Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 562 invitations to apply for permanent residence in a Provincial Nominee Program-specific Express Entry round on August 31, 2026.
The lowest-ranked candidate invited had a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 697. Only candidates with an eligible provincial or territorial nomination were considered.
The official results are available on IRCC’s Express Entry rounds of invitations page.
August 31 Express Entry draw results
| Draw detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Draw date | August 31, 2026 |
| Round type | Provincial Nominee Program |
| Invitations issued | 562 |
| Minimum CRS score | 697 |
| Tie-breaking rule | April 12, 2026, before 4:32 a.m. UTC |
The tie-breaking rule applies when multiple eligible candidates have the minimum score. A candidate with exactly 697 points needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before the specified date and time.
Candidates with scores above 697 were not affected by the tie-break, provided they met all requirements of the PNP-specific round.
How the draw compares with recent PNP rounds
The August 31 round issued 120 more invitations than the previous PNP-specific draw and recorded a substantially lower cutoff.
| Draw date | Invitations issued | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2026 | 562 | 697 |
| August 17, 2026 | 442 | 760 |
| August 4, 2026 | 507 | 768 |
| July 20, 2026 | 511 | 744 |
| July 6, 2026 | 534 | 708 |
Compared with the August 17 draw:
- Invitations increased from 442 to 562.
- The CRS cutoff decreased from 760 to 697.
- The selection size increased by 120 invitations.
- The cutoff fell by 63 points.
This does not establish a guaranteed trend. PNP draw scores can change as new nominations enter the Express Entry pool, profiles expire and IRCC adjusts the number of invitations issued.
IRCC does not publish a fixed schedule or guarantee the type, size or cutoff of a future draw.
Always Canada Group’s article on the August 17 PNP draw at CRS 760 provides additional context.
Why PNP draw scores are usually higher
A CRS cutoff from a PNP-specific round should not be compared directly with a Canadian Experience Class or category-based draw.
An eligible provincial or territorial nomination accepted through Express Entry adds 600 CRS points to a candidate’s score.
A candidate invited with exactly 697 points would therefore generally have had 97 CRS points before the nomination was added. This does not mean that 97 points is a general eligibility threshold for Express Entry or any provincial program.
Candidates must first qualify for an Express Entry-managed federal program and meet the requirements of the province or territory that nominates them.
Provincial requirements may consider factors such as:
- Skilled work experience
- Occupation
- Language ability
- Education
- Employment or a qualifying job offer
- Connections to the province
- Local labour-market priorities
- The candidate’s Express Entry profile
Each provincial stream has its own rules. A candidate cannot assume that eligibility for one province means eligibility for another.
What an invitation to apply means
An invitation to apply allows an eligible candidate to submit a federal permanent residence application through Express Entry. It is not an approval of permanent residence.
IRCC will still verify whether the applicant:
- Qualified for the invitation round
- Had the CRS score claimed when invited
- Remains eligible for the applicable federal program
- Holds a valid and accepted provincial nomination
- Provided complete and accurate documents
- Meets medical, criminal and other admissibility requirements
An application can be refused if the evidence does not support information declared in the Express Entry profile.
Check the CRS score before submitting
Invited candidates should recalculate their CRS score using the circumstances that existed when the invitation was issued.
Factors that may affect a candidate’s score or eligibility include:
- Expired language test results
- A new language result
- Changes in employment
- Changes in marital status
- The birth of a child
- Changes involving accompanying family members
- An expired, withdrawn or amended nomination
- Incorrectly claimed education or work experience
- Changes to immigration status
A change does not automatically make a candidate ineligible, but it must be assessed and disclosed accurately.
If the corrected score falls below 697 or the candidate no longer qualifies for the round, submitting the application without addressing the discrepancy can create a refusal or misrepresentation risk.
Application deadline and documents
An invited candidate generally receives 60 calendar days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence. The exact deadline displayed in the candidate’s IRCC account is controlling.
IRCC creates a personalized document checklist based on the applicant’s profile. Depending on the circumstances, requested evidence may include:
- Passports and civil-status documents
- Provincial nomination documents
- Language test results
- Education records and credential assessments
- Employment reference letters
- Police certificates
- Medical examination information
- Proof of funds, when required
- Documents for a spouse, partner or dependent child
- Records concerning Canadian and foreign immigration status
Candidates should use their personalized checklist rather than relying only on a generic document list.
If you received an invitation
Invited provincial nominees should:
- Confirm that the invitation identifies the Provincial Nominee Program.
- Verify that the nomination remains valid and accepted.
- Recalculate the CRS score as of the invitation date.
- Review every answer carried forward from the Express Entry profile.
- Open the personalized document checklist immediately.
- Request police certificates and other time-sensitive documents early.
- Confirm that employment letters support the declared duties and dates.
- Check the consistency of names, dates and family information.
- Upload clear and complete copies in the required format.
- Submit before the deadline shown in the IRCC account.
- Save the payment receipt and a complete copy of the application.
- Continue monitoring the account for further requests.
Applicants seeking a case-specific review can book a consultation with Always Canada Group.
If you were not invited
Candidates who were not selected generally remain in the pool while their Express Entry profile is valid, unless another change affects their eligibility.
They can:
- Keep their profile accurate and current
- Renew expiring language results
- Improve official-language scores
- Obtain additional qualifying work experience
- Update completed education
- Research provincial streams matching their background
- Monitor provincial and IRCC announcements
- Confirm continued eligibility for an Express Entry-managed program
A cutoff of 697 in this round does not guarantee the same score in the next PNP selection. Candidates should not make financial, employment or immigration decisions based solely on one draw result.
Key takeaway
IRCC invited 562 provincial nominees in the August 31, 2026 Express Entry draw. The minimum CRS score was 697, which was 63 points lower than the cutoff in the preceding PNP-specific round.
Invited candidates should now verify their nomination and CRS score, follow the personalized document checklist and submit a complete application before the deadline displayed in their IRCC account.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Express Entry and provincial nominee requirements can change. Verify current instructions with IRCC and the responsible provincial or territorial authority before acting.
