Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 752 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates on October 13, 2026, the largest PNP round since 955 invitations were issued back in June. For UAE applicants holding or pursuing a provincial nomination, this draw offers a clear picture of just how active this pathway has been this year.

Draw Highlights

Date and time: October 13, 2026, at 10:25:58 UTC.
Category: Provincial Nominee Program.
CRS cut-off: 772.
Invitations issued: 752.
Rank needed: 752 or above.
Tie-breaking rule: Candidates who submitted their Express Entry profile before 13:57:33 UTC on July 15, 2026, were prioritised where scores were tied.

As of October 12, the day before this draw, there were only 749 candidates in the Express Entry pool with CRS scores above 600. With 752 invitations issued, IRCC effectively captured virtually every eligible nominated candidate available at that level in a single round. This also marks the highest PNP cut-off since May 25, when the threshold peaked at 805.

A Strong Year for Provincial Nominations

With this round, IRCC has now issued 10,022 ITAs to PNP candidates across 20 draws in 2026, approximately 24% more than the 7,583 PNP invitations issued by this same point in 2025. For UAE-based candidates weighing their options, this steady growth in PNP activity reflects how central provincial nomination has become to Canada’s overall selection strategy this year.

What a 772 Cut-Off Means in Practice

Since a provincial nomination adds a flat 600 points to a candidate’s CRS total, this cut-off means invited applicants carried a core score of roughly 172 points before their nomination boost, on the higher end compared to several PNP rounds earlier in the year. Candidates with a nomination but a more modest base score should keep an eye on future rounds, since PNP cut-offs have swung considerably throughout 2026, from a low of 697 in August to this round’s 772.

Plan Your Provincial Nomination Strategy

With PNP draws continuing to represent a significant and growing share of Canada’s Express Entry invitations, identifying the right provincial stream for your background remains one of the most effective ways to accelerate a Canadian PR timeline. Speaking with an experienced immigration consultant can help you assess your eligibility across different provinces and position your profile for upcoming rounds.