Canada has invited 733 Express Entry candidates with provincial nominations to apply for permanent residence in the latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw.
The invitation round was held on September 28, 2026, and candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 725 to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Candidates who had a CRS score of 725 were subject to a tie-breaking rule based on the date and time they created their Express Entry profile. For this draw, the cut-off was September 17, 2026 at 1:36 a.m. UTC.
September 28 Express Entry PNP Draw
| Detail | September 28, 2026 |
| Draw type | Provincial Nominee Program |
| Invitations issued | 733 |
| CRS cut-off | 725 |
| Tie-breaking date | September 17, 2026 |
| Tie-breaking time | 1:36 a.m. UTC |
This was the 19th PNP-specific Express Entry draw of 2026.
With this draw, IRCC has issued 9,270 invitations to provincial nominees through PNP-specific Express Entry draws so far in 2026.
CRS Cut-Off Fell Compared With the Previous PNP Draw
The September 28 draw followed another PNP-specific round on September 14, 2026.
That earlier draw issued:
- 576 ITAs
- CRS cut-off of 734
The latest draw therefore issued 157 more invitations, while the CRS cut-off was 9 points lower.
The August 31 PNP draw issued 562 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 697.
The recent results show that the CRS cut-off can move significantly from one PNP draw to another depending on the number of candidates invited and the composition of the Express Entry pool.
A lower cut-off in one draw should not be interpreted as a guaranteed indication that the next PNP draw will have a lower cut-off.
Why Do Provincial Nominees Have High CRS Scores?
A provincial or territorial nomination through the Express Entry process provides 600 additional CRS points.
This is the largest single source of additional CRS points available under the current CRS system.
For example, a candidate with a base CRS score of 125 who receives an eligible provincial nomination can receive an additional 600 points, bringing the total to 725.
This explains why PNP-specific Express Entry draws generally have much higher CRS cut-offs than many Canadian Experience Class or category-based draws.
However, the 600 points are not awarded simply because someone works in Canada or has a provincial job offer.
The candidate must first qualify for a provincial or territorial nomination under an eligible PNP stream.
Who Can Receive an Express Entry PNP Nomination?
To qualify through the Express Entry PNP process, a candidate generally needs to satisfy two sets of requirements.
First, the candidate must be eligible for a relevant provincial or territorial nominee stream.
For example, under Alberta’s Express Entry Stream, candidates must meet the requirements of the specific pathway through which Alberta selects them. Some pathways require an Alberta job offer or current Alberta employment in the relevant occupation—for example, health care, technology or law enforcement—while priority-sector selections are tied to eligible occupations in areas such as construction, agriculture and aviation. Candidates must also intend to live and work permanently in Alberta.Top of Form
Second, the candidate must also be eligible for at least one of the three Express Entry programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The provincial requirements vary considerably.
Depending on the province and stream, requirements may include:
- Canadian work experience;
- an eligible occupation;
- a qualifying job offer;
- education;
- language proficiency;
- a minimum wage;
- employer requirements;
- work experience in a particular sector;
- residence or work in a particular region; or
- an intention to live and work in the nominating province.
Therefore, simply having a high CRS score does not make someone eligible for a PNP.
What Happens After Receiving a Provincial Nomination?
For candidates using an Express Entry-linked PNP stream, the process generally works as follows:
Provincial eligibility → Provincial nomination → 600 CRS points → Express Entry ITA → Permanent residence application
Once a candidate accepts an Express Entry-linked provincial nomination, IRCC awards the additional 600 CRS points.
The candidate may then receive an ITA in a subsequent Express Entry round if their ranking is high enough.
Receiving an ITA is an important step, but it is not the same as receiving permanent residence.
The candidate must still submit a complete PR application and demonstrate that they continue to meet the applicable requirements.
ITA Does Not Mean Automatic PR Approval
An invitation to apply is an invitation to submit a permanent residence application.
After receiving the ITA, the candidate must provide the required information and supporting documents.
These may include:
- identity documents;
- passports;
- language-test results;
- education documents;
- employment records;
- police certificates;
- medical examination results;
- proof of funds, where applicable;
- provincial nomination documentation; and
- other documents requested by IRCC.
The candidate must also make sure that the information in the final application remains consistent with the Express Entry profile.
Changes in circumstances can affect eligibility or CRS points.
For example, a change in:
- marital status;
- language-test results;
- work experience;
- provincial nomination;
- education; or
- other profile information
may affect the candidate’s eligibility or CRS score.
Candidates Have 60 Days to Apply
After receiving an ITA, candidates generally have 60 calendar days to submit their permanent residence application.
