The first Express Entry draw in the new year for the Provincial Nominee Program
In the first 2026 draw for the provincial nomination, the score dropped and more invitations were issued.
On January 5, 2026, the Canadian government held the first Express Entry selection round for candidates with a provincial nomination. 574 people received invitations to apply for permanent residence status.
The minimum passing score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 711. For comparison, in the previous draw on December 15, 2025, the minimum score was 731, and 399 candidates received invitations. In this new round, the passing threshold dropped noticeably, while the number of invitations increased.
The lower minimum score and higher number of invitations may be related to changes in the pool of candidates with provincial nominations, as well as current priorities in Canada's immigration policy.
Candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 CRS points, which significantly strengthens their position in the system. This means that in this draw, it was enough to have 111 points based on core criteria, including age, education, English or French language skills, work experience, and adaptability factors in Canada.
Want to know how many points you could get? Use our online CRS calculator to get a preliminary assessment of your immigration chances.
The results of this round once again highlight the important role of provincial immigration programs, which allow Canadian regions to attract candidates who best match their economic and demographic needs.
How provincial immigration programs work
Each Canadian province and territory sets its own requirements for candidates based on labor market needs and regional priorities. Typically, to receive a nomination you need to:
- meet the requirements of one of the federal immigration programs;
- create a profile in the Express Entry system;
- receive a provincial nomination, which adds 600 CRS points and significantly increases your chances of receiving an invitation.
Keep track of the latest Express Entry rounds so you don't miss new opportunities to immigrate to Canada.
