On 5 January 2026 IRCC conducted its first Express Entry draw of the year, inviting 574 provincial nominee candidates to apply for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off was 711, reflecting the 600-point boost that nominees receive under current rules. Profiles created before 06 October 2025 at 01:54 UTC were eligible.
While modest in size, the selection signals that IRCC will continue to run program-specific draws even as category-based invitations ramp up later in 2026. Officials have hinted at more frequent healthcare, STEM and French-language rounds, but say they remain committed to clearing provincial inventories, which topped 62,000 files in December 2025.
For employers, the draw is a reminder that provincial nomination remains the quickest path to lock in talent already working on temporary permits. HR teams should check whether key employees qualify under new occupation lists recently adopted by Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, each of which offers tech-focused nomination streams with processing times of two to eight weeks.
![First Express Entry Draw of 2026 Issues 574 ITAs to PNP Candidates]()
In parallel, VisaHQ can support both candidates and corporate HR departments by coordinating police clearances, arranging panel-physician appointments, and securing authenticated civil documents. Its dedicated Canada team (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines the paperwork that accompanies Express Entry and provincial nominee applications, helping applicants submit complete files well within IRCC’s 60-day window.
Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply have 60 days to submit documents, including updated police certificates and proof of settlement funds. Immigration lawyers advise applicants to order medicals early; panel-physician appointments are booking out three to four weeks in major cities.
Looking ahead, analysts expect the next Express Entry round to target French-speaking skilled workers, followed by a trade-occupations draw later in January. Employers in the skilled trades should therefore begin credential evaluations and red-seal equivalency checks now.
While modest in size, the selection signals that IRCC will continue to run program-specific draws even as category-based invitations ramp up later in 2026. Officials have hinted at more frequent healthcare, STEM and French-language rounds, but say they remain committed to clearing provincial inventories, which topped 62,000 files in December 2025.
For employers, the draw is a reminder that provincial nomination remains the quickest path to lock in talent already working on temporary permits. HR teams should check whether key employees qualify under new occupation lists recently adopted by Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, each of which offers tech-focused nomination streams with processing times of two to eight weeks.
In parallel, VisaHQ can support both candidates and corporate HR departments by coordinating police clearances, arranging panel-physician appointments, and securing authenticated civil documents. Its dedicated Canada team (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines the paperwork that accompanies Express Entry and provincial nominee applications, helping applicants submit complete files well within IRCC’s 60-day window.
Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply have 60 days to submit documents, including updated police certificates and proof of settlement funds. Immigration lawyers advise applicants to order medicals early; panel-physician appointments are booking out three to four weeks in major cities.
Looking ahead, analysts expect the next Express Entry round to target French-speaking skilled workers, followed by a trade-occupations draw later in January. Employers in the skilled trades should therefore begin credential evaluations and red-seal equivalency checks now.
