Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held the First Express Entry draw March 2 2026 , issuing 264 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates selected under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
This draw continues Canada’s trend toward targeted immigration selection — focusing on candidates with provincial nominations who are prepared to contribute to regional economic needs.
Express Entry Draw March 2 2026 – Quick Summary
| Draw# | Date | ITAs | CRS | Program |
| 399 | March 2, 2026 | 264 | 710 | PNP |
This was the first Express Entry draw held in March 2026 and targeted only PNP candidates — not a general or all-program selection.
What Is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?
The Provincial Nominee Program allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate skilled workers who meet regional labour market needs. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile, significantly increasing the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.
🧠 What Does a PNP-Only Draw Mean?
Under Express Entry, there are different types of draws:
- All-Program Draws – include candidates from all Express Entry economic classes
- Program-Specific Draws – target specific categories such as CEC, healthcare, francophone, or others
- PNP Draws – invite only candidates who already have a provincial nomination
In PNP draws, provincial nominees automatically receive 600 CRS points, which is why the minimum CRS score in this draw was 710 — reflecting the additional 600-point boost from nominations.
📈 Why a CRS of 710?
When a candidate is nominated by a province, their Express Entry profile gets:
🟢 +600 CRS points
This means a candidate with a base score of around 110 would effectively reach 710 with a nomination — almost guaranteeing selection in a PNP draw.
Because this draw was exclusively for PNP candidates, the CRS score appears high — but the nomination bonus makes it accessible to many skilled immigrants.
📉 Trends in Express Entry Draws So Far in 2026
Express Entry draws in 2026 have shown deliberate targeting across various categories:
- French-Language Proficiency Draw (CRS 400) – one of the largest single draws of the year
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – multiple all-program or CEC-specific rounds inviting thousands of candidates
- Physicians with Canadian Experience – historic draw with a low CRS cutoff of 169
- PNP Draws – such as this one on March 2 inviting 264 candidates
Here’s a snapshot of Recent Express entry draws:
| Date | Type | Invitations | CRS Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 264 | 710 |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Healthcare & Social Services | 4,000 | 467 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Physicians w/ Canadian Experience | 391 | 169 |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 508 |
| Feb 16, 2026 | PNP | 279 | 789 |
| Feb 6, 2026 | French-Language Proficiency | 8,500 | 400 |
These results highlight how IRCC continues to alternate between category-based and program-specific draws to meet both economic immigration targets and labour priorities.
What This Means for Candidates
If You Received an ITA
🎉 Congratulations!
You now need to submit a complete application for permanent residence and you have 60 days from the date of draw to do it.
Your application must include the following :
Medical examination
Police certificates
Language test results
Work experience proof
Education assessments
IRCC aims to process complete applications within the standard 6-month processing window, but timelines can vary.
🔄 If You Didn’t Receive an ITA
Don’t worry — your profile still has opportunities.
Here are ways to strengthen your chances:
Improve CRS Score:
• Retake language tests for higher CLB levels
• Earn additional work experience
• Add French language proficiency as this can help you in French language based draw.
Apply for a Provincial Nomination:
A PNP nomination adds 600 points, making an ITA almost guaranteed in PNP draws.
Target Category-Based Draws:
Healthcare, French language, and occupation-specific draws provide alternate pathways.
📌 Key Takeaways
✔ IRCC held the March 2, 2026 Express Entry draw exclusively for PNP candidates.
✔ 264 ITAs were issued with a minimum CRS score of 710.
✔ Provincial nominations play a crucial role in increasing your PR chance.
✔ Express Entry 2026 continues to use category-based selections alongside general draws.
