Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry Draw 409 on April 13, 2026, issuing 324 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The minimum CRS cut-off was 786 points, with a tie-breaking date of November 19, 2025, at 18:53:59 UTC.
Draw 409 is the eighth PNP-specific draw of 2026 and the twenty-first Express Entry draw of the year. It arrives 14 days after Draw 406 (March 30, CRS 802, 356 ITAs) – the previous PNP round. Two trends stand out: the CRS has dropped 16 points from 802 to 786, and the ITA count of 324 is the lowest of any PNP draw in 2026 – below even the 264 issued in Draw 399 on March 2 (which at the time held the low). The declining invitation count, combined with the falling CRS, tells a clear story about the current state of the nominated candidate sub-pool: it is shrinking, and IRCC is clearing whatever remains at each draw cycle.
Year-to-date, the 21 draws of 2026 have produced 59,154 ITAs across seven distinct draw categories. Of these, the PNP stream has issued 3,263 ITAs across eight draws — a small but consistent share. Draw 409, arriving the day before an anticipated CEC draw (Draw 410), confirms the pattern of Q2 2026 activity: frequent, paired draws across different categories on consecutive or near-consecutive days.
Key Details of Express Entry Draw 409
| Draw Number | 409 |
| Date | April 13, 2026 |
| Program | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| Invitations Issued | 324 |
| CRS Cut-off Score | 786 |
| Tie-breaking Rule | November 19, 2025, at 18:53:59 UTC |
Decoding the CRS 786: Why Base Score 186 Is What Matters
A CRS of 786 in a PNP draw reflects the 600-point provincial nomination bonus added to the human capital CRS of every nominated candidate. The relevant competitive metric is the base CRS — the score before the nomination is applied. At 786, the base score is approximately 186.
| Factor | Points | Notes |
| Base CRS (e.g., CLB 8, bachelor’s, 2 yrs exp, age 35) | ~185 | Moderate profile, typical nominee |
| Base CRS (e.g., CLB 9, master’s, 3 yrs exp, age 28) | ~186 | Strong profile at cut-off |
| Provincial Nomination bonus | +600 | Automatic on nomination |
| Total CRS (lower example) | ~785 | Just below Draw 409 cut-off |
| Total CRS (higher example) | ~786 | Exactly at Draw 409 cut-off |
A base CRS of 186 is accessible to candidates across a wide range of profile types. It does not require exceptional language scores, a graduate degree, or multiple years of Canadian work experience. A candidate in their mid-30s with a bachelor’s degree, functional CLB 7-8 English, and two years of skilled work experience (Canadian or foreign) can plausibly reach a base CRS around this level. The practical barrier is not reaching 786 total CRS — it is securing the provincial nomination that provides the 600 bonus points in the first place.
The 16-point drop from Draw 406 (802) to Draw 409 (786) corresponds to a drop in the effective base score requirement from approximately 202 to approximately 186. This 16-point reduction means that nominees with somewhat weaker human capital profiles — slightly lower language scores, shorter work experience, or older age — are now reaching the cut-off threshold that was out of reach two weeks ago.
The Downward ITA Trend: A Shrinking Nominated Sub-Pool
Draw 409’s 324 ITAs is the lowest PNP invitation count of 2026. Looking at the ITA trend across all 2026 PNP draws reveals a consistent and significant pattern:
| Draw | Date | CRS | ITAs | Observation |
| Draw 391 | Jan 20 | 746 | 681 | 681 — largest PNP draw of 2026 |
| Draw 393 | Feb 3 | 749 | 423 | 43% drop from Jan draw |
| Draw 395 | Feb 16 | 789 | 279 | Continuing decline |
| Draw 399 | Mar 2 | 710 | 264 | Near-low in ITAs |
| Draw 403 | Mar 16 | 742 | 362 | Slight recovery |
| Draw 406 | Mar 30 | 802 | 356 | Near-record CRS high |
| Draw 409 | Apr 13 | 786 | 324 | Lowest PNP ITA count of 2026 |
The ITA count fell from 681 in the January 20 draw to 324 in Draw 409 — a 52% decline over eight draws and three months. This is not a sign of IRCC pulling back on PNP draws; rather, it is a consequence of the nominated sub-pool gradually being cleared through regular draws. Each PNP draw removes the top-scoring nominated candidates from the pool. As those candidates are cleared, the pool of remaining nominees thins. Fewer nominees in the pool means fewer ITAs are issued in subsequent draws before running out of eligible candidates above the target CRS threshold.
