IRCC has just concluded another Express Entry draw targeting candidates with a Provincial Nominee Program credential. This time, 511 invitations were issued, with the CRS cut-off score sitting at a steep 744.

To qualify for this draw, candidates needed to hold a valid provincial nomination and have created their Express Entry profile before 6:11 p.m. UTC on May 26, 2026. This means that even with a high CRS score, if you submitted your profile after the cutoff date, you were not eligible.

The 744 cut-off is consistent with recent PNP draws, which have seen scores fluctuate between 708 and 805 throughout 2026. For comparison, the July 6 PNP draw had a 708 cut-off for 534 ITAs, while the May 25 and May 11 draws saw 805 and 798 respectively. The healthcare and French-language draws, on the other hand, have much lower cut-offs (475 for healthcare, 420 for French), but with significantly larger invitation numbers.

Candidates with a provincial nomination add 600 CRS points to their score, which virtually guarantees an invitation in most draws. However, the pool of candidates who qualify for PNP-specific draws is limited to those who have already received a nomination, which makes this competition particularly exclusive.

If you're in the Express Entry pool and have a provincial nomination, keep an eye on your profile submission date. For those without a nomination, consider exploring the various provincial programs. Ontario, BC, Alberta, and other provinces each have their own streams with different eligibility requirements and application timelines. The key is to have a backup plan and not rely solely on the general Express Entry pool.