Canada conducted a new Express Entry selection for candidates with provincial nomination
The number of invitations decreased compared to the previous draw.
On February 3, 2026, the Canadian government held a new Express Entry draw for candidates with a provincial nomination. 423 people received invitations to apply for permanent residence.
The minimum passing score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) was 749. For comparison, in the previous draw on January 20, 2026, the minimum score was 746, and 681 candidates received invitations. The cutoff score went up slightly, while the number of invitations dropped noticeably.
These changes may be related to updates 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, having 149 points based on core factors—including age, education, English or French language skills, work experience, and adaptability factors in Canada—was enough to receive an invitation.
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 draw once again highlight the important role of Provincial Nominee Programs, which allow Canadian regions to attract candidates who best match their economic and demographic needs.
How Provincial Nominee 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 draws so you don't miss new opportunities to immigrate to Canada.
