Canada’s immigration authorities have continued their 2026 pattern of prioritizing candidates with strong in-Canada connections through the latest Express Entry draw. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 423 Invitations to Apply for permanent residency under the Provincial Nominee Program, which allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate skilled candidates based on local labor demand. Candidates receiving a provincial nomination gain a significant boost to their Comprehensive Ranking System score, increasing their chances of selection in Express Entry.
For this draw, candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 749 and an Express Entry profile created before 10:30 p.m. (UTC) on December 16, 2025. This marked the fifth Express Entry draw of 2026 and reflects a clear preference for candidates already connected to Canada through local work experience or provincial nominations.
So far this year, IRCC has focused on two main categories: Canadian Experience Class, for candidates with eligible Canadian work experience, and the Provincial Nominee Program, which supports candidates nominated by provinces. Previous draws in 2026 include the Canadian Experience Class draw on January 21 with a CRS cut-off of 509 and 6,000 ITAs issued, the PNP draw on January 20 with a CRS cut-off of 746 and 681 ITAs issued, the Canadian Experience Class draw on January 7 with a CRS cut-off of 511 and 8,000 ITAs issued, and the PNP draw on January 5 with a CRS cut-off of 711 and 574 ITAs issued.
The early draws indicate that Canada is focusing on candidates with existing ties to the country’s workforce and provincial immigration streams, making local experience and provincial nominations increasingly valuable for prospective immigrants.
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