Provincial Nominee Program Update — April 16, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
On April 13, 2026, IRCC issued 324 ITAs in a PNP-specific Express Entry draw, requiring a minimum CRS score of 786 — down from 802 on March 30 but still well above general draw thresholds due to the 600-point PNP nomination bonus.
As of March 30, 2026, new regulations transferred authority from IRCC to provinces and territories for assessing two key factors: a candidate's ability to become economically established and their intent to reside in the nominating province. A valid provincial nomination certificate now serves as sufficient proof of both.
Canada has increased provincial nomination allocations by 31% for 2026, meaning more PR opportunities are available across all provinces and territories.
What You Should Do
- If you have or are pursuing a provincial nomination, submit your Express Entry profile and ensure your nomination certificate is uploaded — as of March 30, 2026, the certificate alone satisfies IRCC's economic establishment and intent-to-reside requirements, streamlining your application.
- Research the specific PNP streams in your target province (e.g., Ontario's OINP, BC PNP, Alberta Advantage) at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html, since provincial allocations are up 31% in 2026 and more spots are available.
- If your CRS score is below 786, focus on obtaining a provincial nomination through a non-Express Entry PNP stream (paper-based), which adds 600 points to your CRS and would likely qualify you in future PNP-linked draws.
Sources
Topics Covered
PNP Federal-Provincial Authority Transfer: Effective March 30, 2026, provinces and territories are now solely responsible for assessing a nominee's ability to become economically established and their intent to reside, with a valid nomination certificate serving as sufficient proof of both criteria.
PNP Express Entry Draw Trends: The April 13 PNP draw issued 324 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 786, reflecting a modest easing from 802 on March 30. PNP draw sizes remain small (264–362 ITAs per draw) compared to CEC draws.
More Provincial Nominee Program Updates
Provincial Nominee Program Update — June 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
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