Canada Immigration Update: Express Entry Draws, PR Data and OINP News

This week’s Canada Immigration Update covers three major Express Entry draws, new mid-year permanent residence data, changing temporary residence processing times, and the continued rollout of Ontario’s redesigned Workforce Priority Stream.

Between August 17 and August 23, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to Provincial Nominee Program candidates, Canadian Experience Class applicants, and French-speaking Express Entry candidates.

IRCC also published data showing that Canada welcomed 155,800 new permanent residents during the first half of 2026, while consultations remained open on potential economic priorities for Express Entry category-based selection in 2027.

Key developments include:

• 442 invitations issued in a Provincial Nominee Program draw
• 1,000 invitations issued to Canadian Experience Class candidates
• 5,000 invitations issued in a French-language proficiency draw
• New mid-year permanent residence admission figures
• Updated temporary residence processing estimates
• Continued consultations on 2027 Express Entry priorities
• Ontario’s new Workforce Priority EOI system remaining operational

Not sure how these developments affect your immigration plans? Start with Lifeline Immigration’s free immigration assessment.

Three Express Entry Draws Held from August 17–19

IRCC continued targeted Express Entry selection during the week through program-specific and category-based invitation rounds.

The three reported draws issued a combined 6,442 Invitations to Apply (ITAs).

Provincial Nominee Program Draw — August 17

IRCC issued 442 Invitations to Apply to candidates with provincial nominations.

The reported cutoff was eight points lower than the previous PNP-specific draw on August 4, which had a minimum CRS score of 768.

A provincial nomination remains especially valuable within Express Entry because eligible candidates receive 600 additional CRS points.

This helps explain why PNP-specific invitation rounds typically have considerably higher CRS cutoffs than other Express Entry draws.

Applicants considering provincial immigration can review Lifeline Immigration’s Provincial Nominee Program pathway.

Canadian Experience Class Draw — August 18

IRCC followed with a Canadian Experience Class draw on August 18.

The reported results were:

• 1,000 Invitations to Apply
• Minimum CRS score: 523

The CRS cutoff was seven points higher than the previous CEC draw on August 5, which required a score of 516.

The draw was also smaller than earlier CEC invitation rounds during 2026.

What This Means for CEC Candidates

The combination of a smaller invitation round and higher cutoff illustrates why Canadian work experience alone does not guarantee an invitation.

CEC candidates should continue monitoring:

• CRS score
• English or French language results
• Canadian work experience
• Education
• Provincial nomination opportunities
• Category-based eligibility
• Expiry dates of temporary status

Workers already gaining Canadian experience can explore how CEC and other programs may fit into a broader Work to PR Canada strategy.

French-Language Proficiency Draw — August 19

IRCC then issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply in a French-language proficiency category-based round.

The reported minimum CRS score was 382.

This was nine points lower than the previous French-language draw on August 6, which had a cutoff of 391.

French-language proficiency continues to play a significant role in Canada’s economic immigration strategy, particularly as the federal government works to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

Candidates must still qualify for one of the immigration programs managed through Express Entry in addition to meeting the French-language category requirements.

Why Targeted Express Entry Draws Matter

The three rounds demonstrate how Express Entry increasingly uses different selection mechanisms for different immigration priorities.

Candidates can potentially receive invitations through:

• Canadian Experience Class draws
• Provincial Nominee Program draws
• French-language proficiency
• Occupational categories
• Other category-based selection priorities

IRCC uses general, program-specific, and category-based invitation rounds. Category-based selection allows the department to target candidates whose skills, experience, or language ability support identified economic goals.

This means candidates should look beyond their CRS score alone.

Applicants may benefit from reviewing their:

• NOC classification
• Canadian work experience
• French-language ability
• Provincial eligibility
• Education
• Current occupation
• Temporary immigration status
• Long-term permanent residence options

Those interested in comparing federal pathways can review Lifeline Immigration’s Express Entry Canada guidance.

Canada Welcomed 155,800 Permanent Residents in the First Half of 2026

IRCC’s mid-year immigration data provides a clearer picture of how permanent residence admissions are progressing.

From January 1 through June 30, 2026, Canada welcomed approximately 155,800 new permanent residents.

Canada’s full-year target is 380,000 permanent residents under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

Mid-Year Permanent Residence Breakdown

IRCC notes that admissions do not occur evenly throughout the year.

Economic permanent residence admissions, for example, can fluctuate as Canada responds to labour-market, regional, and economic needs. Family-class and refugee admissions can also vary depending on when approved applicants are able to land in Canada.

