Latest Express Entry Draw On September 14 Issues 576 PR Invitations

Last Updated On 14 September 2026, 11:38 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada conducted a new Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry draw on September 14, 2026, issuing 576 invitations to apply for permanent residence.

The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff for the lowest-ranked candidate invited in this round was 734 points.

That CRS threshold is 37 points higher than the 697 recorded on August 31, which was the lowest PNP cutoff of 2026.

The 576 invitations represent a slight increase from the 562 sent in the previous PNP round two weeks earlier.

Candidates who received an invitation now have exactly 60 calendar days to submit a complete permanent residence application through their Express Entry account.

Full Express Entry Draw Details For September 14

IRCC held this draw at 10:26:01 UTC on September 14, 2026, selecting candidates who held valid provincial nominations in their Express Entry profiles.

The table below contains every official detail published by IRCC for this round.

Draw Detail	Value
Draw Category	Provincial Nominee Program
Date and Time (UTC)	September 14, 2026, at 10:26:01
Number of Invitations Issued	576
CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate	734
Rank Needed	576 or above
Tie-Breaking Rule	August 29, 2026, at 21:39:50 UTC

When multiple candidates share the cutoff CRS score of 734, IRCC uses profile submission timestamps to determine who receives an invitation.

For this draw, candidates with exactly 734 points only received invitations if they submitted their Express Entry profiles before August 29, 2026, at 21:39:50 UTC.

Any eligible PNP candidate with a CRS score above 734 received an invitation regardless of when their profile was created.

How The Tie-Breaking Rule Worked In This Draw

IRCC applies the tie-breaking rule when more than one candidate shares the minimum CRS score at the cutoff.

For the September 14 draw, the tie-breaking timestamp was set at August 29, 2026 at 21:39:50 UTC.

This means candidates with exactly 734 points were invited only if they created their Express Entry profiles before that date and time.

A tie-breaking date of August 29 is approximately 16 days before the draw, which is relatively recent compared to the August 31 PNP round that used a tie-breaking date of April 12, over four months before that draw.

The difference in tie-breaking timestamps may reflect a smaller number of candidates sharing the exact cutoff score in this round, though IRCC does not publish the data needed to confirm this directly.

Latest CRS Score Distribution In The Express Entry Pool

The Express Entry pool contained 226,793 candidates as of September 13, 2026, one day before this draw was conducted.

That total reflects a slight decline from the pool size recorded in early September and continues the gradual contraction that has been underway since the pool peaked above 233,000 candidates in April.

Sub-rows provide a detailed breakdown of the bold total immediately above them in each score band.

CRS Score Range	Number of Candidates
601–1200	574
501–600	20,784
451–500	72,107
491–500	12,590
481–490	12,426
471–480	16,105
461–470	16,163
451–460	14,823
401–450	61,560
441–450	13,657
431–440	13,300
421–430	12,064
411–420	11,506
401–410	11,033
351–400	46,782
301–350	17,240
0–300	7,746
Total	226,793

The 601–1200 range contained just 574 candidates on September 13, which is where all provincial nominees sit because of their 600-point bonus.

IRCC issued 576 invitations against a pool that showed 574 candidates in that range the day prior, which means at least two more eligible high-ranking profiles were present in the pool by the time the draw was conducted.

The 501–600 band holds 20,784 candidates and remains the primary zone from which Canadian Experience Class draws pull invitations.

Candidates scoring in the 451–500 range account for 72,107 profiles, the single largest concentration in the pool, and most need either a significant CRS improvement or a provincial nomination to receive an invitation through current draw patterns.

All The PNP Express Entry Draws In 2026

The September 14 draw is the 18th PNP round that IRCC has conducted in 2026, with CRS cutoffs ranging from 697 to 805 and invitation volumes fluctuating between 264 and 955.

The table below tracks every PNP Express Entry draw this year to illustrate how both the CRS floor and invitation counts have shifted over time.

