Prince Edward Island invited 254 candidates in October 2026, including a surprise October 7 round. The PEI PNP has now issued 1,483 invitations in 2026.
Prince Edward Island invited 254 candidates to apply for provincial nomination in October 2026 across two rounds: a surprise draw of 90 on October 7 and a regular draw of 164 on October 16. That brings the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) to 11 draws and 1,483 invitations for the year.
| Draw date | Invitations | Notes |
|---|
| October 7 | 90 | Unscheduled |
| October 16 | 164 | Labour Impact (base) and PEI Express Entry (enhanced) |
| October total | 254 | |
The October 7 round was not on PEI's published calendar. The calendar listed October 15, and the province ran that round a day late, on the 16th. PEI did not break down the October 7 round by stream.
As always, PEI did not publish a cutoff score, an occupation list or a split between streams. Both October rounds targeted workers in occupations and priority sectors the province considers economically significant: healthcare, trades, manufacturing and other industries facing labour shortages. Graduates of the University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College and Collège de l'Île received priority.
Our September 17 analysis counted 1,229 invitations across nine rounds. Adding October's 254 gives 1,483 across 11 rounds. October is the largest single month of the year for PEI, ahead of the 195 invited in each of July and September.
Eight of the 11 draws took place on their originally scheduled dates. Two more are planned: November 19 and December 17, 2026. PEI says the schedule is for planning only and may change, and the October 7 round shows it will add rounds without notice.
If you were invited: you have 30 days to submit a complete application to the PEI Office of Immigration. For October 7 invitees that is early November; for October 16 invitees it is mid-November.
If you are nominated through PEI Express Entry (enhanced): the nomination adds 600 CRS points, which clears any recent federal cutoff. Use the CRS Calculator to see where your base score sits, and check the Draw Tracker for the latest PNP cutoff.
If you are a base (Labour Impact) nominee already in Canada: a federal measure in effect since June 9, 2026 lets eligible in-Canada nominees apply for a bridging open work permit without waiting for an Acknowledgement of Receipt on their PR application. Labour Impact candidates may get one months sooner. See our guide to the measure.
If you are not yet in the pool: PEI's criteria have not changed all year. If your occupation is not in a priority sector and you did not graduate from one of the three PEI institutions, extra rounds are unlikely to help you.
Tip
PEI's surprise round shows you cannot plan around the published calendar. Keep your Expression of Interest profile current at all times, including any PEI job offer and your latest language test, because a draw can land before the next listed date.
- November 19, the next scheduled round.
- Whether PEI keeps adding unscheduled rounds as the year ends, which would push the total toward 1,800 or more if November and December match October.
PNP Guide | CRS Calculator | All Express Entry Draws | PEI PNP's September 17 Draw
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.