Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry Draw 412 on April 27, 2026, issuing 473 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum CRS cut-off was 795 points, with a tie-breaking date of April 13, 2026, at 23:10:05 UTC.
Draw 412 is the ninth PNP-specific draw of 2026 and the twenty-fourth Express Entry draw of the year. It arrives 14 days after Draw 409 (April 13, CRS 786, 324 ITAs) – and carries two significant reversals from that draw: the ITA count increased by 46% (from 324 to 473), and the CRS cut-off rose by 9 points (from 786 to 795). These two numbers moving in opposite directions – more invitations at a higher threshold – tell a specific story about the nominated candidate pool that has accumulated in the 14 days since Draw 409 cleared it.
The 24 draws of 2026 have now collectively issued 65,627 ITAs across seven distinct draw categories. Of these, the PNP stream has contributed 3,736 ITAs across nine draws – a modest but consistent share of the total. Draw 412 is also the opening draw of what becomes a three-draw week: Draw 413 (CEC, April 28, 2,000 ITAs) and Draw 414 (French, April 29, 4,000 ITAs, CRS 400) follow the next day and the day after, marking the second three-consecutive-day draw burst of 2026 after the April 13-14-15 sequence.
Key Details of Express Entry Draw 412
| Draw Number | 412 |
| Date | April 27, 2026 |
| Program | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| Invitations Issued | 473 |
| CRS Cut-off Score | 795 |
| Tie-breaking Rule | April 13, 2026, at 23:10:05 UTC |
Understanding CRS 795: The Base Score Is What Counts
A CRS of 795 in a PNP draw is understood correctly only through the lens of the 600-point provincial nomination bonus. Every candidate who receives an enhanced provincial nomination and adds it to their Express Entry profile automatically gains 600 CRS points. The competitive threshold is therefore the base score – the human capital score before the nomination is applied.
| Factor | Points | Profile Type | Implication |
| Base CRS (e.g., CLB 8, bachelor’s, 2 yrs exp, age 35) | ~185 | Moderate profile | 785 total — just below cut-off |
| Base CRS (e.g., CLB 9, bachelor’s, 3 yrs exp, age 30) | ~195 | Strong profile | 795 total — exactly at cut-off |
| Provincial Nomination bonus | +600 | Automatic on nomination | Applied to any base score |
At a cut-off of 795, the effective base score requirement is approximately 195 points. This is accessible to a wide range of candidates: a worker in their late 20s to early 30s with a bachelor’s degree, CLB 9 English scores, and 2-3 years of skilled work experience can plausibly reach a base CRS around this level. The 9-point increase from Draw 409 (786) to Draw 412 (795) corresponds to a rise in the effective base score requirement from approximately 186 to 195 – reflecting that the newest batch of nominated candidates to enter the pool in April tend to have slightly stronger human capital profiles than the wave cleared by Draw 409.
The ITA Reversal: 473 vs 324 – Pool Replenishment at Work
Draw 409 on April 13 issued only 324 ITAs – the lowest PNP count of 2026 at that time – reflecting an exceptionally thin nominated sub-pool. Draw 412, just 14 days later, issues 473 ITAs – a 46% increase. This reversal directly reflects rapid pool replenishment by provinces in the fortnight between the two draws.
The mechanism is straightforward: when Draw 409 cleared the pool at CRS 786 on April 13, it left only a small residual of nominated candidates at 787+. Over the following 14 days, provinces issued new nominations and those nominees added their nominations to their Express Entry profiles – entering the 601-1200 CRS band. By April 26 (the day before Draw 412), the pool at 601+ showed approximately 472 candidates. With 473 ITAs issued, IRCC effectively cleared this entire replenished tier in a single draw.
The pool data as of April 26 confirms: 472 candidates were in the 601-1200 band, nearly perfectly matching the 473 ITAs issued. This is a complete pool clearance of the nominated sub-pool – IRCC invited virtually every available nominated candidate at or above CRS 795 in this round.
