October 21, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Newfoundland and Labrador had a busy couple of weeks. The province held two draws, one on October 9 and another on October 16, and sent out 257 invitations in total.

Of those, 255 went to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP). The other two went to candidates under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

Here’s how the two draws looked:

Date of draw Invitations issued: NLPNP Invitations issued: AIP
Oct. 16 130 1
Oct. 9 125 1

The province did not say which NLPNP streams were covered in these draws. It also did not share the occupations or sectors of the people invited. So if you were hoping to spot a trend, there isn’t enough information to do that yet.

What happens after you get an invitation?

Getting invited is a big win, but the clock starts ticking right away. You have 60 days to submit a complete application to the province. That means nomination if you applied through the NLPNP, or endorsement if you applied through the AIP.

Once the province approves you, you can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence (PR).

There is also good news on the work permit side. At the time of writing, a nominee already in Canada who applies through a regular provincial nominee program can apply for a bridging open work permit. The usual wait for the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) on the PR application is no longer required first. This is a temporary federal measure that took effect on June 9, 2026.

For those endorsed under the AIP, an employer-specific work permit valid for up to two years may be possible.

A look at Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2026 draws so far

As of this writing, the province has held 18 draws this year. In 14 of them, candidates under both programs were invited. In the remaining four, only NLPNP candidates were selected.

Here is the full breakdown:

Date of draw Invitations issued: NLPNP Invitations issued: AIP
Oct. 16 130 1
Oct. 9 125 1
Sept. 25 41 N/A
Sept. 18 61 1
Sept. 10 36 N/A
Sept. 4 97 N/A
Aug. 26 94 46
Aug. 18 122 N/A
Aug. 10 186 22
July 28 400 45
July 10 17 40
June 10 89 19
May 28 84 19
May 11 168 18
May 1 157 33
April 13 177 33
March 30 209 36
March 6 362 83

As of October 16, the province has sent out 2,952 invitations this year. Of these, 2,555 went to NLPNP candidates and 397 went to AIP candidates.

How the process works, step by step

If you want to move to Newfoundland and Labrador through the NLPNP or AIP, this is the path:

  • Make sure you meet the requirements of the AIP or one of the NLPNP streams.
  • Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile.
  • Wait for an invitation in one of the upcoming draws.
  • Apply for nomination or endorsement within 60 days of being invited.
  • Receive your nomination or endorsement certificate once you are approved.

After that, you can apply to the federal government for PR.

So who gets picked? The province looks at its own priorities. Having a job in health care helps. So does working outside the big urban centres, or having graduated from a post-secondary school in Newfoundland and Labrador. The province publishes its full EOI prioritization criteria on its immigration website, and it’s worth reading before you build your profile.

Ready to Turn an Invitation Into Your Canadian Dream?

Draws like these show that Newfoundland and Labrador is actively inviting workers, but the process has real deadlines and many moving parts. Miss one step, or submit an incomplete application within that 60-day window, and the opportunity can slip away.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. At Ese Umoh Immigration, we can help you understand where you fit, whether that’s provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, or school admissions.

Newfoundland and Labrador sent out 257 invitations in two draws this October, with most going to NLPNP candidates. If you want to know whether your profile can land one of the next ones, book a consultation here: https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes

October 21, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Prince Edward Island started October with a surprise. The province held an unscheduled draw on October 7, then followed it with another round on October 16. In total, 254 candidates received invitations to apply for provincial nomination.

Both rounds focused on workers in occupations and sectors that matter most to PEI’s economy. Graduates of three schools in the province also got priority: the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île.

What happens after you get an invitation?

Candidates who received an invitation have up to 30 days to apply for provincial nomination. Once nominated, they can apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

There is also good news for people already living in Canada. Nominees who have submitted their PR application may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), which helps them keep working while the application is being processed.

The October draws at a glance

Both draws went out through two pathways: Labour Impact (base) and PEI Express Entry (enhanced).

Draw date Invitations issued Stream(s)
Oct. 16 164 Labour Impact (base) and PEI Express Entry (enhanced)
Oct. 7 90 Labour Impact (base) and PEI Express Entry (enhanced)

The Labour Impact category covers three streams: Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate.

PEI does not say how many invitations went to each stream, or which occupations the invited candidates work in. Its website does list healthcare, trades, manufacturing, and other key industries facing labour shortages among its priorities for skilled workers. That gives a fair idea of where the demand is.

With these two rounds, PEI has now held 11 draws in 2026 and issued 1,483 invitations in total.

A work permit perk worth knowing about

Since June 9, 2026, a temporary measure has made things easier for some nominees. Eligible in-Canada applicants under the base provincial nominee program no longer need to wait for an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) before applying for a BOWP. For Labour Impact candidates who get nominated and move on to a PR application, this could mean getting the work permit months sooner.

When is the next PEI draw?

Two more rounds are planned for 2026, on November 19 and December 17. The province has said this schedule can change.

October showed exactly why that matters. PEI planned only one draw for the month, but it held two: the surprise draw on October 7, and another on October 16, a day after the published date. That said, the province has mostly stuck to its calendar, with eight of its 11 draws this year taking place on the scheduled dates.

The takeaway is simple. Invitations can arrive when you least expect them, and a 30-day window goes by fast. The candidates who benefit most are the ones with their documents, language results, and profile ready before the draw happens.

Ready to Make Your Move Before the Next PEI Draw?

