Canada Holds New Express Entry Draw for 733 Candidates
Introduction
Canada has held another Express Entry draw for candidates who have received a provincial nomination.
On September 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 733 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 725 to receive an invitation in this round. They also had to create their Express Entry profile before 1:36 a.m. UTC on September 17, 2026.
Who Was Selected in This Express Entry Draw?
This round specifically targeted Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination.
To receive an ITA, candidates needed to meet the required CRS score and have an eligible Express Entry profile created before the specified tie-breaking date and time.
As a result, 733 provincial nominees received the opportunity to submit their permanent residence applications.
What Happens After Receiving an ITA?
Receiving an ITA is an important step, but it does not mean permanent residence is automatically approved.
After receiving an invitation, candidates need to prepare and submit their complete permanent residence application within the required period.
IRCC will then review the application and supporting documents before making a final decision.
Therefore, candidates should carefully check their documents, forms and eligibility information before submitting their application.
Provincial Nominees May Also Benefit From a Bridging Open Work Permit
For candidates who are already in Canada, there may be another important option after applying for permanent residence.
A foreign national who has submitted a permanent residence application through Express Entry may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
This permit can help eligible applicants continue working in Canada while they wait for their permanent residence application to be processed.
Moreover, if an applicant’s current work permit expires while their BOWP application is still being processed, they may be able to continue working under maintained status, provided they remain in Canada and meet the applicable requirements.
In addition, eligible family members may also qualify for a BOWP.
How Does This Draw Compare With Recent Express Entry Rounds?
The September 28 draw was one of several Express Entry selections held in September.
Recent draws included:
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 733 |
| September 16 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 389 | 250 |
| September 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 519 | 2,000 |
| September 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 734 | 576 |
| September 4 | Healthcare and Social Services | 475 | 3,500 |
| September 3 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 198 | 229 |
| September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 2,000 |
These results show that IRCC continues to conduct different types of Express Entry draws for specific groups of candidates.
Provincial Nominee Draws Continue to Play an Important Role
The September 28 round was the largest PNP invitation round since late June 2026, according to the source.
With this draw, Canada reached 57 Express Entry draws in 2026.
Provincial Nominee Program draws accounted for 19 of these rounds, followed by Canadian Experience Class draws with 16. French-language proficiency accounted for 10 draws. Other categories included healthcare and social services, physicians, senior managers, trades, transport and skilled military recruits.
How Many Express Entry ITAs Has Canada Issued in 2026?
So far in 2026, IRCC has issued 129,715 Invitations to Apply through different Express Entry draw categories.
The distribution provided in the source is:
- Canadian Experience Class: 53,250 ITAs
- French-Language Proficiency: 50,500 ITAs
- Provincial Nominee Program: 9,270 ITAs
- Healthcare and Social Services: 11,500 ITAs
- Trades: 3,000 ITAs
- Transport: 300 ITAs
- Physicians with Canadian Work Experience: 891 ITAs
- Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience: 1,000 ITAs
- Skilled Military Recruits: 4 ITAs
What Does This Mean for Express Entry Candidates?
The latest draw highlights the continued role of provincial nominations within Canada’s Express Entry system.
For candidates who receive a provincial nomination, the nomination can significantly strengthen their Express Entry profile and may make them eligible for a PNP-specific invitation round.
However, Express Entry draws can vary in size, category and CRS requirements. Therefore, candidates should continue monitoring official draw announcements and keep their profiles updated.
Final Takeaway
Canada’s September 28 Express Entry draw issued 733 ITAs to provincial nominees, with a CRS cut-off of 725.
At the same time, Canada’s 2026 Express Entry selections continue to cover several groups, including Canadian Experience Class candidates, French-speaking candidates, healthcare workers, physicians and other targeted categories.
For prospective applicants, keeping an Express Entry profile accurate and understanding how provincial nomination and category-based selections work can be important steps toward pursuing Canadian permanent residence.
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).