The Tie-breaking Date: April 13 – The Same Day as the Previous PNP Draw
Draw 412’s tie-breaking date of April 13, 2026, at 23:10:05 UTC is one of the most analytically revealing details of this round. April 13 is the exact same date as Draw 409 – the previous PNP draw. The timestamp of 23:10:05 UTC (just before midnight on April 13) means that candidates whose profiles were created on the very day of Draw 409 (but before 11:10 PM UTC) were the marginal candidates in Draw 412.
| Draw | Date | CRS | ITAs | Tie-break Date | Gap | Interpretation |
| 409 | Apr 13 | 786 | 324 | Nov 19, 2025 | ~5 months | Deep backlog at 786 — old profiles still waiting |
| 412 | Apr 27 | 795 | 473 | Apr 13, 2026 | 14 days | Pool rapidly replenished after Draw 409 cleared it |
This comparison reveals a fundamental shift in pool dynamics between the two draws. Draw 409’s November 2025 tie-breaking date indicated that the nominated pool contained a backlog of months-old profiles that had been waiting for a PNP draw. Draw 412’s April 13 tie-breaking date reveals the opposite: after Draw 409 cleared that backlog, the pool at CRS 795 is now composed almost entirely of freshly-submitted nominations from April 2026. Every nominated candidate who received their provincial nomination and updated their Express Entry profile in April 2026 – with a strong enough base CRS to reach 795 total – was potentially reached in this draw.
All 2026 Express Entry Draws to Date
| Draw # | Date | Category | CRS | ITAs |
| 412 | Apr 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| 411 | Apr 15 | French-Language Proficiency (Version 2) | 419 | 4,000 |
| 410 | Apr 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| 409 | Apr 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| 408 | Apr 2 | Trades Occupations (Version 3) | 477 | 3,000 |
| 407 | Mar 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| 406 | Mar 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| 405 | Mar 18 | French-Language Proficiency (Version 2) | 393 | 4,000 |
| 404 | Mar 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| 403 | Mar 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| 402 | Mar 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| 401 | Mar 4 | French-Language Proficiency (Version 2) | 397 | 5,500 |
| 400 | Mar 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| 399 | Mar 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| 398 | Feb 20 | Healthcare & Social Services (Version 3) | 467 | 4,000 |
| 397 | Feb 19 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 169 | 391 |
| 396 | Feb 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| 395 | Feb 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| 394 | Feb 6 | French-Language Proficiency (Version 2) | 400 | 8,500 |
| 393 | Feb 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| 392 | Jan 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| 391 | Jan 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| 390 | Jan 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| 389 | Jan 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
All 2026 PNP Express Entry Draws
| Draw # | Date | CRS | ITAs | Tie-breaking Date |
| 412 | Apr 27 | 795 | 473 | Apr 13, 2026 |
| 409 | Apr 13 | 786 | 324 | Nov 19, 2025 |
| 406 | Mar 30 | 802 | 356 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| 403 | Mar 16 | 742 | 362 | Oct 5, 2025 |
| 399 | Mar 2 | 710 | 264 | Aug 7, 2025 |
| 395 | Feb 16 | 789 | 279 | Sep 5, 2025 |
| 393 | Feb 3 | 749 | 423 | Dec 16, 2025 |
| 391 | Jan 20 | 746 | 681 | Nov 19, 2025 |
| 389 | Jan 5 | 711 | 574 | Oct 6, 2025 |
Nine PNP draws in 2026 have now issued a total of 3,736 ITAs. The ITA trend – which fell consistently from 681 in January to 264 in March – showed its first significant reversal in Draw 412 (473). This reversal is consistent with the 31% increase in provincial nomination allocations that took effect for 2026: provinces are now issuing more nominations than in 2025, and those nominations are beginning to accumulate in the pool in meaningful numbers, supporting larger PNP draws. The CRS range across all nine draws (710 to 802) reflects the volatile but consistently high nature of the nominated sub-pool threshold.