This is why candidates who are expecting an invitation should prepare their documents in advance rather than waiting until the ITA arrives.
Important documents such as police certificates, employment letters and language-test results can take time to obtain or update.
What Does This Mean for Temporary Workers in Canada?
The latest PNP draw is particularly relevant to temporary workers who are already working in Canada.
A worker may have Canadian work experience but still have a CRS score that is not high enough for a particular Express Entry round.
A provincial nomination can significantly change that calculation because of the additional 600 CRS points.
For example:
Base CRS: 125
Provincial nomination: +600
Total CRS: 725
This is only an illustration. Actual CRS scores depend on the candidate’s age, education, language ability, Canadian and foreign work experience, spouse or partner factors and other applicable factors.
Temporary workers should therefore assess PNP options before assuming that Express Entry alone is their only pathway.
PNP Draws Are Not the Same as Provincial Immigration Draws
Another important distinction is the difference between a provincial nomination draw and an Express Entry PNP draw.
A province may first select candidates through its own immigration program.
For an Express Entry-linked stream, the successful candidate then receives a provincial nomination that can provide 600 CRS points.
IRCC subsequently conducts the federal Express Entry draw.
Therefore, the September 28 announcement does not mean that 733 people were newly nominated by provinces on that day.
The 733 candidates were already in the Express Entry pool with provincial nominations and were selected by IRCC for ITAs.
Recent 2026 PNP Express Entry Draws
Several PNP-specific draws have taken place throughout 2026.
Some recent examples include:
| Date | ITAs | CRS Cut-Off |
| September 28 | 733 | 725 |
| September 14 | 576 | 734 |
| August 31 | 562 | 697 |
| August 17 | 442 | 760 |
| August 4 | 507 | 768 |
| July 20 | 511 | 744 |
| July 6 | 534 | 708 |
| June 22 | 955 | 730 |
The June 22 draw remains notable because IRCC issued 955 PNP invitations, while the September 28 draw is the largest PNP invitation round since that June draw.
The figures also demonstrate why candidates should avoid treating any single CRS cut-off as a permanent threshold.
What Should PNP Candidates Do Now?
Candidates who received an ITA in the September 28 draw should begin preparing the permanent residence application immediately.
If you received an ITA
- Check the ITA carefully.
- Confirm that the provincial nomination remains valid.
- Recalculate the CRS score using the information that will appear in the PR application.
- Gather employment and education documents.
- Obtain police certificates where required.
- Complete the medical examination when instructed.
- Prepare proof of funds if applicable.
- Make sure all information is accurate and consistent.
- Submit the complete application within the 60-day deadline.
If you have a provincial nomination but did not receive an ITA
The nomination remains important because it provides 600 additional CRS points, but the candidate should verify that the nomination remains valid and that the Express Entry profile is accurate and active.
If you are considering a PNP
Do not focus only on the latest CRS cut-off.
The first question is whether you qualify for a provincial stream.
Each province has different priorities and eligibility requirements, and provincial programs can change their intake rules, occupations, allocations and selection criteria.
What This Draw Means for Canada’s 2026 Express Entry Strategy
The September 28 draw is another indication that provincial nominees continue to be an important part of Canada’s Express Entry system.
At the same time, PNP candidates represent only one part of Canada’s broader Express Entry strategy.
In 2026, IRCC has also conducted substantial draws for:
- Canadian Experience Class candidates;
- French-language proficiency;
- healthcare and social services;
- physicians with Canadian work experience;
- senior managers with Canadian work experience;
- trades;
- transport; and
- skilled military recruits.
This means candidates should not automatically assume that a provincial nomination is the only way to receive an ITA.
Depending on the individual’s circumstances, improving language scores, gaining qualifying Canadian work experience, pursuing an eligible category or exploring a provincial pathway may all be relevant.
The Bottom Line
Canada invited 733 provincial nominees to apply for permanent residence in the September 28, 2026 Express Entry draw.
The minimum CRS score was 725, and candidates at the cut-off were subject to a September 17, 2026 tie-breaking date.
The most important point for applicants is that a provincial nomination provides 600 additional CRS points, but obtaining a nomination and receiving an Express Entry ITA are two separate stages.
For temporary workers and other candidates considering permanent residence, the key is to assess provincial eligibility early rather than waiting until a work permit is about to expire or an Express Entry draw has already taken place.
A provincial nomination can substantially change an Express Entry profile, but candidates still need to qualify for the provincial stream, maintain their Express Entry eligibility and submit a complete PR application after receiving an ITA.
