations that can count towards its admissions (or landings) target through federal pathways for that year.
Due to lag times from ITA issuance to an immigrant landing in Canada (in the form of application processing and wait times), admissions are usually anticipated a minimum of six months after an ITA is delivered.
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada’s top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