2026 Express Entry ITAs by Category (as of April 27, 2026)
| Category | Draws | ITAs | % of Total |
| Canadian Experience Class | 7 | 32,250 | 49.1% |
| French-Language Proficiency | 4 | 22,000 | 33.5% |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 | 4,000 | 6.1% |
| Trades Occupations | 1 | 3,000 | 4.6% |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9 | 3,736 | 5.7% |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Exp. | 1 | 391 | 0.6% |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Exp. | 1 | 250 | 0.4% |
| Total | 24 | 65,627 | 100% |
Draw 412 brings PNP’s share to 3,736 ITAs across nine draws – 5.7% of the 65,627 total. With Draw 413 (CEC, 2,000 ITAs) and Draw 414 (French, 4,000 ITAs at CRS 400) following on April 28 and 29, the year-to-date total will reach 71,627 ITAs across 26 draws by the end of April – marking a remarkable pace of more than 650 ITAs per calendar day across the first four months of the year.
Express Entry Pool Composition (April 26, 2026)
| CRS Score Range | Number of Candidates |
| 601-1200 | 472 |
| 501-600 | ~11,600 |
| 451-500 | 73,659 |
| 401-450 | ~64,500 |
| 351-400 | ~52,600 |
| 301-350 | ~19,000 |
| 0-300 | ~8,300 |
| Total | 234,452 |
The pool grew to 234,452 as of April 26, up from 233,555 on April 12. Despite the 6,324 ITAs issued across the April 13-15 draw burst, the pool has continued to expand – new profile submissions are outpacing draw removals. The 601-1200 band at 472 candidates is remarkably close to the 473 ITAs issued in Draw 412, confirming near-total clearance of the nominated tier. The 451-500 band at 73,659 candidates remains the largest and most congested segment of the pool, and continues to be inaccessible to CEC draws at 507-515 – reinforcing the importance of category draws, French proficiency, and PNP nominations for candidates in this range.
Key Statistics: 2026 Express Entry (as of April 27, 2026)
- Total ITAs issued in 2026: 65,627 across 24 draws (Draws 389-412)
- Draw 412: 9th PNP draw of 2026; 24th Express Entry draw overall
- 473 ITAs – 46% increase from Draw 409 (324), reversing the downward ITA trend
- CRS 795 – 9-point increase from Draw 409 (786), effective base score ~195
- Tie-breaking date April 13, 2026 – same day as Draw 409, indicating rapid pool clearance and replenishment
- Pool at 234,452 (April 26): 601-1200 band holds 472 candidates – near-complete clearance in Draw 412
- Draw 412 opens a three-draw week: followed by CEC (Draw 413, Apr 28) and French (Draw 414, Apr 29, CRS 400)
- No general all-program draw held in 2026 across all 24 draws
Understanding the PNP Pool Dynamics in Late April 2026
Why the ITA Count Rebounded: The 31% Nomination Allocation Increase
The most important structural factor behind Draw 412’s higher ITA count (473 vs Draw 409’s 324) is the federal government’s 31% increase in provincial nomination allocations for 2026. This expansion gives provinces significantly more nomination spots to issue compared to 2025. The effect on the Express Entry PNP sub-pool operates with a time lag:
- Provinces received their expanded 2026 allocation at the beginning of the year
- Provincial nomination programs process applications, conduct their own draws, and issue nominations on timelines that vary by province and stream – typically 2-8 weeks from application to certificate issuance
- Once a nomination certificate is issued, nominees typically add it to their Express Entry profile within days to weeks
- The resulting 600-point CRS addition places the nominee in the 601-1200 band and makes them eligible for the next PNP Express Entry draw
With expanded allocations now actively generating nominations, the flow of new nominated candidates into the Express Entry pool is accelerating. Draw 412’s 473 ITAs – fully clearing the 472-candidate 601+ band – suggests that the fortnight between Draws 409 and 412 saw approximately 150 more new nominees enter the pool than the equivalent period before Draw 409. If provincial nomination activity maintains or increases this pace, future PNP draws may sustain or grow beyond 473 ITAs.