October proved that PEI can surprise even the most prepared candidates. In two rounds, the province invited 254 workers, with priority going to graduates of UPEI, Holland College, and Collège de l’Île. Two more draws are planned before the year ends, and your profile needs to be in good shape before the next one lands.

Not sure whether PEI is your best route, or where to begin? Book a consultation with our team through the link below. We will review your situation, point you to the pathway that fits you best, and help you get everything ready. Whether you need help with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, or school admissions, we have you covered.

Book your consultation here: https://euiacademy.selar.com/60minutes

October 21, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Canada has released the official list of high-wage occupations, and it will change how Express Entry candidates are ranked from November 3, 2026. If your job is on the list, your CRS score could go up, and that might be the push you have been waiting for.

What counts as a high-wage occupation?

IRCC looks at the median wage for each job across the country, using its NOC code. If that median is at least 1.3 times the national median wage for all workers, the job qualifies. Your personal salary does not decide this. The occupation does. In all, 186 NOC codes made the list, split into three tiers.

How many extra points can you earn?

You can claim points through Canadian work experience or through a qualifying job offer.

High-Wage Occupation Level Work Experience Points Job Offer Points
At least twice the average median wage 70 100
At least 1.5 times but less than twice 40 70
At least 1.3 times but less than 1.5 times 20 50
Below the high-wage threshold 0 0
  • You need at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience to claim work experience points.
  • The two types of points cannot be combined. You get whichever is higher.
  • From November 3, a job offer no longer needs an LMIA to earn these points.
  • Extra points do not guarantee an invitation. Your overall score and the draw cut-offs still decide that.

Top tier: at least twice the median wage

This tier has 31 NOC codes, worth 70 points for work experience or 100 points for a job offer.

NOC Code Occupation
00011 Senior government managers and officials
00012 Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services
00013 Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
10010 Financial managers
10011 Human resources managers
10012 Purchasing managers
10020 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers
10021 Banking, credit and other investment managers
20010 Engineering managers
20011 Architecture and science managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21330 Mining engineers
21332 Petroleum engineers
31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101 Specialists in surgery
31102 General practitioners and family physicians
31103 Veterinarians
31302 Nurse practitioners
31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
40010 Government managers – health and social policy development and program administration
40011 Government managers – economic analysis, policy development and program administration
40012 Government managers – education policy development and program administration
40019 Other managers in public administration
40040 Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services
40041 Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers
41100 Judges
41101 Lawyers and Quebec notaries
41200 University professors and lecturers
60010 Corporate sales managers
80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing
90011 Utilities managers

Middle tier: at least 1.5 times but less than twice the median wage

This is the biggest group, with 89 NOC codes worth 40 points for work experience or 70 points for a job offer. Software developers, registered nurses, civil engineers, pharmacists, teachers, police officers, firefighters and several skilled trades are all here.

NOC Code Occupation
00014 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services
00015 Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities
10019 Other administrative services managers
10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers
10029 Other business services managers
10030 Telecommunication carriers managers
11103 Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers
11201 Professional occupations in business management consulting
21100 Physicists and astronomers
21102 Geoscientists and oceanographers
21103 Meteorologists and climatologists
21109 Other professional occupations in physical sciences
21111 Forestry professionals
21120 Public and environmental health and safety professionals
21202 Urban and land use planners
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business systems specialists
21222 Information systems specialists
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21231 Software engineers and designers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21320 Chemical engineers
21321 Industrial and manufacturing engineers
21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers
21331 Geological engineers
21390 Aerospace engineers
21399 Other professional engineers
22231 Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
30010 Managers in health care
31110 Dentists
31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120 Pharmacists
31200 Psychologists
31202 Physiotherapists
31203 Occupational therapists
31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
40020 Administrators – post-secondary education and vocational training
40021 School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education
40030 Managers in social, community and correctional services
40042 Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces
41210 College and other vocational instructors
41220 Secondary school teachers
41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
41310 Police investigators and other investigative occupations
41311 Probation and parole officers
41320 Educational counsellors
41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts
41402 Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
41404 Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers
41407 Program officers unique to government
42100 Police officers (except commissioned)
42101 Firefighters
50010 Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51100 Librarians
70010 Construction managers
70012 Facility operation and maintenance managers
70020 Managers in transportation
70021 Postal and courier services managers
72011 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
72012 Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations
72103 Boilermakers
72202 Power system electricians
72203 Electrical power line and cable workers
72301 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72406 Elevator constructors and mechanics
72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
72601 Air traffic controllers and related occupations
72604 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
73310 Railway and yard locomotive engineers
82020 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
82021 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
83101 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
90010 Manufacturing managers
92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
92100 Power engineers and power systems operators
93100 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
93101 Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

Entry tier: at least 1.3 times but less than 1.5 times the median wage

This tier has 66 NOC codes worth 20 points for work experience or 50 points for a job offer. Accountants, architects, social workers, web developers, paramedics, crane operators and industrial electricians are among them.

