Last Updated On 22 June 2026, 3:31 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
Today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada conducted the first Express Entry draw of June 2026, targeting candidates who hold a provincial nomination.
IRCC issued 955 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program category in this round.
This is the largest PNP draw of 2026 and also the largest PNP Express Entry round since December 2024.
The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for the lowest-ranked candidate invited was 730 points.
That CRS threshold is also the lowest PNP cutoff recorded in any Express Entry draw this year by a significant margin.
The previous lowest PNP cutoff of 2026 was 710, recorded in the March 2 Express Entry draw earlier this year.
A lower cutoff combined with more invitations suggests that provinces have released a large batch of new nominations into the Express Entry pool.
When more provincial nominees are available, IRCC can issue more invitations while reaching deeper into the CRS ranking.
Table of Contents
Full Details Of The June 22, 2026 Express Entry PNP Draw
The following table provides every official detail of the latest Express Entry draw as released by IRCC.
| Draw Detail | Value |
| Program | Provincial Nominee Program |
| Date and Time | June 22, 2026 at 04:06:26 UTC |
| Number of Invitations Issued | 955 |
| CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate | 730 |
| Rank Needed | 955 or above |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | March 09, 2026 at 01:02:28 UTC |
The tie-breaking rule determines which candidates receive invitations when multiple profiles share the same CRS score at the cutoff.
Candidates who had a CRS score of exactly 730 needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before March 9, 2026 at 01:02:28 UTC.
Anyone with a score of 730 who submitted after that timestamp was not selected despite meeting the CRS requirement.
Why 955 Invitations Is A Significant Milestone For PNP Draws
The 955 invitations issued today represent a dramatic turnaround from the shrinking PNP draw volumes that had defined the last several months.
PNP invitation counts had been declining steadily since April, dropping from 473 on April 27 to 380 on May 11 and then to 334 on May 25.
CRS cutoffs climbed in parallel from 795 to 798 to 805 over the same period, reflecting a shrinking pool of provincial nominees.
Today’s draw reversed both trends simultaneously with a larger invitation count and a substantially lower CRS cutoff.
The jump from 334 invitations in the last round to 955 in this one represents a 186% increase in invitation volume.
The CRS cutoff dropped 75 points from 805 to 730, indicating a much larger pool of nominees entered Express Entry between draws.
2026 PNP Express Entry Draws At A Glance
The following table shows every Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry draw conducted in 2026, illustrating how invitation volumes and CRS cutoffs have shifted.
| Draw Date | Invitations | CRS Cutoff |
| Jun 22 | 955 | 730 |
| May 25 | 334 | 805 |
| May 11 | 380 | 798 |
| Apr 27 | 473 | 795 |
| Apr 13 | 524 | 786 |
| Mar 30 | 606 | 741 |
| Mar 16 | 681 | 726 |
| Mar 2 | 606 | 710 |
| Feb 16 | 279 | 789 |
| Feb 3 | 423 | 749 |
| Jan 20 | 681 | 746 |
| Jan 5 | 574 | 711 |
The June 22 round stands out as a clear outlier in both volume and cutoff when compared against every other PNP draw this year.
The previous high for PNP invitations in 2026 was 681, recorded in both the January 20 and March 16 draws.
Today’s 955 invitations exceed that previous high by 274, confirming that a significant wave of fresh nominations has entered the pool.
What The 730 CRS Cutoff Means For Provincial Nominees
Every provincial nominee receives an automatic 600-point CRS boost when their nomination is reflected in the Express Entry pool.
A CRS cutoff of 730 in a PNP draw means the lowest-ranked candidate had a base score of approximately 130 before the provincial nomination was applied.
This is a critical distinction that many candidates misunderstand when comparing PNP draw cutoffs to Canadian Experience Class draws where the CRS typically lands between 507 and 518 in 2026.
The base score of 130 is remarkably low and means that candidates with modest CRS profiles can still receive an invitation through a provincial nomination.
The 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan increased PNP admissions targets from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 in 2026.
That 66% increase has fueled active provincial nomination cycles across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba throughout the year.
British Columbia restructured its provincial nominee priorities around three strategic sectors of Care, Build, and Innovate earlier this year.
Latest CRS Score Distribution In The Express Entry Pool
The Express Entry pool contained 239,645 candidates as of June 21, 2026, one day before the draw.
The pool has grown by approximately 5,000 candidates since the last published snapshot in late May, reflecting the extended draw pause.
The 601 to 1,200 CRS range holds 941 candidates, which is where most provincial nominees sit after receiving their 600-point boost.
| CRS score range | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 941 |
| 501-600 | 20,012 |
| 451-500 | 75,938 |
| 491-500 | 13,537 |
| 481-490 | 13,598 |
| 471-480 | 17,318 |
| 461-470 | 16,358 |
| 451-460 | 15,127 |
| 401-450 | 64,807 |
| 441-450 | 14,147 |
| 431-440 | 13,980 |
| 421-430 | 12,584 |
| 411-420 | 12,128 |
| 401-410 | 11,968 |
| 351-400 | 51,897 |
| 301-350 | 17,946 |
| 0-300 | 8,104 |
| Total | 239,645 |
That figure is significantly higher than the 372 candidates recorded in this range during the May 10 pool snapshot.