The Proposed Express Entry Reform: What Candidates Should Know
April 2026 also saw Immigration Minister Lena Metlege-Diab launch public consultations on proposed Express Entry reforms that could significantly reshape the system. The key proposed changes include:
- Replacing the three existing Express Entry programs (CEC, FSWP, FSTP) with a single unified pathway – eliminating the need for candidates to qualify under a specific program before entering the pool
- Overhauling the CRS scoring model to place greater weight on earnings potential and arranged employment, potentially reducing the relative advantage of younger candidates with high educational credentials but limited work history
- Structural changes to how category-based draws interact with the unified pathway – potentially making it easier for IRCC to target specific occupations or skills regardless of program eligibility
These are proposals at the consultation stage, not implemented policy. The timeline for any reforms is not yet confirmed. However, candidates should be aware that the Express Entry system may look materially different in 2027 than it does today. The most important practical implication for current candidates: if you are eligible for the Express Entry pool under the current framework, entering and maintaining your profile now preserves your tie-breaking position under both the current and any transitional system. Waiting for reform certainty is a risky strategy if your current profile could already attract an ITA.
The April 27-28-29 Draw Week: PNP, CEC, French
Draw 412 opens a third consecutive-day sequence in 2026 (following the April 13-14-15 burst). The three draws issued in the week of April 27-29 are:
- Draw 412 (April 27): PNP – 473 ITAs at CRS 795
- Draw 413 (April 28): CEC – 2,000 ITAs at CRS 515 (matching Draw 410’s threshold, continuing the consistent small-draw CEC pattern)
- Draw 414 (April 29): French – 4,000 ITAs at CRS 400, a 19-point drop from Draw 411’s 419 as the inter-draw gap was only 14 days and the post-411 pool at 400+ had replenished
Together, these three draws issued 6,473 ITAs in 72 hours – virtually identical to the April 13-15 burst (6,324 ITAs). The pattern is clear: IRCC is running Express Entry in concentrated weekly bursts across multiple categories, rather than single large draws at extended intervals. For candidates, this means the window between learning about a draw and being potentially invited can be very short – maintaining an active, complete, and accurate profile in the pool at all times is essential.
Provincial Strategies for Candidates Without a Nomination
For the vast majority of candidates in the pool – those without a provincial nomination – Draw 412’s CRS 795 is irrelevant to their direct chances. But it is highly relevant to their strategy. Each PNP draw that clears the nominated pool is a signal that the system is functioning as designed: provinces nominate, nominees enter the pool, IRCC clears the pool, provinces nominate more. For candidates without nominations, the strategic implication is singular: pursuing a provincial nomination is the most reliable, highest-certainty path to permanent residence in 2026 for anyone whose CRS falls below the CEC threshold.
