PEI PNP 2026 First Draw Results and Priority Candidates

Jan 19, 2026 / 2 min readIshita Soni

PEI’s First PNP Draw of 2026

On January 15, Prince Edward Island conducted its first Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw of 2026, following its planned Invitation to Apply (ITA) schedule.
At the same time, the province focused on candidates who already have strong ties to PEI, especially international student graduates.

Draw Results and Immigration Categories

In total, PEI issued 26 Invitations to Apply in this draw.
Specifically, the province selected candidates under two categories: Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry.
Notably, the Labour Impact category includes the Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate streams.

Priority Sectors and Employment Focus

In addition, PEI targeted individuals who live and work in the province in jobs that contribute strongly to the local economy.
For 2026, the province continues to prioritize the same sectors as in 2025, namely healthcare, trades, and manufacturing.
As a result, candidates working in these fields had stronger chances of receiving an invitation.

Preference for PEI International Graduates

Moreover, PEI gave extra preference to international graduates from selected Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).
These include the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île.
Importantly, PEI followed similar selection criteria in 2025, and therefore, this trend is likely to continue throughout 2026.

Expected Dates for Upcoming Draws

Looking ahead, PEI plans to hold upcoming draws around February 19, March 19, and April 16.
However, the province clarifies that these dates remain tentative and may change.
Even so, PEI followed its planned schedule for most draws in 2025, which increases the likelihood of similar timing in 2026.

How Candidates Can Prepare for the Next Draw

Finally, candidates who want to apply must first create an account on PEI’s official website and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Then, the EOI system ranks profiles based on factors such as language ability, education, work experience, alignment with labour needs, and employment prospects.
Ultimately, candidates with higher scores and strong settlement potential stand a better chance of receiving an invitation.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding Immigration Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).