The sharp increase from 372 to 941 candidates above 601 explains why today’s PNP draw was able to issue 955 invitations.
The 501 to 600 CRS range holds 20,012 candidates, representing the segment most directly affected by CEC draws.
That range has grown substantially during the pause because no CEC draw has been held since May 27 to clear candidates from this band.
When the next CEC draw finally lands, the cutoff will likely sit above the May 27 level of 518 given the pool pressure that has accumulated over 26 days.
Candidates with CRS scores below 500 need to explore category-based rounds or pursue provincial nominations to receive an invitation.
CEC draws have not dropped below CRS 507 at any point in 2026, and the current pool dynamics make a sub-500 (even 510) CEC cutoff extremely unlikely.
French-language proficiency draws remain the most accessible pathway for candidates in the 400 to 500 CRS range who qualify.
IRCC has issued 30,500 French-language invitations across six draws in 2026 with cutoffs as low as 393.
The 941 candidates above 601 were nearly all cleared by today’s PNP draw, which invited 955 candidates at or above CRS 730.
The 20,012 candidates in the 501 to 600 range will remain in the pool until IRCC conducts a CEC draw or a category-based round that reaches into this band.
Candidates below 500 should focus on securing a provincial nomination or qualifying for category-based Express Entry draws where CRS cutoffs are significantly lower.
What Candidates Should Expect After Today’s Draw
Today’s PNP draw signals that IRCC has resumed Express Entry activity after the extended June pause.
The key question is whether IRCC will follow this PNP round with a CEC draw and a category-based draw in the coming days.
Throughout 2026, IRCC typically ran draw clusters where a PNP round opened the week followed by CEC and then a category-based round, although there were weeks where this pattern did not hold.
If that sequencing holds, a CEC draw and a French-language or occupation-based draw could appear within the next few days.
The CRS cutoff is expected to climb above 518 if IRCC resumes CEC activity this week given 26 days of pool accumulation.
Candidates with CRS scores between 510 and 525 should keep their profiles active and all documentation current for a potential CEC round.
Those below 510 should focus on improving their CRS scores through language retests, additional Canadian work experience, or provincial nominations.
Next Steps Based On Your CRS Score
Your immigration strategy should differ based on where your CRS score falls relative to current draw cutoffs.
If your CRS is above 518: You are positioned for the next CEC draw whenever IRCC resumes that category.
Keep your profile active, ensure all documents remain valid, and monitor IRCC’s draw results page daily.
If your CRS is between 500 and 518: You are in a competitive but uncertain zone where draw size will determine your outcome.
Consider retaking IELTS or CELPIP to push your language scores higher because a jump from CLB 8 to CLB 9 can add 20 to 30 points.
If your CRS is below 500: CEC draws are not reaching your score range in the current environment.
French-language proficiency draws with cutoffs as low as 393 remain your best Express Entry pathway if you qualify.
Pursuing a provincial nomination through Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, or Saskatchewan is the most reliable route to permanent residence.
The IRCC backlog data for 2026 shows that permanent residence processing times may exceed published service standards for new applicants.
Submitting a clean and complete application with verified documents is the single best way to avoid processing delays after receiving your invitation.
IRCC has issued 80,796 Express Entry invitations across all draw categories since January 1, 2026.
The system has operated through multiple draw pauses and rhythm changes over the course of the year.
CEC draws have been the largest category by total invitation volume, followed closely by French-language proficiency rounds.
The April 2026 draw analysis had projected that PNP draws would continue as the most predictable draw type.
PNP draws had been the most reliable draw type in 2026, running on a consistent 14-day cycle from January through late May.
The May 25 PNP draw issued 334 invitations at CRS 805, and a follow-up PNP round was expected around June 8.
That expected round never materialized, extending the PNP gap to 28 days before today’s draw finally restored activity.
CEC candidates are still waiting for their next round after the May 27 CEC draw that issued 3,000 invitations at CRS 518.
No CEC, French-language, healthcare, trades, or education draw has been issued alongside today’s PNP round as of this writing.
Candidates in the CEC and category-based streams should monitor IRCC’s official draw results page closely over the coming days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was the CRS cutoff in the June 22 Express Entry draw?
The CRS cutoff was 730 points for the Provincial Nominee Program draw held on June 22, 2026, with 955 invitations issued.
Why is the June 22 PNP draw considered the largest of 2026?
IRCC issued 955 invitations in this round, exceeding the previous 2026 high of 681 set in January and March PNP draws.
When was the last Express Entry draw before June 22?
The last Express Entry draw was the French-language proficiency round on May 28 that issued 4,500 invitations at CRS 409.
Will IRCC hold a CEC draw this week after the PNP round?
IRCC has not confirmed any upcoming draws, but the historical pattern in 2026 shows CEC and category-based draws often following PNP rounds within the same week.
How can candidates below CRS 500 receive an Express Entry invitation in 2026?
Candidates below 500 should pursue provincial nominations that add 600 CRS points or qualify for French-language category draws where cutoffs have been as low as 393 this year.
Fact-Checked: All data in this article has been verified against official IRCC Express Entry draw results published on canada.ca as of June 22, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. IRCC draw schedules, categories, and invitation volumes can change at any time without advance notice. Consult a licensed immigration professional for guidance specific to your situation.
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