Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) opened February with a targeted Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on February 3, 2026. A total of 423 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to candidates who had already secured a provincial nomination, giving them an automatic 600-point boost in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The minimum CRS score for selection was 749 and only profiles created before 22:30 UTC on December 16, 2025, were considered.
This draw is the third PNP-only round of 2026 and underscores Ottawa’s strategy of using the provinces to filter applicants who meet regional labour-market needs before granting federal permanent residence. The Express Entry pool has swelled to nearly 239,000 candidates, and provincial nomination remains the most reliable fast track for workers whose CRS scores fall below federal cut-offs for Canadian Experience Class or category-based draws.
![IRCC issues 423 invitations in first Express Entry PNP draw of February]()
Whether you are a skilled worker pursuing a provincial nomination or an employer aiming to bring in talent quickly, VisaHQ can streamline the process. Their digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers step-by-step guidance, real-time tracking, and expert support for all Canadian visa and permit applications, helping you avoid common pitfalls and costly delays.
For employers, the result is a reminder that securing a nomination for hard-to-fill roles—particularly in health care, construction and early childhood education—can dramatically shorten hiring timelines. Candidates, meanwhile, should ensure their profiles remain active and accurate; IRCC continues to apply stringent tie-breaking rules that can exclude late profile updates.
Looking forward, consultants expect IRCC to follow this PNP round with a large Canadian Experience Class draw later in the week. Companies with foreign workers already in Canada on LMIA-based permits should encourage them to enter the pool quickly, as back-to-back high-volume CEC rounds in January signal an aggressive 2026 intake plan.
This draw is the third PNP-only round of 2026 and underscores Ottawa’s strategy of using the provinces to filter applicants who meet regional labour-market needs before granting federal permanent residence. The Express Entry pool has swelled to nearly 239,000 candidates, and provincial nomination remains the most reliable fast track for workers whose CRS scores fall below federal cut-offs for Canadian Experience Class or category-based draws.
Whether you are a skilled worker pursuing a provincial nomination or an employer aiming to bring in talent quickly, VisaHQ can streamline the process. Their digital platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers step-by-step guidance, real-time tracking, and expert support for all Canadian visa and permit applications, helping you avoid common pitfalls and costly delays.
For employers, the result is a reminder that securing a nomination for hard-to-fill roles—particularly in health care, construction and early childhood education—can dramatically shorten hiring timelines. Candidates, meanwhile, should ensure their profiles remain active and accurate; IRCC continues to apply stringent tie-breaking rules that can exclude late profile updates.
Looking forward, consultants expect IRCC to follow this PNP round with a large Canadian Experience Class draw later in the week. Companies with foreign workers already in Canada on LMIA-based permits should encourage them to enter the pool quickly, as back-to-back high-volume CEC rounds in January signal an aggressive 2026 intake plan.