NOC Code Occupation
00010 Legislators
11100 Financial auditors and accountants
11101 Financial and investment analysts
11102 Financial advisors
11109 Other financial officers
11200 Human resources professionals
12201 Insurance adjusters and claims examiners
12203 Assessors, business valuators and appraisers
21101 Chemists
21110 Biologists and related scientists
21112 Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists
21200 Architects
21201 Landscape architects
21203 Land surveyors
21234 Web developers and programmers
22214 Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology
22232 Occupational health and safety specialists
22233 Construction inspectors
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
22313 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
32102 Paramedical occupations
32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32120 Medical laboratory technologists
32121 Medical radiation technologists
32122 Medical sonographers
41300 Social workers
41400 Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers
41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
41405 Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers
41409 Other professional occupations in social science
43201 Correctional service officers
43203 Border services, customs, and immigration officers
50012 Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors
51101 Conservators and curators
51102 Archivists
51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
51112 Technical writers
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52112 Broadcast technicians
60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers
60031 Accommodation service managers
60040 Managers in customer and personal services
72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
72013 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
72014 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
72020 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
72021 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
72102 Sheet metal workers
72105 Ironworkers
72201 Industrial electricians
72302 Gas fitters
72320 Bricklayers
72321 Insulators
72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72403 Railway carmen/women
72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
72500 Crane operators
72602 Deck officers, water transport
72603 Engineer officers, water transport
73311 Railway conductors and brakemen/women
82010 Supervisors, logging and forestry
83100 Underground production and development miners
83120 Fishing masters and officers
92010 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
93102 Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators

What happens next?

If you are already in the Express Entry pool, you do not need to withdraw and resubmit your profile. IRCC will automatically recalculate your score to include work experience points. Job offer points are different. You must enter all the job offer details into your profile before November 3.

Invitation rounds will pause from November 3 while scores are recalculated, and the break is expected to last about two weeks. If you already hold an ITA, nothing changes for you, because IRCC will use the tier that applied on the day your invitation was issued.

Before the deadline, do these three things:

  1. Check that the NOC code in your profile matches the duties you actually perform, because IRCC looks at duties, not job titles.
  2. Confirm that your 12 months of qualifying Canadian experience is recorded correctly.
  3. Add any qualifying job offer to your profile.

Even if your job is not on the list, you can still get an invitation through other draw types, such as Canadian Experience Class, provincial nominee and category-based draws.

Don’t leave your CRS points to chance

A small mistake in your profile before November 3 could cost you valuable points. Maybe you are not sure your NOC code is right, or whether your job offer qualifies, or whether Express Entry is even your best route. A one-on-one conversation can settle those questions before the deadline.

To sum up, Canada released a list of 186 high-wage occupations, and from November 3 those jobs can earn you between 20 and 100 extra CRS points through Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer. No LMIA is needed for the job offer route. Check your NOC code and update your profile in time.

Whether you need help with Express Entry, provincial nomination, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications or school admissions, our team at Ese Umoh Immigration is ready to guide you. Book your consultation here: https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes

October 19, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Express Entry is about to work differently, and the date to remember is November 3, 2026.

On October 16, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced a new way of scoring candidates in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Jobs with high wages, such as engineers and electricians, will now earn extra points. Employers also no longer have to go through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process for a job offer to count.

Let’s break down what that means for you.

What is changing on November 3?

There are two big changes.

1. New points for high-wage jobs. Candidates will earn extra CRS points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.

2. No more LMIA for qualifying job offers. A job offer no longer needs an LMIA to earn the new points. It also no longer needs one to meet the job offer requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC will still check that every job offer is genuine, so fraud checks stay in place.

How do the points work?

You can earn points in one of two ways: through your Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation, or through a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation.

If you qualify both ways, you get whichever option gives you more points. The two are not added together.

The most a candidate can receive under this new factor is 150 points if they have no accompanying spouse or partner, and 140 points if they do.

Points for Canadian work experience

To qualify, you need at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation. Your points depend on how high the wage level is.

High-wage occupation level Additional CRS points
At least 12 months in one or more occupations at 2 times the median 70
If not eligible for 70 points, at least 12 months combined in occupations at 1.5 times the median or above 40
If not eligible for 40 or 70 points, at least 12 months combined across eligible high-wage occupations (1.3 times the median or above) 20

These points come on top of what you already earn for the length of your Canadian work experience, which is up to 80 points for 5 years. Put together, that can reach up to 150 points.

Your Canadian experience should generally have been gained within the past 10 years, in an occupation under TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). If your experience doesn’t qualify as high-wage, you will still get points for how long you’ve worked in Canada, as before.

Points for a job offer

High-wage occupation level CRS points
At least 2 times the median wage 100
At least 1.5 times the median wage 70
At least 1.3 times the median wage 50

A qualifying job offer should generally be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after you become a permanent resident. Extra rules apply to some jobs, including skilled trades and physicians providing publicly funded medical services.

An IRCC officer will decide whether the offer is genuine. They will look at whether:

  • the employer is actively running the business making the offer
  • the offer matches the employer’s reasonable hiring needs
  • the employer can realistically meet the terms of the offer
  • you are qualified for the job and likely to take it
  • the employer followed federal and provincial employment and recruitment laws

If a job offer is withdrawn, it stops counting.

What should you do right now?

Update your profile before November 3. If you are already in the Express Entry pool, IRCC will automatically recalculate your CRS score to include points for Canadian work experience. Job offer points are different. To get those, you have to update your profile yourself with the required job offer details before the deadline. Missing this step could cost you points you are entitled to.

Expect a short pause. The score recalculation can take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds will be paused during that time.

Keep your expectations realistic. Extra points don’t guarantee an invitation. Invitations still depend on the CRS cut-off score for each round.

Ready to find out where you stand? Let’s talk before November 3

These changes could move your score a lot, or barely at all. It depends on your occupation, your Canadian work history and the job offer you hold. The new rules reward high-wage Canadian experience and genuine job offers without an LMIA, and a profile that isn’t updated on time could leave points on the table.