The most accessible provincial nomination streams for candidates in the 451-510 CRS range include:
- Saskatchewan SINP – International Skilled Worker Express Entry: Processing times of 2-3 weeks in 2026 for candidates with occupations on SINP’s in-demand list. One of the fastest nomination pathways currently operating
- Ontario OINP – Human Capital Priority: Periodic draws from the Express Entry pool for candidates with occupations in demand in Ontario. Requires CRS score above OINP’s threshold and work or study experience in Ontario or a qualifying occupation
- Alberta AINP – Alberta Express Entry: Targets candidates with strong ties to Alberta including prior Alberta work experience, employer support, or close family in Alberta. Technology, healthcare, and energy sector workers are prioritised
- New Brunswick NBPNP – Express Entry Labour Market Stream: Active stream for skilled workers with a valid job offer from a New Brunswick employer. Faster processing and less competitive than Ontario or BC streams
- Nova Scotia NSNP – Labour Market Priorities: Periodic targeted draws for specific in-demand occupations. Monitor the NSNP website closely as draws are announced with little advance notice
- Prince Edward Island PEI PNP: Active streams with lower competition volumes than larger provinces. Suitable for candidates with genuine ties or intent to settle on the Island
After Receiving a PNP ITA in Draw 412
Candidates who received an ITA in Draw 412 have 60 days from April 27, 2026 (approximately until June 26, 2026) to submit a complete permanent residence application. The key documents specific to PNP applicants:
- Provincial nomination certificate: The formal letter from the nominating province confirming your name, NOC code, and province of intended destination. This document must be valid at time of submission and must match all other application details exactly
- Proof of intent to reside: Under the March 30, 2026 regulatory changes, substantiated evidence of genuine intention to settle in the nominating province is assessed more rigorously. Include a job offer from an employer in the province, signed lease agreement, family ties documentation, or a detailed settlement plan with supporting evidence
- Work experience reference letters: On company letterhead confirming job title, NOC code, duties, hours per week, salary, and employment dates for all qualifying positions
- Language test results: Valid IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada within their two-year validity window
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if claiming foreign education points under FSWP
- Police clearance certificates from Canada and all countries of residence for 6 months or more since age 18
- Medical examination from an IRCC-designated physician
- Proof of settlement funds (FSWP applicants without a valid Canadian job offer)
- Valid passport covering the anticipated processing period
Frequently Asked Questions
The ITA count jumped from 324 to 473. Does this mean PNP draws are getting larger?
The 46% increase from Draw 409 to Draw 412 reflects two factors: rapid pool replenishment by provinces in the 14-day inter-draw period, and the structural effect of the 31% increase in provincial nomination allocations for 2026. Both factors should support continued healthy PNP draw volumes through Q2 and Q3. However, PNP draw sizes are inherently volatile – they depend entirely on how many nominated candidates are in the pool at draw time, which fluctuates based on provincial nomination activity, processing timelines, and how quickly nominees upload their certificates. A single large OINP Human Capital Priority draw can add 300-500+ nominees to the pool overnight, significantly affecting the next PNP draw’s size. The trend is positive for 2026, but predicting specific ITA counts for future draws remains speculative.
The tie-breaking date was April 13 – the same day as the previous PNP draw. Does this mean nominations uploaded after April 13 missed this draw?
Nominations uploaded to Express Entry profiles after April 13, 2026, at 23:10:05 UTC were not included in Draw 412 regardless of the resulting CRS score. If your provincial nomination was uploaded on April 14 or later, you were not in scope for Draw 412. However, you are now at the very front of the queue for the next PNP draw. Your nomination added 600 CRS points to your profile, and your profile submission date is your original Express Entry creation date – which determines your tie-breaking position. Candidates whose nominations were uploaded April 14-27 and who have total CRS of 795+ are the most competitive candidates for the next PNP draw. The next PNP round is expected approximately two weeks after Draw 412.
I have a provincial nomination but my base CRS is only 175. My total CRS is 775. Does that mean I missed this draw?
At CRS 775, you were 20 points below Draw 412’s cut-off of 795. You were not invited in this round. However, this does not mean your situation is concerning – PNP draw cut-offs fluctuate significantly. The 2026 PNP CRS range has been 710 to 802, and a CRS of 775 would have been sufficient for the majority of 2026 PNP draws (draws at 710, 742, 746, 749, 786, 789, 711 – all would have reached you). The question is timing: if the next draw’s CRS drops to 775 or below, you will receive an ITA. The best actions are: maintain your profile as active and accurate, ensure your nomination certificate is properly uploaded, and monitor the next PNP draw. Contacting the nominating province to confirm your nomination remains valid through the anticipated draw window is also advisable.
Can I hold provincial nominations from two different provinces simultaneously in my Express Entry profile?
