Latest Express Entry Draw Targets PNP Candidates
IRCC has issued 356 invitations in a new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Express Entry draw held on March 30, 2026. Candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 802 to receive an invitation.
This was the seventh PNP draw of 2026, and it continues the trend of smaller, more frequent PNP rounds this year. The number of invitations was slightly lower than in the previous PNP draw on March 16, when 362 candidates were invited, but the CRS cut-off rose sharply from 742 to 802.
While that score may look unusually high, it is typical for PNP rounds because a provincial nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score. In other words, the cut-off reflects the major advantage that comes with a nomination, rather than a candidate’s base score alone.
For Express Entry candidates, a provincial nomination remains one of the strongest ways to improve their chances of receiving an invitation. As more nominated candidates stay in the pool, PNP cut-offs are likely to remain high from draw to draw.
We’ve broken down the latest draw details, what the higher cut-off could mean, and what this may signal for candidates planning their PR pathway in 2026.
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