Don’t leave it to guesswork. Book a consultation at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and we will go through your profile, check your occupation, and decide the best next step. That might mean Express Entry, a provincial nomination, a work permit or a postgraduate work permit. We also help with spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications and school admissions. Whatever your goal, let’s build a plan that works for you.

September 29, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Trying to move to Canada permanently and wondering which province is actually inviting people right now? Alberta just gave a clear answer.

Between September 10 and 23, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held several draws and invited at least 380 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. Most of the invitations went to workers in healthcare, tech, manufacturing and agriculture.

Being invited is a big step, but it isn’t the finish line. Candidates who received an invitation can now submit their nomination application to the province. Those the province approves can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.

There is also some good news for people who are already working in Canada. Once a provincial nominee has submitted a permanent residence application, they can apply for a bridging open work permit. This permit lets them keep working while the application is processed.

Nominees under the Alberta Opportunity Stream may get even more help. Since June 9, 2026, a temporary federal measure has let qualifying nominees under base provincial nomination programs apply for this work permit months earlier than before. The measure is scheduled to remain in place until December 31, 2026, so the timing matters if you fall into this group.

Here is a breakdown of the draws.

Draw date Stream/pathway Invitations issued Minimum score
Sept. 23 Alberta Opportunity Stream 113 58
Sept. 22 Alberta Express Entry Stream – Accelerated Tech Pathway 100 59
Sept. 21 Alberta Express Entry Stream – Law Enforcement Pathway <10 49
Sept. 18 Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Health Care) 100 62
Sept. 15 Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Agriculture) 18 60
Sept. 10 Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors (Manufacturing) 48 60

A few of these draws set records for 2026 so far:

  • Sept. 23, Alberta Opportunity Stream: the lowest number of invitations for this type of draw this year.
  • Sept. 18, Health Care: the highest number of invitations for a priority sector draw this year.
  • Sept. 15, Agriculture: the highest minimum score for this type of draw this year.
  • Sept. 10, Manufacturing: also the highest minimum score for this type of draw this year.

Almost all of these draws matched the priorities Alberta announced at the start of 2026, which also include construction, aviation and rural settlement. The two exceptions were the Sept. 21 and Sept. 23 rounds.


How big is the competition?

Numbers tell the story best. This table shows how many workers currently have active profiles in the pool, compared with how many invitations have gone out in 2026. The figures are current to Sept. 23.

Stream/pathway Workers with active profiles Invitations issued
Alberta Opportunity Stream 22,315 8,296
Rural Renewal Stream 1,736 1,043
Tourism and Hospitality Stream 3,275 227
Dedicated Health Care Pathways (EE + non-EE) 1,222 895
Alberta Express Entry – Accelerated Tech Pathway 1,992 1,466
Alberta Express Entry – Law Enforcement Pathway 45 <50
Alberta Express Entry – Priority sector draws/initiatives 5,011 >1,156

So far in 2026, Alberta has held 80 draws and issued at least 13,089 invitations.

What does this mean for you? Alberta is inviting people steadily, and the province clearly has a type. Workers in healthcare, tech, manufacturing, agriculture and a few other priority areas are getting the most attention. The Alberta Opportunity Stream has the biggest pool of candidates, so competition there is stiff. Smaller pools like Tourism and Hospitality still have a lot of profiles compared with the invitations issued, which shows how important it is to choose the right stream and have a strong profile before you enter the pool.


Ready to Turn Your Alberta Dream Into a Real Plan?

Alberta’s numbers show that opportunities are there, but they go to people who are prepared. Between the different streams, minimum scores, priority sectors and work permit options, it is easy to pick the wrong path or miss a deadline. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Book a consultation with our team and we will look at your situation, your work background and your goals, then point you to the pathway that gives you the best chance. We help with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions and more.

Your next step is one click away: Book your consultation here

September 29, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Holding a provincial nomination and wondering when your invitation would come? For 733 candidates, the wait ended on September 28, 2026, when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a draw just for Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination.

Let’s walk through what happened, what it means, and what to do next if you were invited or hope to be in the next round.

The draw at a glance

Draw Detail Value
Draw Category Provincial Nominee Program
Date of Draw September 28, 2026
Number of Invitations Issued 733
CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate 725
Tie-Breaking Rule September 17, 2026

To get an invitation, a candidate needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 725. 

The profile date only mattered for people who scored exactly 725. Anyone above 725 received an invitation no matter when they created their profile. Among those at exactly 725, only profiles submitted before that timestamp made the cut.


Why is the score so high?

A cutoff of 725 looks scary until you know the trick behind it. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score. So a nominated candidate with a base score of around 125 could reach that cutoff, as long as they met every program requirement and the tie-breaking rule.

That is also why you should never compare a provincial nominee cutoff with the cutoff for the Canadian Experience Class or a category-based draw. Those candidates don’t get the 600-point boost, so the numbers don’t measure the same thing.


How this draw compares to the last one

The previous provincial nominee draw was on September 14. It invited 576 candidates with a cutoff of 734. This time, the cutoff dropped by 9 points to 725, and the number of invitations rose by about 27%.

It was also the biggest provincial nominee draw since June 22, when 955 candidates were invited at a cutoff of 730. Looking at the calendar, these draws have been landing roughly every two weeks since July.


