Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its sixth Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)–only Express Entry draw of 2026 on March 16. Just 362 invitations to apply (ITAs) were released, and the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off climbed to 742—32 points higher than the previous PNP draw on March 2. The tie-break rule was set at 20:35 UTC on 5 October 2025, meaning that many high-scoring profiles created after that date remain in the pool. Why did the score surge again? Because PNP candidates automatically receive 600 CRS points once their nomination is added to their profile. Base CRS scores for nominees have been hovering in the low- to mid-100s, so the overall cut-off inevitably stays in the 700–780 band. In other words, the draw reflects IRCC’s deliberate throttling of invitations rather than a real shortage of qualified provincial nominees. For employers that rely on the PNP to land urgently needed talent, the small draw size signals that processing queues for nomination applications will remain lengthy into the spring. Candidates already in the pool should check provincial portals weekly; the 601-plus portion of the pool is being replenished continuously by British Columbia Tech, Ontario Human Capital Priority and other frequent nominee rounds. Corporations planning assignments to Canada must budget extra time: the tie-break shows IRCC is still clearing October 2025 profiles. HR teams should warn senior leaders that even highly paid transferees may need six to eight months to secure permanent residence if they do not also qualify for a category-based Express Entry draw. Looking ahead, most consultants expect IRCC to continue alternating small PNP rounds with larger category-based draws through the second quarter as the department works within its 2026 admissions cap.
