Canada PR draw trends: what's moving and what to expect (Aug 5, 2026)
A data-driven look at the last three weeks of Canadian permanent-residence draws — Express Entry and every provincial nominee program — and what the pace suggests for the rounds ahead.
The last three weeks at a glance
Across all programs we tracked 15 draws: about 8,022 Express Entry ITAs and 4,405 provincial invitations.
What's trending in Express Entry
The most active categories recently:
- French-language proficiency — 5,000 ITAs
- Canadian Experience Class — 2,000 ITAs
- Provincial Nominee Program (via EE) — 1,018 ITAs
- Skilled military recruits — 4 ITAs
Recent CRS cut-offs ranged from 368 to 768, reflecting the mix of targeted and general rounds.
Where the provinces are active
- Manitoba (MPNP) — 2,912 invitations
- Quebec (Arrima / PSTQ) — 523 invitations
- Newfoundland & Labrador (NLPNP) — 400 invitations
- British Columbia (BC PNP) — 293 invitations
- Prince Edward Island (PEI PNP) — 195 invitations
What to expect next
Some provinces are well into their 2026 allocation — Ontario (91%), Alberta (100%) — so their pace may ease later in the year.
Others still have room to run, including British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, which could mean continued or increased activity.
Category-based Express Entry rounds have run frequently in 2026, with healthcare, French, and (newly) physicians and trades among the recurring targets. Expect the federal cadence to continue, punctuated by general rounds. This is an observation of recent patterns — not a prediction; IRCC sets the timing and criteria of every draw.
Talk to an RCIC about your options Open the live draw dashboard
General information only, not legal advice. Figures are compiled from official sources and update over time.