Last Updated On 13 April 2026, 3:30 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the second Express Entry draw of April 2026 today, targeting candidates with provincial nominations exclusively.
The draw issued 324 invitations to apply for permanent residence with a minimum CRS score of 786 points.
This is the sixth Provincial Nominee Program draw of the year and comes just two weeks after the March 30 PNP draw that invited 356 candidates at a CRS cutoff of 802.
The 16 point drop in the CRS cutoff from 802 to 786 is a welcome sign for provincial nominees waiting in the Express Entry pool.
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Express Entry Draw Details For April 13, 2026
Here is the complete breakdown of the latest Express Entry draw targeting provincial nominees.
| Draw Detail | Information |
| Date and Time | April 13, 2026 |
| Draw Category | Provincial Nominee Program |
| Number of Invitations Issued | 324 |
| CRS Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate | 786 |
| Rank Required to Be Invited | 324 or above |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | November 19, 2025 at 18:53:59 UTC |
The tie-breaking rule determines who gets invited when multiple candidates share the same lowest CRS score.
If more than one candidate had a CRS score of 786, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before November 19, 2025 at 18:53:59 UTC received invitations in this round.
Candidates who created their profiles after that specific date and time with a score of exactly 786 did not receive invitations.
CRS Cutoff Compared To Previous PNP Draws In 2026
The following table shows every Provincial Nominee Program draw conducted in 2026 and how the CRS cutoff has fluctuated throughout the year.
| Date | Invitations | CRS Cutoff | Tie Breaking Date |
| April 13, 2026 | 324 | 786 | November 19, 2025 |
| March 30, 2026 | 356 | 802 | February 12, 2026 |
| March 16, 2026 | 362 | 742 | October 5, 2025 |
| March 2, 2026 | 264 | 710 | N/A |
| January 21, 2026 | 681 | 746 | November 19, 2025 |
| January 5, 2026 | 574 | 711 | October 6, 2025 |
The CRS cutoff has ranged from 710 to 802 across the six PNP draws this year.
The invitation count has generally trended downward from 681 in January to 324 today, suggesting the pool of provincial nominees waiting in Express Entry is getting smaller.
Types Of Express Entry Draws Active In 2026
IRCC currently operates multiple types of Express Entry draws to manage the selection of permanent residence candidates across different programs and categories.
Understanding the different draw types helps candidates identify which rounds they are eligible for and plan their immigration strategy accordingly.
| Draw Type | Recent CRS Range | Description |
| Canadian Experience Class | 507 to 511 | Targets candidates with skilled Canadian work experience |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 710 to 802 | Targets candidates with a provincial nomination |
| French Language Proficiency | 393 to 400 | Targets candidates with CLB 7 or higher in French |
| Trade Occupations | 477 | Targets candidates with 12 months in an eligible trade |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 462 to 467 | Targets candidates in healthcare occupations |
| Physicians | 169 | Targets doctors with Canadian work experience |
| Senior Managers | 429 | Targets senior managers with Canadian experience |
The CRS cutoff for each draw type varies significantly based on the size of the eligible candidate pool and the number of invitations IRCC chooses to issue in each round.
Category-based draws generally have much lower CRS cutoffs than program-specific draws because they target smaller subsets of the overall pool.
Candidates whose occupations fall under multiple categories should ensure their Express Entry profiles are accurately coded to the correct NOC to maximize their chances of being selected in the right category-based draw.
Steps For Candidates Who Received An Invitation
Candidates who received an invitation to apply in this draw have exactly 60 calendar days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence.
This deadline is strict and the IRCC does not grant extensions under any circumstances.
The application must include all supporting documents such as language test results, educational credential assessments, police certificates, medical examinations, and proof of provincial nomination.
Provincial nominations typically have validity periods ranging from six to 12 months depending on the issuing province.
Candidates must ensure their nomination has not expired before submitting their permanent residence application to IRCC.
Missing the 60 day deadline means losing the invitation entirely and having to re-enter the Express Entry pool to wait for another draw.
Candidates should begin gathering documents immediately because processing times for items like police certificates from certain countries can take several weeks.
Medical examinations must be completed by a panel physician designated by IRCC and results are typically submitted directly to the department by the physician’s office.
Language test results from IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada must still be valid at the time of application submission.
Predictions For Upcoming PNP Draws In 2026
Based on the pattern established in the first four months of 2026, IRCC is likely to continue conducting PNP specific Express Entry draws on a biweekly basis.
The next PNP draw can be expected around the last week of April or the first week of May 2026.
If the pool of provincial nominees continues to thin, the CRS cutoff may drop further below 786 in upcoming rounds.
However, the CRS cutoff in PNP draws can fluctuate significantly from draw to draw depending on how many new nominations are issued by provinces in between rounds.
A large batch of Ontario or British Columbia nominations entering the pool could push the cutoff back up, while a quiet period from the provinces could result in a lower cutoff or fewer invitations.
Candidates who are currently waiting for a provincial nomination should track their province’s draw schedule and processing timelines closely.
Those already in the Express Entry pool should ensure their profiles are complete, accurate, and reflect the correct NOC codes to maximize their visibility to provinces issuing Notifications of Interest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is the CRS cutoff for PNP draws so much higher than for other Express Entry draws?
The CRS cutoff appears extremely high because every provincial nominee automatically receives 600 additional points on top of their base CRS score. A candidate with a base score of 186 would reach 786 after receiving a provincial nomination. The actual competitiveness of PNP candidates is determined by their base score before the 600 point addition, not the inflated number shown in draw results.
Can a province withdraw my nomination after I receive an Express Entry invitation?
Yes, provinces can withdraw a nomination under certain circumstances. Common reasons include misrepresentation or false documents in the provincial application, failure to demonstrate genuine intent to reside in the nominating province, quitting a job that was tied to the nomination, or providing inconsistent information between provincial and federal applications. If a nomination is withdrawn after an ITA is issued, the permanent residence application will be refused.
Am I legally required to live in the province that nominated me after I become a permanent resident?
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms grants mobility rights to all permanent residents, meaning you can legally live and work anywhere in Canada. However, a provincial nomination reflects your intent at the time of application to settle in that province. Provinces monitor settlement patterns and may consider a pattern of nominees leaving as a factor in future nomination decisions. Some provinces may also investigate and potentially withdraw pending nominations if they suspect a lack of genuine intent to reside there.
Fact Checked: All data in this article has been verified against official IRCC Express Entry draw results published on canada.ca.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
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