Draw Date	Invitations Issued	CRS Cutoff
January 5, 2026	574	711
January 20, 2026	681	746
February 3, 2026	423	749
February 16, 2026	279	789
March 2, 2026	264	710
March 16, 2026	362	742
March 30, 2026	356	802
April 13, 2026	324	786
April 27, 2026	473	795
May 11, 2026	380	798
May 25, 2026	334	805
June 22, 2026	955	730
July 6, 2026	534	708
July 20, 2026	511	744
August 4, 2026	507	768
August 17, 2026	442	760
August 31, 2026	562	697
September 14, 2026	576	734

The lowest PNP cutoff of the year remains the 697 recorded on August 31, while the highest was 805 on May 25.

September 14 sits roughly in the middle of that range, suggesting the pool of provincial nominees is stabilizing after months of fluctuation.

Where This Draw Fits In The September Cluster

IRCC has grouped its Express Entry draws into concentrated clusters since March, following a pattern where a PNP round opens the window, followed by CEC and category-based draws within a few days.

The September 1 CEC draw issued 2,000 invitations at CRS 521, arriving the day after the August 31 PNP round that started the previous cluster.

A physicians draw on September 3 and a healthcare category draw on September 4 completed that cluster, with the healthcare round sending 3,500 invitations at CRS 475.

The September 14 PNP draw now opens a new cluster, and based on recent sequencing, a CEC draw may be the most likely next round, potentially followed by a French-language proficiency or other category-based draw within the next few days.

This biweekly cluster pattern has been one of the most consistent features of the 2026 Express Entry calendar, though IRCC does not publish a fixed schedule.

Steps For Candidates Who Received An Invitation

Candidates who received an invitation to apply in this draw have 60 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence.

The application requires:

police certificates from every country where the applicant and any family members aged 18 or older have stayed for six consecutive months or longer during the last 10 years,
medical examination results from an IRCC-designated panel physician,
proof of language test results,
an educational credential assessment to claim education points for foreign credentials,
reference letters for work experience claims, and
proof of funds where required by the applicant’s underlying Express Entry program.

Proof-of-funds requirements depend on which federal program the candidate qualifies under, not on whether they hold a provincial nomination.

Canadian Experience Class applicants are not required to show proof of funds, while Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants may also be exempt if they are currently authorized to work in Canada and hold a valid job offer.

Missing the 60-day deadline has serious consequences.

If the invitation expires without a complete application being submitted, IRCC removes the candidate’s profile from the Express Entry pool entirely, and the candidate must submit a new profile to re-enter the system.

A candidate who chooses to decline the invitation while still eligible may have their profile returned to the pool, but an expired invitation does not produce the same result.

Current IRCC processing times show permanent residence applications submitted through the Canadian Experience Class and PNP streams are taking approximately six to seven months.

Improving Your CRS Score For Future Draws

Candidates who did not receive an invitation in this round should focus on the strategies that produce the largest CRS gains in the shortest time.

Language test improvements remain the single most effective lever for most candidates, as even a one-band increase in a single IELTS or CELPIP skill area can add 15 to 30 CRS points depending on the overall profile composition.

Retaking a language test with a targeted study plan is faster than accumulating additional work experience or completing a new credential.

Candidates who are over 30 and losing age-related CRS points can partially offset those deductions through additional Canadian education or accumulated post-graduation work experience.

Securing a provincial nomination remains the most powerful CRS boost available, adding 600 points that significantly improve a candidate’s ranking in the pool.

IRCC states that a provincial nomination helps a candidate get invited to apply, though the candidate still needs a base CRS score high enough to clear the cutoff after the 600-point boost is applied.

Candidates should verify that the occupation listed on their Express Entry profile accurately matches their duties under the current NOC 2021 classification, which IRCC continues to use for Express Entry eligibility.

Candidates who qualify for French-language proficiency draws should consider that pathway as well, given that French rounds have offered some of the lowest CRS cutoffs among Express Entry draw categories in 2026, with only the physicians-with-Canadian-work-experience category producing lower thresholds.

What Express Entry Draws To Expect Next

Based on the draw cluster pattern that IRCC has maintained throughout 2026, a CEC draw targeting candidates with Canadian work experience may be the most likely next round.

That CEC draw would typically arrive within 1 to 2 business days of today’s PNP round, though IRCC does not publish a fixed schedule.