The implication for the next PNP draw is that either the CRS will need to drop further to find 300+ candidates in the pool, or the ITA count will be smaller than 324 if the pool remains thin. The replenishment rate — how quickly provincial nominations are being issued and uploaded to Express Entry profiles — is the key variable determining the next draw’s character. If provinces have been issuing significant volumes of nominations in April, the next PNP draw may see an ITA recovery. If provincial nomination activity has been slower, the next round may be even smaller.
Complete Summary of All Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Draw # | Date | Category | CRS | ITAs |
| 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 |
| 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 |
The eight 2026 PNP draws show a CRS range of 710 to 802 and an ITA range of 264 to 681. Both the CRS and ITA counts have been volatile, reflecting the lumpy nature of provincial nomination flows. The overall direction of ITA counts is downward — from the large January draws toward the smaller April draw — but this reflects pool thinning, not reduced IRCC commitment to PNP selection.
2026 Express Entry ITAs by Category (as of April 13, 2026)
| Category | Draws | ITAs | % of Total |
| Canadian Experience Class | 6 | 30,250 | 51.1% |
| French-Language Proficiency | 3 | 18,000 | 30.4% |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 | 4,000 | 6.8% |
| Trades Occupations | 1 | 3,000 | 5.1% |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 8 | 3,263 | 5.5% |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Exp. | 1 | 391 | 0.7% |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Exp. | 1 | 250 | 0.4% |
| Total | 21 | 59,154 | 100% |
PNP draws now account for 3,263 of the 59,154 year-to-date ITAs — 5.5% of the total. Despite being the most frequent draw type by number of rounds (8 of 21 draws), PNP draws are smaller in volume than CEC, French, Healthcare, or Trades rounds. This reflects the structural constraint of the nominated sub-pool: each PNP draw is bounded by how many nominated candidates are in the Express Entry pool at draw time, whereas CEC and French draws can scale up to thousands of ITAs from their larger eligible pools.
Key Statistics: 2026 Express Entry (as of April 13, 2026)
• Total ITAs issued in 2026: 59,154 across 21 draws (Draws 389-409)
• Draw 409: 8th PNP draw, 21st draw overall, the smallest PNP draw of 2026 at 324 ITAs
• CRS 786 — 16-point drop from Draw 406 (802), corresponding to base score 186
• PNP ITA trend in 2026: 681 (January) to 324 (April) — 52% decline over 8 draws
• Tie-breaking date of November 19, 2025 — approximately 5 months prior to draw date
• No general all-program draw has been held in 2026 — every draw has been program- or category-specific
• PNP draws account for 8 of 21 total 2026 draws — the most frequent single draw type by number of rounds
Understanding the Provincial Nominee Program in Q2 2026
Why PNP Draws Are the Most Frequent in 2026
Of the 21 Express Entry draws held in 2026 through April 13, eight have been PNP-specific. This high frequency reflects the central role that provincial nominations play in Canada’s immigration architecture. Every few weeks, the nominated sub-pool in Express Entry reaches sufficient density to support another PNP draw — and IRCC holds the draw, clearing the pool and creating space for new nominations to enter.
PNP draws are not held on a fixed schedule. Their frequency is driven by the rate at which provinces issue nominations and nominees add those nominations to their Express Entry profiles. In 2026, with provincial nomination allocations that were raised 31% by the federal government, the flow of nominations has been relatively consistent, supporting the pattern of PNP draws approximately every two weeks. The declining ITA count in recent draws suggests the pipeline is thinning somewhat in early Q2 — likely as the large January-February nomination batches have been cleared and the April batch is still building.
The March 30, 2026 Regulatory Change and Its Continuing Implications
Draw 409 is the second PNP draw since the March 30, 2026 regulatory change that transferred key assessment responsibilities from IRCC to the provinces. Under the new framework, provinces now lead the evaluation of:
• A nominee’s ability to become economically established in their nominating province
• Whether a candidate genuinely intends to live and work in the nominating province (‘intent to reside’ assessment)
These changes apply to all PNP applications currently in processing, not just new nominations. For candidates who received an ITA in Draw 409, this means their permanent residence application will be assessed under a framework where provincial compliance and genuine intent to settle carry more weight than before. Applications should include clear, substantiated evidence of provincial ties — a job in the province, accommodation arrangements, family connections, or community engagement plans — rather than relying solely on a statement of intent.
