Canada’s latest Express Entry draw #438 took place on August 31, 2026, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issuing 562 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in the draw was 697. Candidates at the cut-off score were subject to a tie-breaking rule based on the date and time their Express Entry profiles were submitted.
The latest round was Express Entry Draw #438 and was specifically for candidates eligible under the Provincial Nominee Program. This means the draw did not invite candidates from all Express Entry programs.
For prospective permanent residents, the result provides the latest snapshot of Canada’s Express Entry selection system and highlights the importance of a provincial nomination for candidates seeking an ITA through a PNP-specific round.
Latest Express Entry Draw #438 Results
The key details of the August 31 Express Entry draw are:
| Express Entry draw detail | Latest result |
| Draw number | 438 |
| Draw date | August 31, 2026 |
| Draw type | Provincial Nominee Program |
| Invitations issued | 562 |
| Minimum CRS score | 697 |
| Rank required | 562 or above |
| Tie-breaking date | April 12, 2026 |
| Tie-breaking time | 4:32:26 UTC |
IRCC uses the CRS to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool. The cut-off score represents the score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in that particular round.
What Happened in the Latest Express Entry Draw?
In Express Entry Draw #438, IRCC selected candidates who had a provincial or territorial nomination and met the requirements for the PNP-specific round.
A total of 562 candidates received ITAs, with the lowest CRS score among invited candidates set at 697.
The latest result should not be interpreted as a general Express Entry cut-off of 697.
Express Entry has different types of invitation rounds, and the CRS requirement can vary significantly depending on the type of draw. IRCC may conduct general, program-specific or category-based rounds.
Why Was the CRS Cut-Off 697?
The CRS cut-off is determined by the candidates selected for a particular round and the number of invitations IRCC intends to issue.
In a PNP-specific round, only candidates who are eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program are considered.
A provincial nomination can provide 600 additional CRS points, which is why PNP-specific Express Entry draws typically have much higher CRS cut-offs than some category-based rounds. IRCC confirms that candidates nominated through a province or territory receive additional CRS points and can then be invited through Express Entry.
Therefore, a CRS score of 697 in this draw should not be compared directly with the CRS cut-off in a French-language, healthcare, trades or Canadian Experience Class draw.
What is the Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry Stream?
The Provincial Nominee Program allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals who have the skills, education and work experience needed in their local economies.
For an Express Entry-linked PNP pathway, a candidate must first be eligible for an applicable provincial or territorial nomination process.
Once nominated, the candidate can receive additional CRS points in the Express Entry system.
IRCC explains that candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination can be invited through PNP-specific rounds.
However, provincial nomination and permanent residence approval are separate stages. Receiving a nomination does not itself mean that an applicant has become a permanent resident.
What Does a CRS Score of 697 Mean for Express Entry Candidates?
The 697 CRS cut-off applies only to this specific PNP draw.
Candidates who do not have a provincial nomination should not assume that they needed 697 CRS points to participate in Express Entry or that they require 697 points for every future draw.
Different Express Entry rounds target different groups.
For example, recent 2026 rounds have included:
- Provincial Nominee Program candidates
- Canadian Experience Class candidates
- French-language proficiency candidates
- Transport occupation candidates
The CRS threshold varies according to the draw type, number of invitations and eligible candidates in the pool.
How Does the Tie-Breaking Rule Work?
IRCC uses a tie-breaking rule when multiple candidates have the same CRS score as the lowest-ranked candidate invited.
For the August 31 draw, the tie-breaking date and time was:
April 12, 2026, at 4:32:26 UTC.
This means candidates who had a CRS score of 697 needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before the specified tie-breaking date and time to be included in the invitation round.
The tie-breaking rule does not lower the CRS requirement. Instead, it determines which candidates with the same lowest score are invited when the number of eligible candidates exceeds the number of available ITAs.
What Happens After Receiving an Express Entry ITA?
Receiving an Invitation to Apply is an important step, but it is not the same as receiving permanent residence.
Candidates who receive an ITA must submit their permanent residence application through the Express Entry system within the applicable deadline.
IRCC states that an Express Entry ITA is valid for 60 calendar days. Applicants must complete their application and submit the required documents within that period.
Candidates should also make sure that the information in their application matches the information in their Express Entry profile.
If a candidate’s circumstances have changed and their CRS score is lower than the cut-off for the round, IRCC advises that they should recalculate their score before applying. In certain circumstances, applying with a score below the required cut-off can result in refusal.