Economic Immigration Remains Canada’s Largest PR Category

Economic immigration remains the largest component of Canada’s 2026 permanent residence plan.

The federal target is 239,800 economic permanent residents for the year, with 89,200 admitted during the first six months.

Economic immigration includes programs such as:

• Express Entry
• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Community immigration pilots
• Other economic programs

Applicants exploring long-term settlement can review Lifeline Immigration’s Canada Permanent Residency Pathways to compare different routes.

Family-Class Admissions Remain Strong

Canada admitted approximately 45,100 family-class permanent residents during the first half of 2026 against an annual target of 84,000.

Family immigration supports the reunification of Canadian citizens and permanent residents with eligible relatives.

Depending on the relationship and applicable program, sponsorship options may include:

• Spouses and partners
• Dependent children
• Parents and grandparents
• Other eligible family members in limited circumstances

Temporary Residence Inventory Remains Large

IRCC continues managing a substantial temporary residence application inventory.

Federal data as of June 30, 2026 showed approximately 401,280 temporary residence applications had not yet been finalized.

This figure covers new temporary residence applications involving students, workers, and visitors and does not include extensions.

This inventory helps explain why processing estimates can fluctuate substantially between application categories and countries.

Temporary Residence Processing Times Continue to Shift

IRCC refreshed its rolling processing estimates during the week.

Some visitor and Super Visa applications experienced longer estimated waits, while certain work permit categories showed improving timelines in particular regions.

Applicants should remember that IRCC’s processing times are estimates.

Actual timelines can depend on:

• Application category
• Country of application
• Processing office
• Application volume
• Biometrics
• Medical examinations
• Security and background checks
• Completeness of supporting documents
• Requests for additional information

Workers preparing a new permit, extension, or change of conditions can review Lifeline Immigration’s Canada Work Permit guidance.

Visitors needing to remain in Canada longer can review the Visitor Record Extension pathway.

Consultations Continue on 2027 Express Entry Priorities

IRCC’s public consultation on economic priorities for 2027 Express Entry category-based selection remained open throughout the week.

The consultation period runs from August 4 through September 1, 2026.

The government is gathering feedback from employers, industry organizations, provinces and territories, unions, workers, immigration practitioners, researchers, settlement organizations, and members of the public.

What IRCC Is Considering for 2027

IRCC says the economic priorities under consideration include:

• Continuing to address long-term labour shortages
• Attracting and retaining highly skilled international workers
• Supporting economic growth through Francophone immigration outside Quebec
• Potentially narrowing certain occupational categories to focus selection more strategically

The department is also considering how Express Entry can better attract highly skilled international workers whose expertise supports Canadian economic growth.

These are consultations, not finalized 2027 categories.

Candidates should therefore avoid changing their immigration plans solely on the assumption that a proposed category will become official.

Existing 2026 Express Entry Priorities Remain Relevant

For 2026, IRCC continues prioritizing candidates with Canadian work experience alongside category-based selection supporting several economic objectives.

These include occupations associated with long-term labour shortages, such as healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, and transport.

Canada also continues to use selection categories designed to attract and retain specific types of talent and support Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

Applicants should review their eligibility based on existing rules rather than relying on proposed 2027 changes.

Ontario Workforce Priority EOI Portal Is Open

Ontario’s redesigned provincial immigration system is now operational.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program officially opened the Expression of Interest portal for the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream on August 4, 2026.

The new stream replaced Ontario’s former immigration streams and consolidates selection into a broader employer-driven framework.

Who Can Apply Through Ontario’s New Stream?

The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream provides pathways for eligible foreign workers with qualifying Ontario employment across NOC TEER categories 0 through 5.

It also provides a pathway for certain eligible self-employed physicians.

Broadly, the framework covers:

TEER 0–3 Occupations

These generally include:

• Management positions
• Professional occupations
• Technical occupations
• Skilled trades
• Other higher-skilled roles

TEER 4–5 Occupations

Ontario’s new framework also includes eligible occupations classified under TEER 4 and TEER 5.

This creates potential provincial nomination opportunities for workers in occupations that may not traditionally fall within higher-skilled economic immigration categories.

Self-Employed Physicians

Eligible self-employed physicians can qualify under a dedicated exception and do not necessarily require a traditional employer-employee relationship.

Other self-employed professionals generally do not qualify under this exception.

