Canada increased the number of invitations in Express Entry through provincial nomination
The selection process had a higher passing score and an increased number of invitations.
On January 20, 2026, the Canadian government held a new Express Entry draw for candidates with a provincial nomination. 681 people received invitations to apply for permanent residence.
The minimum passing score on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 746. For comparison, in the previous draw on January 5, 2026, the minimum score was 711, and 574 candidates received invitations. In this new round, the passing threshold increased significantly, while the number of invitations also went up.
The increase in the minimum score may be related to changes in the pool of candidates with provincial nominations, as well as the current priorities of Canada's immigration policy and the distribution of invitations across draws at the beginning of the year.
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 146 points based on core factors, including age, education, English or French language skills, work experience, and adaptability factors in Canada.
Want to know how many points you could score? Use our online CRS calculator to get a preliminary assessment of your immigration chances.
The results of this draw 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. Generally, 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 up with the latest Express Entry draws so you don't miss new opportunities to immigrate to Canada.
