Canada issues 442 PNP invitations in Express Entry draw

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released updated data regarding Express Entry draws and national application processing volumes. In a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw held on August 17, 2026, the agency issued 442 invitations to apply for permanent residence with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 760.

Data from the Express Entry pool shows a contraction of over 2,200 candidates between August 3 and August 16, 2026, primarily due to declines in the 351–400 and 501–600 score ranges. However, the number of top-scoring profiles increased during this same period.

Regarding broader processing statistics, IRCC finalized 2,011,375 applications during the first half of 2026. As of June 30, 2026, the department held an inventory of 1,539,785 applications. The permanent residence inventory stood at 712,795, which includes 249,555 economic applications. Notably, 23% of economic applications were waitlisted due to insufficient admission spaces under the current federal immigration levels plan.