Provincial Nomination Allocation Increase: What It Means for Future PNP Draws
A significant development in early 2026 was the federal government’s announcement of a 31% increase in provincial nomination allocations — giving provinces more nomination spots to issue in 2026 than in 2025. This increase has direct implications for the Express Entry PNP draw pipeline:
• More nominations being issued means more candidates receiving the 600-point CRS bonus and entering the 601-1200 band of the Express Entry pool
• A larger pipeline of nominated candidates supports continued regular PNP draws, and potentially larger ITA volumes in upcoming rounds as the April and May nomination batches accumulate
• The expanded allocation has been particularly significant in provinces like Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), and Alberta (AINP), which have the largest nomination quotas and most active streams
• For candidates targeting a PNP nomination, the increased allocations mean more nominations are available — but not necessarily that individual streams are less competitive, as interest from candidates has also grown
Which Provinces Are Most Active in 2026 and How to Target Them
For candidates pursuing a provincial nomination as their Express Entry strategy, identifying the provinces most actively issuing nominations and aligning with their specific priorities is the critical first step. In Q2 2026, the most active Express Entry-linked PNP activity is concentrated in:
• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): The Human Capital Priority stream draws from the Express Entry pool for candidates with CRS scores in specific ranges for in-demand occupations. OINP also has employer-specific and graduate streams. Ontario is the largest nomination-issuing province and its draws affect the pool composition most significantly
• British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP): The Skills Immigration and BC PNP Tech streams use BC’s own registration of interest (ROI) system, with invitations issued based on BC’s scoring grid. The Tech stream fast-tracks technology, healthcare, childcare, and engineering workers. New streams for healthcare and childcare were launched in early 2026
• Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP): The Alberta Express Entry stream targets candidates with strong ties to Alberta — prior work history, employer support, or family connections. Alberta has been actively nominating technology, healthcare, and energy sector workers
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): The International Skilled Worker Express Entry sub-category invites candidates with occupations on Saskatchewan’s in-demand list. SINP processing times dropped to approximately 2-3 weeks in 2026, making it one of the fastest nomination pathways currently available
• Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP): Issues targeted draws for specific in-demand occupations as announced, often healthcare and technology. NSNP draws are less predictable but can offer nominations for candidates in occupations that are not prioritised in larger provinces
• Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador): All operate active PNP programs with lower application volumes than Ontario, BC, and Alberta. For candidates genuinely willing to settle in Atlantic Canada, the nomination prospects are often stronger relative to competition
After Receiving a PNP ITA in Draw 409: Key Steps
Candidates who received an ITA in Draw 409 have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. In addition to standard Express Entry documentation, PNP-specific requirements include:
• Provincial nomination certificate: The formal letter from the nominating province confirming the nominee’s name, NOC code, and nominated destination. This document is the cornerstone of the application and must be consistent with all other documents
• Intent-to-reside documentation: Under the March 30, 2026 regulatory changes, substantiated evidence of genuine intention to settle in the nominating province carries greater weight. Include employment offer letters in the province, signed lease agreements, family ties documentation, or a detailed settlement plan
• Work experience reference letters: On company letterhead, signed by supervisor or HR, confirming title, NOC code, duties, hours per week, salary, and employment dates for all qualifying experience periods
• 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 Canadian job offer)
• Valid passport
IRCC targets a six-month processing timeline for complete applications. Given the March 30 changes, applications with clear and specific evidence of provincial connections will be better positioned than those relying solely on the nomination certificate and a generic intent declaration.
Frequently Asked Questions
The CRS dropped from 802 to 786. Does this mean future PNP draws will keep falling?
Not necessarily. PNP cut-offs fluctuate based on the composition of the nominated sub-pool at each draw date — they do not follow a predictable trend. The 16-point drop from Draw 406 to Draw 409 reflects a different distribution of nominated candidates in the pool on April 13 compared to March 30. If provinces issue a large batch of nominations in April — particularly Ontario, which holds large OINP Human Capital Priority draws — the next PNP draw could clear at a significantly higher CRS if the incoming nominees tend to have higher base scores. Conversely, if provincial nominations have been slower, the CRS may drop further. The historical 2026 range of 710 to 802 reflects this unpredictability. Planning your immigration strategy around a specific PNP CRS target is unreliable; planning around securing a nomination (which essentially guarantees a PNP ITA regardless of the specific cut-off) is the correct approach.
I received my provincial nomination two months ago but never added it to my Express Entry profile. Is it too late?
It is not too late to add your nomination to your profile, but every day of delay costs you. When you add your nomination, your profile’s tie-breaking timestamp for PNP draw purposes remains your original profile submission date — adding the nomination does not reset the clock. Your total CRS immediately increases by 600 points upon adding the nomination. However, any PNP draws that occurred between your nomination date and today have already passed without you being eligible. The practical advice is: add the nomination to your profile today, not next week. With PNP draws occurring approximately every two weeks, a two-week delay in adding your nomination can mean missing an entire draw cycle. Log into your IRCC account and update your Express Entry profile with the nomination details as soon as you receive the nomination certificate.
I have a nomination from Nova Scotia but am currently living in Ontario. Can I still use the nomination for Express Entry?
