IRCC issued 733 ITAs to provincial nominees on September 28, 2026 at a CRS cutoff of 725 — 9 points below September 14 and the largest PNP draw since June 22.
On September 28, 2026, IRCC issued 733 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to provincial nominees at a CRS cutoff of 725. It's the biggest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) round since June 22, and the cutoff slipped 9 points from the September 14 draw (734) — a small move, but a useful sign that the sub-700 dip on August 31 was a one-off rather than a new floor.
IRCC invited 733 candidates holding a provincial nomination, with a minimum CRS score of 725. Profiles needed to be created before the tie-breaking rule of September 17, 2026 at 1:36:17 a.m. UTC to be included. This was Express Entry round #445 and the 57th draw of 2026, bringing the year's total to 129,715 ITAs.
For PNP specifically, this was the 19th draw of the year. IRCC has now invited 9,270 provincial nominees in 2026 — about 28% more than the 7,238 it had issued by the same point in 2025.
A provincial nomination adds a flat 600 points to your CRS score. That's why PNP cutoffs sit in the 700s while other draws clear in the 300s–500s: the nomination is already baked into the number, so the cutoff really measures the human-capital score (age, education, language, work experience) that nominees bring on top.
Two things drove this round:
- Size. At 733 ITAs, it's 157 more than September 14's 576. Bigger rounds normally push the cutoff down because IRCC has to reach further into the pool to fill them — which is exactly what happened, though only by 9 points.
- Pool refill. With the September 14 draw having cleared the top of the PNP pool, the candidates sitting at 725–733 had a fresh shot.
| Date | ITAs issued | CRS cutoff |
|---|
| June 22, 2026 | 955 | 730 |
| July 6, 2026 | 534 | 708 |
| August 4, 2026 | 507 | 768 |
| August 31, 2026 | 562 | 697 |
| September 14, 2026 | 576 | 734 |
| September 28, 2026 | 733 | 725 |
Every PNP round since June has cleared between 697 and 768. The two-week rhythm — August 31, September 14, September 28 — has held, which makes it reasonable to plan around another PNP round in mid-October, most likely in the 720s–760s. That's a pattern-based estimate, not an IRCC commitment; the department doesn't publish a calendar.
If you hold a provincial nomination and your CRS is 725 or higher: you should have been invited, provided your profile predates the September 17 tie-break. If you weren't, check that your nomination is correctly linked to your Express Entry profile — a mismatch is the most common reason a nominee gets skipped.
If your nomination is on your profile but your score is below 725: you're likely looking at a wait for the next round rather than a problem with your file. Nominees below the recent range (roughly 697–768) have been the ones left waiting.
If you don't have a nomination: don't chase a PNP score of 725 — that number only exists because of the 600-point boost. The realistic paths are the Canadian Experience Class and category-based draws, which clear far lower. Our category-based draws explainer shows which occupations and languages qualify, and the PNP guide covers how to get a nomination in the first place.
Tip
PNP invitations often arrive just as a nomination is being processed. If your province has nominated you, add the nomination to your Express Entry profile the same day you accept it — a nomination that isn't on your profile can't be picked up in a round.
You have 60 days from September 28 — until around November 27, 2026 — to submit a complete permanent residence application. Gather your language test results, ECA report if you studied abroad, police certificates from every country you've lived in for 6+ months since age 18, proof of funds where required, and complete the immigration medical exam. Our PR document checklist walks through each item.
Applicants already working in Canada may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit, which lets you keep working under current conditions if your existing permit expires before your PR is finalised.
Following this draw, Moving2Canada's forecast points to a Canadian Experience Class round as the likely next draw. With September already featuring PNP, CEC, healthcare, physician, and senior manager rounds, expect IRCC to keep rotating categories. See why Express Entry draws slow down for what to watch if the pace changes.
Where do you stand? CRS Calculator | All Express Entry Draws | How to Improve Your CRS Score | PNP Guide
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.