Express Entry draws so far in 2026

The September 28 round was the 57th Express Entry draw of the year. Here is the full list.

Date Draw Type CRS cut-off score ITAs issued
September 28 Provincial Nominee Program 725 733
September 16 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 389 250
September 15 Canadian Experience Class 519 2,000
September 14 Provincial Nominee Program 734 576
September 4 Healthcare and social services 475 3,500
September 3 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 198 229
September 1 Canadian Experience Class 521 2,000
August 31 Provincial Nominee Program 697 562
August 19 French-Language proficiency 382 5,000
August 18 Canadian Experience Class 523 1,000
August 17 Provincial Nominee Program 760 442
August 7 Transport 470 300
August 6 French-Language proficiency 391 5,000
August 5 Canadian Experience Class 516 3,000
August 4 Provincial Nominee Program 768 507
July 23 Skilled Military Recruits 368 4
July 22 French-Language proficiency 399 5,000
July 21 Canadian Experience Class 516 2,000
July 20 Provincial Nominee Program 744 511
July 10 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 392 500
July 9 French-Language proficiency 420 5,000
July 7 Canadian Experience Class 517 2,000
July 6 Provincial Nominee Program 708 534
June 25 Healthcare and social services 475 4,000
June 24 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 223 271
June 23 Canadian Experience Class 516 4,000
June 22 Provincial Nominee Program 730 955
May 28 French-Language proficiency 409 4,500
May 27 Canadian Experience Class 518 3,000
May 25 Provincial Nominee Program 805 334
May 11 Provincial Nominee Program 798 380
April 29 French-Language proficiency 400 4,000
April 28 Canadian Experience Class 514 2,000
April 27 Provincial Nominee Program 795 473
April 15 French-Language proficiency 419 4,000
April 14 Canadian Experience Class 515 2,000
April 13 Provincial Nominee Program 786 324
April 2 Trades 477 3,000
March 31 Canadian Experience Class 509 2,250
March 30 Provincial Nominee Program 802 356
March 18 French-Language proficiency 393 4,000
March 17 Canadian Experience Class 507 4,000
March 16 Provincial Nominee Program 742 362
March 5 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 429 250
March 4 French-Language proficiency 397 5,500
March 3 Canadian Experience Class 508 4,000
March 2 Provincial Nominee Program 710 264
February 20 Healthcare and social services 467 4,000
February 19 Physicians with Canadian work experience 169 391
February 17 Canadian Experience Class 508 6,000
February 16 Provincial Nominee Program 789 279
February 6 French-Language proficiency 400 8,500
February 3 Provincial Nominee Program 749 423
January 21 Canadian Experience Class 509 6,000
January 20 Provincial Nominee Program 746 681
January 7 Canadian Experience Class 511 8,000
January 5 Provincial Nominee Program 711 574

The pattern is clear. Candidates with existing ties to Canada, meaning provincial nominees and people with Canadian work experience, have featured heavily in 2026 selections. Here is how the year has looked by draw type.

Draw Type Number of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program 19
Canadian Experience Class 16
French-Language proficiency 10
Physicians with Canadian work experience 3
Healthcare and social services 3
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 3
Trades 1
Transport 1
Skilled Military Recruits 1

In total, IRCC has issued 129,715 invitations to apply (ITAs) this year.

Draw Type ITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class 53,250
French-Language proficiency 50,500
Provincial Nominee Program 9,270
Healthcare and social services 11,500
Trades 3,000
Transport 300
Physicians with Canadian work experience 891
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 1,000
Skilled Military Recruits 4

Where everyone else stands in the pool

Not everyone in the pool was competing in this draw, so it helps to see the bigger picture. This is how candidates were spread across CRS scores as of September 27, 2026.

CRS score range Number of candidates
601-1200 728
501-600 21,070
451-500 73,131
491-500 12,745
481-490 12,817
471-480 16,465
461-470 16,257
451-460 14,847
401-450 62,611
441-450 13,677
431-440 13,419
421-430 12,173
411-420 11,888
401-410 11,454
351-400 47,298
301-350 17,359
0-300 7,707
Total 229,904

You got an invitation. What now?

First, take a breath, then get moving. You have exactly 60 calendar days to submit a complete permanent residence application through your Express Entry account. There are no extensions. If the deadline passes, the invitation expires and your profile is removed from the pool. You would then have to build a brand new profile and wait to be selected again.

Start gathering your documents right away. Depending on your situation, you may need:

  • Proof of your work experience
  • Valid language test results
  • Police certificates
  • An immigration medical exam
  • An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), if you are using education completed outside Canada to qualify or to claim CRS points

Then there is the money side. Since April 30, 2026, the government fees are:

  • $990 per adult for processing, plus $600 per adult for the right of permanent residence fee. That is $1,590 per adult.
  • $270 for each dependent child under 22, with no right of permanent residence fee.
  • $85 per person for biometrics, capped at $170 per family.

These figures don’t cover third-party costs like medical exams, police certificates, language tests, or ECAs, which vary by country and provider.

IRCC has a six-month service standard for Express Entry provincial nominee applications. Real processing times can run longer depending on application volumes, background checks, and how complete your file is. Always check IRCC’s processing-time tool for the latest estimate.

If you are already working in Canada and your work permit is close to expiring, a bridging open work permit may keep you working while your PR application is processed. For provincial nominees, the usual conditions are:

  • You are the principal applicant.
  • You live in Canada and plan to live outside Quebec.
  • You submitted a complete PR application that passed the completeness check, and you received an acknowledgement of receipt.
  • Your provincial nomination doesn’t attach any employment restrictions.