Does an ITA Guarantee Permanent Residence?
No.
An ITA gives an eligible candidate the opportunity to submit a permanent residence application. It does not guarantee approval.
After receiving an ITA, the applicant must submit a complete application and provide the required supporting documents.
IRCC will then assess the application according to the applicable immigration requirements.
Applicants should therefore treat the ITA as an invitation to apply, rather than as confirmation that permanent residence has already been approved.
What Should Candidates Do After the Latest Express Entry Draw?
Candidates who received an ITA should begin preparing their permanent residence application immediately.
Important steps include:
Review Your Express Entry Profile
Check that the information in the profile remains accurate and that your personal circumstances have not changed in a way that affects your CRS score or program eligibility.
Gather Supporting Documents
Applicants may need documents relating to identity, work experience, education, language testing, police certificates and other applicable requirements.
The exact documents depend on the applicant’s circumstances and the program under which they are applying.
Confirm Your CRS Score
If anything has changed since the Express Entry profile was submitted, the candidate should recalculate their CRS score.
Changes to factors such as language results, employment or provincial nomination can affect the score.
Submit the Application Within 60 Days
IRCC states that an ITA is valid for 60 calendar days. Candidates should not wait until the final days to begin preparing their application.
What If You Did Not Receive an ITA?
Candidates who were not invited in this round can remain in the Express Entry pool if their profile is still valid and they continue to meet the applicable requirements.
The CRS cut-off changes from one draw to another.
Candidates can also review whether they are eligible for additional CRS points or another Express Entry category.
Potential ways to improve a profile may include improving language test results, gaining additional eligible work experience, pursuing education where relevant or obtaining a provincial nomination, depending on the candidate’s circumstances.
However, candidates should not make major immigration decisions based solely on the CRS cut-off from one draw.
Express Entry categories in 2026
IRCC’s current category-based selection framework includes categories such as:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- STEM occupations
- Trade occupations
- Education occupations
- Transport occupations
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
Category-based draws are separate from PNP-specific rounds.
To receive an invitation through a category-based round, candidates must first meet the minimum requirements for one of the Express Entry programs and then meet the requirements established for the specific category.
How the Latest Express Entry Draw Compares With Recent Rounds
The August 31 draw followed several other Express Entry rounds in August.
| Date | Draw type | ITAs | CRS cut-off |
| August 31, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 562 | 697 |
| August 19, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 382 |
| August 18, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 523 |
| August 17, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 442 | 760 |
| August 7, 2026 | Transport occupations | 300 | 470 |
These results demonstrate why there is no single CRS score for Express Entry.
The required score depends on the type of invitation round and the candidates eligible for that round.
What Does the Latest Express Entry Draw Mean for Applicants?
The latest Express Entry draw reinforces the importance of understanding which draw category applies to your profile.
A candidate with a provincial nomination was eligible for the August 31 PNP-specific round, while candidates without a nomination would need to qualify for another applicable Express Entry round.
The 697 CRS cut-off therefore should not be used as a universal benchmark for all Express Entry candidates.
For prospective immigrants, the most useful approach is to assess eligibility for the relevant Express Entry program or category, calculate the CRS accurately and monitor official IRCC invitation rounds.
Latest Express Entry Draw: Key Takeaways
The latest Express Entry draw took place on August 31, 2026.
IRCC issued:
- 562 Invitations to Apply
- 697 minimum CRS score
- Provincial Nominee Program selection
- Draw #438
- April 12, 2026, at 4:32:26 UTC tie-breaking rule
The 697 cut-off applies specifically to this PNP draw and should not be considered a general Express Entry CRS requirement.
Candidates who received an ITA should review their information, prepare their supporting documents and submit their permanent residence application within the applicable 60-day period.
For candidates who were not invited, the result is a reminder that Express Entry selection depends on the type of draw, CRS ranking and eligibility requirements. The next invitation round may have different criteria and a different CRS cut-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
The latest Express Entry draw was held on August 31, 2026. IRCC issued 562 ITAs through a Provincial Nominee Program-specific draw, with a CRS cut-off of 697.
The minimum CRS score was 697. This score applied specifically to the PNP draw and is not a universal CRS requirement for Express Entry.
IRCC issued 562 Invitations to Apply to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 31, 2026.
No. Express Entry has different types of draws, including program-specific and category-based rounds. Each round can have its own CRS cut-off.
Review your profile and CRS score, gather the required supporting documents and submit your permanent residence application within 60 calendar days of receiving the ITA.