No – you can only have one active provincial nomination on your Express Entry profile at a time. If you receive a second nomination from a different province, you must decide which one to use. Factors to consider include: which nomination’s conditions better align with your genuine settlement plans, which province you actually intend to live and work in (under the March 30 regulations, provinces assess this), and whether one nomination has a shorter expiry or stricter conditions than the other. You should not hold a second nomination passively as backup while the first is active on your profile – using a nomination with no genuine intent to settle in that province is a form of misrepresentation. If you are genuinely considering two provinces, consult a licensed immigration consultant before deciding which nomination to use.
My base CRS is 190 and I received my nomination last week. What should I expect from the next PNP draw?
With a base CRS of 190 and a provincial nomination, your total CRS is 790. Draw 412’s cut-off was 795, placing you 5 points below the threshold. Your profile likely uploaded after the April 13 tie-breaking cutoff, meaning you were ineligible for Draw 412 regardless. For the next PNP draw, you are a strong candidate – a total CRS of 790 has been above the cut-off in the majority of 2026 PNP draws (only Draws 406 at 802 and Draw 412 at 795 have been higher). The key factors determining whether you receive an ITA in the next round are: the CRS cut-off at that draw (which depends on who else is in the pool) and the tie-breaking date (your profile must pre-date it). Maintaining your profile accurately and ensuring your nomination is correctly reflected in your profile is your only action item. The next PNP draw is likely within two weeks.
I am in the 451-500 CRS range without a nomination. None of the recent CEC draws (507-515) have reached me. What are my realistic options in Q2 2026?
At 451-500 CRS without a nomination, you are in the largest and most competitive cohort in the pool. The honest assessment of your Q2 options: CEC draws at 507-515 will not reach you under current volumes. The most effective strategies are: First, language improvement – if your English or French scores have any room to grow, even a single CLB level improvement can add 10-25 CRS points. Reaching 507+ via language improvement is achievable for many candidates in 2-3 months. Second, French proficiency development – if you have any French ability, developing it to NCLC 7 opens the French draw pathway at CRS 393-419, dramatically below the CEC threshold. Third, provincial nomination – a nomination adds 600 CRS points and makes your next PNP ITA practically certain. Saskatchewan SINP’s 2-3 week processing makes it one of the fastest available. Fourth, occupation category eligibility – verify whether your NOC code qualifies for Trades (CRS 477), Healthcare (CRS 467), or other active categories that clear well below the CEC threshold.
The Bottom Line
Express Entry Draw 412 issued 473 ITAs to provincial nominees at CRS 795 on April 27, 2026 – the ninth PNP draw of the year and the opening draw of a back-to-back-to-back sequence (Draws 412-413-414) across April 27-28-29. The 46% ITA increase from Draw 409 (324 ITAs) is the clearest sign yet that provincial nomination volumes are growing under the expanded 2026 allocation framework. The nearly exact match between the pool’s 472 candidates in the 601-1200 band and the 473 ITAs issued confirms that IRCC cleared virtually the entire nominated sub-pool in this draw.
The tie-breaking date of April 13, 2026 – identical to the date of the previous PNP draw – tells a precise story: the pool at CRS 795 was composed entirely of April-vintage nominations that entered the Express Entry pool in the fortnight between the two draws. The rapid pool clearance and replenishment cycle is characteristic of a well-functioning PNP pipeline, and suggests continued regular PNP draws through Q2 as the expanded 2026 nomination allocations generate a sustained flow of nominated candidates.
At Earnest Immigration, our licensed consultants help candidates identify the provincial nomination streams best matched to their occupation, profile, and province preferences – and prepare permanent residence applications that reflect genuine provincial connections under the 2026 regulatory framework. Whether you received an ITA in Draw 412, are pursuing a provincial nomination for the first time, or want to build a parallel strategy alongside your Express Entry profile, the Earnest Immigration team is here to guide you. Contact us today for a comprehensive profile assessment.