If your current permit runs out before the bridging permit is approved, you may be able to keep working under the same conditions through maintained status, as long as you stay in Canada. Family members may also qualify for a bridging open work permit.


Not nominated yet? Here’s what to do

Provincial nominees are still in a strong position in these draws because of that 600-point boost. If you don’t have a nomination yet, keep a close eye on the official provincial immigration pages. Intake windows, targeted occupations, eligibility rules, and nomination spots can change during the year.

You can pursue more than one province at the same time, depending on each program’s rules. Just remember that you can accept only one provincial nomination at a time, and you must truly plan to live in the province that nominates you.


Ready to Turn a Nomination Into Permanent Residence?

A cutoff score, a 60-day deadline, and a stack of documents can make the process feel like a maze. One missed form or expired document can cost you months. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

At Ese Umoh Immigration, we support clients through provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions, and more. Whether you are waiting on a nomination, holding an invitation, or still deciding which pathway fits you, we can look at your situation and give you a clear next step.

The September 28 draw invited 733 provincial nominees at a cutoff of 725, the biggest nominee round since June. Holding an invitation means the clock is ticking, and not having one yet means the right strategy matters even more. Whichever side you are on, book your consultation here and let’s plan your next move together: https://euiacademy.selar.com/60minutes

September 16, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Canada kept its Express Entry momentum going on September 15, 2026, when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited another 2,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) to apply for permanent residence. 

See below details of September 15 Express Entry draw:

  • Category: Canadian Experience Class
  • Draw Date: September 15, 2026
  • No. of Invitations: 2,000
  • CRS Cutoff Score: 519
  • Tie-Breaking Rule: March 26, 2026

This was actually the third CEC draw in a row where the score requirement went down. It fell from 523 on August 18, to 521 on September 1, and now to 519. That’s good news if you’ve been sitting just below the cut-off and watching your score creep closer. It suggests the sharp spike we saw in August, when IRCC issued only 1,000 invitations and pushed the score requirement to its highest point of the year, was more of a one-off than a new normal. Since then, invitation numbers have gone back up to 2,000 per round, and the score needed has been easing back down with them.

With this round, Canada has now held 55 Express Entry draws so far in 2026, bringing the total number of invitations issued this year to well over 120,000.


Who this draw was really for

The Canadian Experience Class is built for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada. To qualify, you generally need:

  • At least 12 months of full-time (or the part-time equivalent) skilled work in Canada, in a job classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, completed within the three years before you apply
  • A minimum language score of CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, or CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs, in English or French
  • An intention to live outside Quebec

One thing that makes CEC stand out from some of the other Express Entry categories is that you don’t need to show proof of funds. If your work was gained through a valid work permit, including a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and your job matches the NOC code on your profile, that experience should count. Just make sure your paperwork, like pay stubs and reference letters, backs it up.

There’s also a helpful safety net for people already in Canada on a work permit that’s about to expire while their Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) application is still being processed. As long as you stay in Canada, you can keep working under your existing conditions while IRCC finalizes things, and eligible family members may qualify for a BOWP too.


See below how the recent CEC draws have trended

Draw Date Invitations Issued CRS Cut-off
April 28, 2026 2,000 514
May 27, 2026 3,000 518
June 23, 2026 4,000 516
July 7, 2026 2,000 517
July 21, 2026 2,000 516
August 5, 2026 3,000 516
August 18, 2026 1,000 523
September 1, 2026 2,000 521
September 15, 2026 2,000 519

If you have your sights on permanent residence through Canadian Experience Class, the pattern here matters. Smaller draws tend to push scores up, while larger draws bring them back down. So if your CRS score is close to the 510-520 range, staying active and keeping your profile updated really can pay off within just a few rounds.

Once invited, candidates have 60 calendar days to submit a complete application, so it helps to have your documents ready well before an ITA lands in your inbox.


Not sure where you stand? Let’s find out together

Every draw tells a slightly different story, and CRS cut-offs can shift from one round to the next depending on how many people are in the pool and how big IRCC decides to make that draw. If your score is close to the mark, or if you’re not sure which Express Entry category fits your background best, the smartest move is to get a clear picture of your options before the next draw happens, not after.

At Ese Umoh Immigration, we help people navigate exactly this kind of decision, whether it’s positioning your profile for Express Entry, exploring a provincial nomination, applying for a work permit or postgraduate work permit, sponsoring a spouse, planning a visit or super visa, working toward citizenship, or even sorting out school admissions. Book a consultation with us today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s discuss the right path for your Canadian journey.

 

September 3, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

Canada’s Express Entry pool barely moved over the last two weeks of August, and that’s actually the interesting part of the story. Between August 16 and August 30, the pool dropped by just 186 profiles overall, even though nearly 1,800 candidates in the 351–400 CRS range dropped out. At the same time, the number of top-scoring candidates climbed. If you’ve been tracking your own Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and wondering where you stand, this update gives a clear, current picture.


