Canada Express Entry Draws: IRCC Issues 2,562 Invitations in Back-to-Back PNP and CEC Rounds
Canada Express Entry Draws: IRCC Issues 2,562 Invitations in Back-to-Back PNP and CEC Rounds
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held two consecutive Express Entry rounds at the turn of September, issuing a combined 2,562 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence.
On August 31, 2026, IRCC issued 562 invitations in a Provincial Nominee Program-specific round with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 697. On September 1, 2026, IRCC followed with a Canadian Experience Class round that issued 2,000 invitations at a minimum CRS score of 521.
These back-to-back rounds are relevant to candidates with Canadian work experience and provincial nominations because they show continued program-specific selection under Express Entry.
August 31 PNP Draw: 562 Invitations at CRS 697
IRCC issued 562 Invitations to Apply to Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination.
Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 697 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 4:32 a.m. UTC on April 12, 2026 to meet the tie-breaking rule reported for the round.
A provincial nomination adds 600 additional CRS points for an eligible Express Entry candidate who accepts the nomination. The August 31 cutoff was lower than the previous PNP-specific round on August 17, but applicants should not treat one lower cutoff as a forecast for future draws.
What This Means for PNP Candidates
Candidates with provincial nominations remain strongly positioned for PNP-specific Express Entry rounds because the nomination substantially increases CRS ranking. However, candidates must still maintain Express Entry eligibility and meet the requirements connected to their nomination and permanent residence application.
September 1 CEC Draw: 2,000 Invitations at CRS 521
IRCC issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply to Canadian Experience Class candidates in the September 1 round.
Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 521 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 3:24 a.m. UTC on August 18, 2026 to meet the reported tie-breaking rule.
The draw followed an August 18 CEC round that issued 1,000 invitations at CRS 523. The September 1 round therefore doubled the invitation count while the cutoff was two CRS points lower. These are observations about these two rounds only and should not be interpreted as a guarantee that future CEC cutoffs will continue to fall.
What This Means for CEC Candidates
CEC candidates should keep their Express Entry profiles accurate and current, monitor CRS changes and ensure all supporting documents remain valid. A CRS score near a recent cutoff can be useful context, but each round is determined independently by IRCC and future invitation numbers and cutoffs can change.
What These Express Entry Draws Mean for Applicants
The two rounds reinforce IRCC's continued use of program-specific selection for candidates with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.
Applicants should evaluate their own eligibility, CRS score, work history, language results, education, provincial options and document validity rather than relying only on the latest cutoff score.
Need Help Reviewing Your Express Entry Options?
Lifeline Immigration helps applicants review Express Entry eligibility, Canadian Experience Class options and Provincial Nominee Program pathways based on their individual profile.
Free assessment: https://lifelineimmigration.com/free-assessment/
Book an appointment: https://lifelineimmigration.com/book-an-appointment/
Official Government Sources
IRCC — Express Entry: Rounds of invitations
IRCC — Ministerial instructions respecting invitations to apply under Express Entry
IRCC — Provincial Nominee Program: Express Entry process
Reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant — Christine “Doc Teen” Daquiado, RCIC.
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