Canada has conducted a new Express Entry draw aimed at the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), issuing 334 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on May 25, 2026. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 805 points — seven points higher than the previous PNP draw on May 11, which issued 380 ITAs at a cutoff of 798.
This is the highest PNP cutoff recorded in any Express Entry draw in 2026 and the smallest PNP invitation count since the February 16 round, which issued 279 invitations at a CRS score of 789.
It is also the second consecutive PNP-only round in May 2026. No Canadian Experience Class, French-language, or category-based draw has been issued since the back-to-back rounds on April 28 (2,000 CEC ITAs at CRS 514) and April 29 (4,000 French-language ITAs at CRS 400).
Why the PNP Cutoff Climbed to 805
Every provincial nominee receives an automatic 600-point CRS boost when their nomination is reflected in the Express Entry pool. A cutoff of 805 means the lowest-ranked candidate invited held a base CRS score of approximately 205 before the provincial nomination was applied.
The seven-point rise in the cutoff alongside a 46-invitation drop suggests that a smaller batch of new provincial nominations entered the Express Entry pool between the two May draws. When provinces issue fewer new nominations in a given period, the pool of nominees above 601 contracts, IRCC needs to reach fewer candidates, and the CRS floor rises.
Express Entry Draws So Far in 2026
With today’s round, Canada has now conducted the following Express Entry draws in 2026:
- 11 Provincial Nominee Program draws
- 8 Canadian Experience Class draws
- 5 French-language proficiency draws
- 2 Healthcare and Social Services occupation draws
- 1 Physicians (Canadian work experience) draw
- 1 Senior Managers (Canadian work experience) draw
- 1 Trades occupations draw
By comparison, Canada conducted the following Express Entry draws in 2025:
- 24 Provincial Nominee Program draws
- 14 Canadian Experience Class draws
- Eight French-language proficiency draws
- Seven Healthcare and Social Services occupation draws
- Two Education occupation draws
- One Trades occupation draw
Tie-Breaking Rule and Round Number
The tie-breaking rule for this round was October 16, 2025 at 18:16:33 UTC. If more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score of 805, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before that date and time received invitations.
This was the 28th round of invitations under Express Entry in 2026.
Candidates who received an ITA have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence, which is typically processed within the six-month service standard.
CEC and Category-Based Draws Remain Paused
May 2026 has now produced two PNP-only Express Entry draws and zero broader non-PNP rounds. The last CEC draw was held on April 28 with 2,000 invitations at CRS 514, and the last French-language draw was held on April 29 with 4,000 invitations at CRS 400.
No occupation-based category draw — healthcare, trades, education, or otherwise — has been issued since the April 2 trades draw. Similar pauses occurred in May 2024 and May 2025, when IRCC suspended CEC and category activity during planning windows before resuming with occupation-based rounds and then returning to CEC.
What Can Employers Do To Recruit Foreign Workers?
Employers are encouraged to consider securing an LMIA or nomination under provincial nomination programs (PNPs) to ensure long-term retention of employees.
At immigration.ca we provide Canadian employers with unparalleled immigration legal services and can help with the recruitment of foreign nationals.
We bring qualified candidates to Canada in the shortest time possible. Employers in a wide range of industries can directly benefit from our unique position as one of Canada’s leading immigration firms in the industry to meet both their recruitment and immigration requirements.
Interested employers wishing to seek our assistance are invited to contact us here for further information.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
Securing an approved offer of employment is highly recommended as one of the best pathways to guaranteeing an ITA in the next round of invitations. Candidates currently sitting below the CEC cutoff range of roughly 510–520 should keep their profiles active and documents current — including police certificates, immigration medicals, and valid language test results — in case IRCC resumes non-PNP draws in the coming weeks.
Provincial nominations remain the most reliable path for candidates stuck below the CEC cutoff, because the 600-point CRS boost effectively bypasses ranking competition in the Express Entry pool.
Find out whether you qualify for Canada by completing our free online evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1–2 business days.
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