Where the Express Entry pool stands right now

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes a snapshot of the Express Entry pool every two weeks, breaking candidates down by CRS score range. Here’s how the pool looked on August 30, compared to the previous count on August 16:

CRS score range August 30 August 16 Difference
0–300 7,735 7,709 +26
301–350 17,495 17,269 +226
351–400 46,824 48,600 −1,776
401–410 10,723 10,688 +35
411–420 11,183 11,269 −86
421–430 11,811 11,890 −79
431–440 13,233 13,229 +4
441–450 13,463 13,555 −92
451–460 14,800 14,814 −14
461–470 16,099 16,133 −34
471–480 16,981 16,626 +355
481–490 13,273 13,066 +207
491–500 12,952 12,915 +37
501–600 19,542 18,657 +885
601–1,200 559 439 +120
Total 226,673 226,859 −186

Two things stand out. First, the mid-to-low CRS bands (351–400) saw the biggest drop, which usually happens when a draw pulls a large batch of candidates out of that range. Second, the top end of the pool (501–600) grew by 885 candidates, meaning more high-scoring profiles are joining or improving their standing. If your score sits below 400, you’re in the largest, most crowded part of the pool right now. If you’re above 500, you’re in a much smaller, more competitive group.


Recent draws tell the same story

This growth at the top and thinning in the middle lines up with the draws IRCC actually held. Between August 16 and August 30, two rounds went out:

Date of draw Round type Invitations issued CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate
August 17 Provincial Nominee Program 442 760
August 18 Canadian Experience Class 1,000 523
August 19 French-Language proficiency 5,000 382

Notably, the August 18 Canadian Experience Class draw had the highest cutoff of any CEC round held so far this year, which explains why so many mid-range profiles left the pool.

Two more draws followed right after this snapshot was taken, on August 31 and September 1, inviting a combined 2,562 candidates:

Date of draw Round type Invitations issued CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate
August 31 Provincial Nominee Program 562 697
September 1 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 521

With those included, IRCC has issued 117,427 invitations through Express Entry so far in 2026, and Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the largest share of any group, at 43.6% of the year’s total.


Category-based selection is under review for 2027

Separately from these regular draws, IRCC opened a public consultation between August 4 and September 1, 2026, asking whether its category-based selection categories, currently including healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, transport, and French-language proficiency, should be adjusted for 2027. The department gathered input from the public, employers, unions, settlement organizations, and immigration researchers as part of the process.

No decisions have been made yet, and IRCC has not confirmed any changes to categories or occupation lists. In past years, new category announcements have typically come out in February, so candidates relying on category eligibility can expect to hear more in the coming months rather than immediately.

A few confirmed data points are worth knowing if you’re weighing your options. French-language proficiency has become the largest category by far, accounting for 49.2% of non-PNP Express Entry invitations in 2025, up sharply from 17.8% in 2023. Canada’s current immigration levels plan sets French-speaking admission targets at 9% for 2026, rising to 9.5% in 2027 and 10.5% in 2028. Healthcare and social services also grew, from 9.7% of invitations in 2023 to 18.6% in 2025. The Transport category, meanwhile, has a track record of change: it launched in 2023, was removed entirely in 2025, and returned again for 2026, so it’s historically been the most variable of the group.


What this means for you

Whether your CRS score puts you in the crowded middle of the pool or you’re wondering how a future policy review might affect your occupation’s eligibility, the smartest move is getting a clear, personalized read on your file before you make any decisions.

Let’s map out your best path to Canadian PR. Every Express Entry profile is different, and general pool data can only tell you so much. At Ese Umoh Immigration, we help clients understand exactly where they stand and how to strengthen their applications across every pathway, including provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, and school admissions. Book a one-on-one consultation today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s build a strategy that actually fits your situation.

August 28, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

British Columbia has finally put numbers to its promise. The province just released its updated targets for how many skilled healthcare and childcare workers it plans to nominate for permanent residence through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) this year, and the figures give a clear picture of where its priorities lie.

By the end of 2026, BC is aiming to issue between 1,620 and 2,015 nominations to healthcare workers in priority occupations, and between 360 and 440 nominations to early childhood educators (NOC 42202). Out of the province’s total 2026 allocation of 6,254 nomination spaces, that means healthcare workers could take up anywhere from 25.9% to 32.2% of all nominations, while childcare workers could account for 5.8% to 7.0%. Combined, these two groups alone could represent close to 40% of everyone BC nominates this year.

This is actually a step up from 2025. Last year, healthcare workers received 1,435 nominations and early childhood educators got 409, together making up about 29.7% of the province’s total. So the appetite for these two groups is clearly growing.


Who counts as a “Priority Healthcare Worker”?

Back in April, BC overhauled its PNP to shift focus away from tech and entry-level roles and toward healthcare and trades. As part of that change, it named 31 healthcare occupations as priority roles. Here’s the full list:

  • Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (31112)
  • Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123)
  • Chiropractors (31201)
  • Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111)
  • Dental technologists and technicians (32112)
  • Dentists (31110)
  • Dietitians and nutritionists (31121)
  • General practitioners and family physicians (31102)
  • Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (31204)
  • Licensed practical nurses (32101)
  • Managers in health care (30010)
  • Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (33101)
  • Medical laboratory technologists (32120)
  • Medical radiation technologists (32121)
  • Medical sonographers (32122)
  • Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (33102)*
  • Nurse practitioners (31302)
  • Nursing coordinators and supervisors (31300)
  • Occupational therapists (31203)
  • Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (31209)
  • Paramedical occupations (32102)
  • Pharmacists (31120)
  • Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (31303)
  • Physiotherapists (31202)
  • Psychologists (31200)
  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301)
  • Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (32103)
  • Social workers (41300)
  • Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100)
  • Specialists in surgery (31101)
  • Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (32200)

Workers under NOC 33102 must be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker registry before they can be nominated.