A French-language proficiency draw or another category-based draw targeting in-demand occupations could close the cluster later this week.

Candidates should check their IRCC online account regularly, as invitation notifications appear directly in the Express Entry profile and the 60-day deadline begins immediately upon issuance.

Several immigration changes are also taking effect this month, including updated study permit financial requirements and new IRB rules on the use of artificial intelligence in refugee proceedings that became effective September 7.

The September 14 PNP draw confirms that the Provincial Nominee Program remains one of the most active permanent residence pathways under Express Entry in 2026.

With a CRS cutoff of 734, a base score of approximately 134 was all that was needed once the 600-point nomination bonus was applied.

Candidates who hold a valid provincial nomination are well-positioned for future PNP rounds this year, while candidates without a nomination should explore options through Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba before the remaining 2026 allocations are exhausted.

Follow Immigration News Canada for verified Express Entry draw results, Canadian immigration news, and IRCC draw updates as each round is published.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many more PNP Express Entry draws are expected before the end of 2026?

IRCC has conducted 18 PNP Express Entry draws between January and mid-September 2026, running on a roughly biweekly cycle. If that pace holds through December, candidates can expect approximately six to seven additional PNP draws before the year closes. The exact number depends on how quickly provinces release remaining nominations into the Express Entry pool and whether IRCC adjusts its cluster frequency during the final quarter.

Can a candidate receive a provincial nomination after already being in the Express Entry pool?

Yes, candidates can apply for a provincial nomination while their Express Entry profile is active and then add the nomination to their existing profile once it is received. Adding the nomination triggers an automatic 600-point CRS boost that recalculates the candidate’s ranking in the pool immediately. The candidate does not need to create a new profile, but the nomination must be linked to the Express Entry profile before the next PNP draw occurs in order to be considered for that round.

Why did the CRS cutoff rise from 697 on August 31 to 734 on September 14?

PNP cutoffs are driven primarily by how many provincial nominees with active profiles are present in the Express Entry pool at the time of each draw. The August 31 cutoff of 697 was the lowest PNP threshold of 2026, coinciding with a period of elevated nomination activity across several provinces during the summer. As nominees were drawn out in the August 31 round and the flow of new nominations slowed in the two weeks that followed, the available nominee pool shrank and the CRS floor rose to 734 on September 14.

Does a PNP nomination guarantee an invitation to apply for permanent residence?

Not automatically. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, which significantly improves a candidate’s ranking and makes an invitation highly likely based on 2026 PNP cutoffs that have ranged from 697 to 805. However, IRCC states that a nomination helps a candidate get invited rather than guaranteeing it. The candidate must still have an active Express Entry profile, meet the eligibility requirements of at least one of the three federal programs managed through Express Entry, and be in the pool at the time IRCC conducts a PNP round. A cutoff of 734, for example, means the nominee still needed a base CRS of 134 before the 600-point boost.

What happens if a candidate misses the 60-day deadline to submit their permanent residence application?

If the 60-day window passes without a complete application being submitted, the invitation to apply expires permanently and cannot be extended or reinstated. IRCC removes the candidate’s profile from the Express Entry pool entirely, meaning the candidate must create and submit a new profile to re-enter the system. This is different from declining an invitation, which may allow the profile to remain in the pool if the candidate is still eligible. Candidates who anticipate difficulty gathering documents within 60 days should begin collecting police certificates and organizing reference letters before they receive an invitation, and should schedule their medical examination promptly after receiving the ITA, as IRCC requires the upfront medical exam to be completed after the invitation is issued.

Fact-Checked: All draw figures, CRS cutoffs, invitation counts, tie-breaking timestamps, and pool distribution data cited in this article are sourced directly from the official Express Entry rounds of invitations page published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on September 14, 2026, and cross-referenced with pool snapshot data released on September 13, 2026. Application fees reflect the IRCC fee increase effective April 30, 2026. Provincial nomination allocations for Alberta and British Columbia reflect supplementary allocations issued in August 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, immigration advice, or a substitute for consultation with a licensed immigration professional. Immigration rules, draw patterns, and processing times can change without notice. Readers should verify all deadlines and requirements directly with IRCC before acting.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.