Yes — you can use the Nova Scotia nomination for Express Entry, but your stated intention must be to genuinely settle in Nova Scotia. Under the March 30, 2026 regulatory changes, Nova Scotia now has primary authority to assess your intent to reside. If your application does not substantiate genuine provincial ties — a job, housing, family connections, or a credible settlement plan in Nova Scotia — the provincial assessment under the new framework may raise concerns. Living in Ontario while holding a Nova Scotia nomination is not per se disqualifying; candidates often live in one province while building a profile for another. What matters is that your stated intent to settle in Nova Scotia is genuine and supported by concrete evidence. If your intention is to settle permanently in Ontario regardless of the Nova Scotia nomination, using the nomination is a misrepresentation — which carries serious immigration consequences.
My provincial nomination was issued under an employer-specific stream with a condition that I work for the nominating employer for 2 years. I lost that job after 6 months. What happens to my PR application?
This is a serious and nuanced situation that warrants immediate consultation with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. The consequences depend on several factors: whether you have already submitted your PR application, the specific terms of your provincial nomination, and the province’s compliance monitoring practices. In general terms: if your PR application has been submitted and is in processing, a change in employment does not automatically invalidate the application, but IRCC may request updated employment information before finalising the decision. If your nomination has conditions that your province monitors, the province may contact you or your former employer and discover the change. Some provinces may consider withdrawing the nomination in this scenario, which would result in a refusal of the PR application. The key actions are: notify your immigration consultant immediately, review the specific conditions of your nomination, and consider proactively informing both the province and IRCC of the employment change with an explanation. Volunteering this information is generally viewed more favourably than having it discovered during compliance checks.
Does the 31% increase in provincial nomination allocations for 2026 mean it is easier to get nominated this year?
Not necessarily. The 31% increase in allocations means provinces have more nomination spots in total — but the number of candidates seeking nominations has also grown, and provinces have not uniformly expanded all of their streams proportionally. The increase is distributed unevenly: some provinces and streams received larger allocation bumps than others. Ontario’s OINP, for example, received a significant allocation increase that has translated into more frequent Human Capital Priority draws and higher nomination volumes. Alberta and Saskatchewan have also seen increased activity. However, in popular streams with high demand — such as BC PNP Tech for technology workers or OINP’s Human Capital Priority — the competition for nominations remains intense and the gap between the allocation increase and the demand increase may not make individual streams meaningfully easier to access. The practical takeaway is: track the specific streams you are targeting and monitor their draw dates and score requirements, rather than assuming the overall allocation increase translates directly to your particular occupation and province.
No general all-program draw has been held in 2026 at all. Should I still submit an Express Entry profile without a provincial nomination or specific category?
Yes, absolutely. There are several strong reasons to maintain an active Express Entry profile even without a nomination or specific category eligibility. First, IRCC has not announced that general draws have been permanently discontinued — the absence of a 2026 general draw reflects strategic choices for this year, not a permanent policy change. A general draw could be announced and held at any time. Second, your profile submission date is established the moment you enter the pool — earlier entry means better tie-breaking position for any draw that eventually reaches your CRS score, general or category-specific. Third, many category-based draws (CEC, French, Healthcare, Trades) do not require any additional application; if your Express Entry profile is in the pool and you are eligible for the category, you simply receive the ITA automatically. Being in the pool is the prerequisite for all draw types. The cost of maintaining an active profile is zero; the cost of missing a draw because you were not in the pool is potentially months or years of delay.
The Bottom Line
Express Entry Draw 409 issued 324 ITAs to provincial nominees at a CRS of 786 on April 13, 2026 — the eighth PNP draw and twenty-first Express Entry draw of the year. The 16-point CRS drop from Draw 406 (802 to 786) reflects a natural reduction in the effective base score requirement as the nominated sub-pool thins. The 324 ITA count — the smallest PNP draw of 2026 — signals that the pool of nominated candidates currently in Express Entry is at its lowest point this year, consistent with the gradual clearing of nominations that entered the pool through Q1.
The draw arrives against the backdrop of two important structural developments: the March 30 regulatory change that gives provinces more authority over intent-to-reside assessments, and the 31% increase in provincial nomination allocations that is expanding the total volume of nominations provinces can issue in 2026. Together, these factors suggest that PNP draws will continue to be a regular feature of Q2 2026, with the ITA volume in upcoming rounds depending on how quickly the new allocation quota translates into actual nominations entering the Express Entry pool.
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 clearly demonstrate the genuine provincial connections that carry increasing weight under the 2026 regulatory framework. Whether you are pursuing a provincial nomination for the first time, have recently received a nomination, or received an ITA in Draw 409, the Earnest Immigration team is here to guide you. Contact us today for a comprehensive profile assessment.