On the childcare side, only one occupation is being targeted for now: early childhood educators (42202), who need a one- or five-year ECE certificate from the ECE registry to qualify.


A few more things worth knowing

BC has also reaffirmed that at least 35% of all skilled worker nominations must go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver, an area the province actually exceeded in 2025, hitting 38%.

As of late August, BC had invited 474 healthcare workers and 451 childcare workers to apply for nomination this year, a combined 925 invitations. Across every worker stream, the province has issued 4,838 invitations so far in 2026. And if last year is any guide, the odds are strongly in applicants’ favor: of the 6,553 worker-stream applications submitted in 2025, 6,195 were approved, a 94.5% success rate.


What this means if you’re eyeing BC as your new home

If you work in healthcare or early childhood education, this is genuinely one of the clearest openings you’ll find in Canadian immigration right now. To qualify, you’ll need a full-time job offer from a BC employer, after which you can submit an expression of interest through the BCPNP portal. The province scores your profile, places you in the pool, and periodically invites top-scoring candidates to apply. From there, you have 30 days to submit a complete application, and if approved, you’ll receive a nomination certificate you can use to apply for permanent residence federally.

The process has a lot of moving parts, and small mistakes (a missed document, a wrong NOC code, a weak EOI profile) can cost you months. That’s where having someone in your corner makes all the difference.


Ready to Turn This Opportunity Into Your Reality?

Numbers like these don’t come around often, and BC’s growing appetite for healthcare and childcare talent won’t last forever. Whether you’re a nurse, a physiotherapist, a pharmacist, an early childhood educator, or you’re exploring any other pathway into Canada, we can help you map out the smartest route forward. At Ese Umoh Immigration, we support clients across provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, and school admissions. Don’t leave your Canadian dream to guesswork — book a consultation with us today and let’s get your application moving.

August 28, 2026

Dear future neighbour,

There’s a conversation happening right now across immigration forums and social media, and it’s centered on one small but important detail buried in Canada’s spousal open work permit (SOWP) rules.

IRCC has confirmed something that’s catching a lot of people off guard: once a spousal open work permit is issued, it normally stays valid for its full length even if the principal applicant’s situation changes afterward. That means if the principal spouse loses their job, finishes school earlier than planned, or the couple separates or divorces, the work permit doesn’t automatically get cancelled. It keeps running until its printed expiry date.

On the surface, this makes sense. Life happens. Families shouldn’t lose their income overnight because a job ended or a relationship broke down through no fault of their own. IRCC built this flexibility in deliberately, so genuine couples aren’t punished for circumstances outside their control.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Some online influencers and unauthorized “agents” have started promoting this rule as a workaround. The pattern they describe goes like this: a principal applicant enrolls in a program or takes a job just long enough to qualify their spouse for an open work permit, and then quietly drops out or quits shortly after the permit is approved. Because the permit was already issued, it technically keeps working; even though the reason it was granted no longer exists.

This is where the line matters a lot. There’s a real difference between a genuine, unplanned change in circumstances and a pre-arranged setup designed purely to trigger eligibility. IRCC treats these very differently. If someone misrepresents their intentions, their relationship, or their plans at the time of applying, that’s a matter for section 40(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the consequences aren’t small. We’re talking about a possible five-year ban from Canada, a permanent fraud record with IRCC, loss of status, and removal from the country. Canada is also rolling out penalties of up to $1.5 million for paid representatives who advise clients to misrepresent themselves, expected later in 2026.

It’s also worth remembering that eligibility for spousal open work permits has already tightened significantly. Since January 21, 2025, spouses of international students only qualify if the principal student is in a master’s program of at least 16 months, a doctoral program, or select professional degrees like medicine, law, nursing, or engineering. For spouses of foreign workers, eligibility now generally requires the principal worker to be in a TEER 0 or 1 role, or select TEER 2/3 occupations, with at least 16 months left on their own work authorization.

To put the scale of this program in perspective, open work permits issued to spouses of international students jumped from roughly 16,020 in 2018 to 72,240 in 2023 – a 351% increase, according to IRCC’s own data shared with a parliamentary committee. That growth doesn’t prove wrongdoing, but it shows why even a small pattern of misuse could draw closer attention from officers reviewing new applications.

So what does this mean if you’re applying honestly? Genuine applicants shouldn’t panic. If your relationship is real and your documentation reflects the truth, you’re not at risk just because this topic is trending online. That said, expect officers to look a little more closely at relationship evidence and the principal applicant’s real intentions going forward, simply because of the heightened attention this issue is getting.

And one more thing worth knowing; even if your existing spousal work permit stays valid through a change in circumstances, that doesn’t guarantee you can renew it once it expires. If the qualifying situation is gone by then, you’ll likely need a different pathway to keep working in Canada.


Don’t Leave Your Immigration Journey to Guesswork

Rules like this one show exactly why it pays to have someone in your corner who actually understands how IRCC thinks – not a random video online, not a stranger’s “hack,” but real, informed guidance. Whether you’re applying for a spousal open work permit, sponsoring a partner, navigating Express Entry, chasing a provincial nomination, sorting out a work permit or postgraduate work permit, planning a visit, applying for a super visa, working toward citizenship, or figuring out school admissions, the details matter – and getting them wrong can cost you years, not just money. Book a one-on-one consultation with us at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s build your application the right way, from the very start.

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