Ontario’s Application Process Begins With the Employer

For candidates applying with a job offer, the employer must initiate the process.

Step 1: Employer Submits the Job Offer

The Ontario employer registers through the OINP Employer Portal and submits information about the position.

Step 2: Candidate Receives a Job Offer ID

Once the employer submits the position, the prospective applicant receives a job offer ID.

Step 3: Candidate Registers an EOI

The candidate uses the job offer ID to register an Expression of Interest.

Ontario requires registration within 30 calendar days of the employer submitting the job offer.

Step 4: Ontario May Issue an Invitation

Ontario can select candidates according to factors such as:

• EOI score
• Occupation
• Regional labour needs
• Program priorities
• Other selection factors

Step 5: Candidate and Employer Submit Applications

If invited, both the employer and applicant have separate submission requirements and deadlines.

This makes employer cooperation an essential part of the new Ontario process.

Workers considering Ontario as part of their long-term immigration plan can review Lifeline Immigration’s Work to PR Canada pathway.

No Ontario Workforce Priority Draw Was Reported During the Week

During the August 17–23 period covered by this article, Ontario had not announced a new invitation round under the recently opened Workforce Priority EOI framework.

This means applicants still did not have a first post-launch draw cutoff to use as a benchmark for:

• Competitive EOI scores
• Favoured occupations
• Regional priorities
• Invitation volumes

Applicants should avoid treating their raw EOI score as a prediction of whether they will receive an invitation until Ontario begins publishing draw results.

Previous OINP Applications Continue Under Their Original Rules

Applications submitted under Ontario’s previous streams before the redesign continue to be assessed according to the eligibility rules that were in place when the applications were filed.

However, previous Expressions of Interest that did not result in an invitation were withdrawn during Ontario’s system transition.

Affected candidates must use the new Workforce Priority process if they wish to pursue nomination under the redesigned program and remain eligible.

What Ontario Applicants Should Prepare

Prospective Ontario candidates should begin organizing supporting documents before receiving an invitation.

Important records may include:

• Passport
• Valid work or study permit
• Ontario job-offer documentation
• Employer information
• Employment reference letters
• Pay statements
• T4 slips
• Notices of Assessment
• English or French language results
• Educational credentials
• Educational Credential Assessment, where applicable
• Professional licensing documents
• Evidence supporting claimed EOI points

International graduates building a longer-term immigration plan can also review Lifeline Immigration’s Student to PR Canada guidance.

What This Canada Immigration Update Means for Applicants

The August 17–23 developments reinforce several important trends in Canadian immigration.

Express Entry remains highly targeted. CEC, provincial nomination, and French-language selection produced dramatically different CRS thresholds during the same week.

French-language proficiency remains strategically valuable. The French-language draw had a substantially lower cutoff than the reported CEC and PNP rounds.

Permanent residence admissions do not occur evenly throughout the year. Mid-year figures should be interpreted in the context of the Immigration Levels Plan rather than assuming Canada must reach exactly half of its annual target by June 30.

Temporary residence inventories remain substantial. More than 401,000 new temporary residence applications remained unfinished as of June 30.

Ontario’s new immigration system is now operational. The Workforce Priority EOI portal is open, and employer participation is central to job-offer-based applications.

Applicants should avoid relying on only one immigration pathway.

Depending on individual circumstances, a stronger strategy may involve comparing Express Entry, Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Programs, work permits, Work-to-PR pathways, Study-to-PR pathways, family sponsorship, and other economic immigration programs.

Need Help Reviewing Your Canada Immigration Options?

Canada’s immigration programs continue to change, and the strongest pathway depends on your work experience, occupation, education, language ability, current immigration status, employer, and long-term goals.

Lifeline Immigration helps applicants assess immigration eligibility, review Express Entry options, explore Provincial Nominee Programs, understand work permit requirements, compare permanent residency pathways, and plan Work-to-PR or Student-to-PR transitions.

Not sure which Canadian immigration pathway fits your profile?

Start with Lifeline Immigration’s Free Immigration Assessment.

If you would prefer to discuss your circumstances directly, you can also book an appointment with Lifeline Immigration.

Official Government Sources

• Express Entry rounds of invitations — Government of Canada
• 2026 Express Entry category-selection consultations — Government of Canada
• Permanent residence numbers — Government of Canada
• IRCC application processing system — Government of Canada
• IRCC processing times — Government of Canada
• Ontario Workforce Priority Stream — Government of Ontario
• 2026 OINP program updates — Government of Ontario