Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its second Express Entry draw of May 2026 on May 25, issuing 334 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The latest draw invited candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 805 or higher, making it the highest PNP cutoff recorded so far in 2026.
The draw also marked one of the smallest PNP invitation rounds this year, continuing a trend of reduced invitation volumes and higher CRS thresholds.
Meanwhile, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates are still waiting for broader Express Entry activity to resume, as IRCC has now conducted two consecutive PNP-only draws in May without any CEC, French-language, or occupation-based category selections.
Express Entry Draw Results – May 25, 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program | Provincial Nominee Program |
| Draw Date | May 25, 2026 |
| Invitations Issued | 334 |
| Minimum CRS Score | 805 |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | October 16, 2025 at 18:16:33 UTC |
The tie-breaking rule applied to candidates who had exactly 805 CRS points.
Only applicants who submitted their Express Entry profiles before October 16, 2025 at 18:16:33 UTC received invitations in this round.
Why The PNP CRS Cutoff Increased To 805
Candidates nominated through a provincial program automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points in the Express Entry system.
A cutoff of 805 means the lowest-ranked invited candidate likely had a base CRS score of around 205 before receiving the provincial nomination boost.
The previous PNP draw on May 11 issued 380 invitations with a CRS cutoff of 798. The latest round saw both a higher cutoff and fewer invitations issued.
This suggests fewer new provincial nominations entered the Express Entry pool between draws, forcing IRCC to invite a smaller group of higher-ranking candidates.
Ontario’s upcoming OINP restructuring scheduled for May 30 could also influence future nomination volumes as the province transitions to revised immigration streams.
2026 PNP Express Entry Draw History
| Draw Date | ITAs Issued | CRS Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| January 5, 2026 | 574 | 711 |
| January 19, 2026 | 681 | 726 |
| February 3, 2026 | 423 | 749 |
| February 16, 2026 | 279 | 789 |
| March 2, 2026 | 264 | 710 |
| March 16, 2026 | 350 | 724 |
| March 30, 2026 | 356 | 802 |
| April 13, 2026 | 324 | 786 |
| April 27, 2026 | 473 | 795 |
| May 11, 2026 | 380 | 798 |
| May 25, 2026 | 334 | 805 |
The data shows a steady increase in CRS thresholds throughout 2026, with May producing the two highest PNP cutoffs of the year.
Invitation volumes have also generally declined since January’s peak of 681 invitations.
IRCC Pool Data Appears Unchanged
IRCC’s official draw page currently displays the same CRS score distribution snapshot that appeared during the May 11 draw.
The published pool data is still dated May 10, 2026, suggesting a possible update issue on IRCC’s side rather than an actual freeze in candidate activity.
The Express Entry pool normally changes daily as new profiles enter, invitations are accepted, and existing profiles expire or are withdrawn.
Candidates should continue monitoring IRCC updates for corrected pool data.
Ongoing Pause In CEC And Category-Based Draws
The biggest concern for many Express Entry candidates remains the continued absence of Canadian Experience Class and category-based draws.
IRCC has not conducted a CEC draw since April 28, 2026, when 2,000 invitations were issued with a CRS cutoff of 514.
The last French-language draw took place on April 29, while the most recent occupation-based draw was the Trades category round on April 2.
May 2026 has now produced only PNP draws with no broader Express Entry invitations.
This type of pause has happened before during previous immigration planning periods in 2024 and 2025, before IRCC later resumed category-based and CEC rounds.
However, each week without a CEC draw increases competition in the CRS 501–600 range, which could push future CEC cutoffs even higher.
What Candidates Should Do Next
Candidates invited through the latest PNP draw now have 60 days to submit their permanent residence applications.
Applicants should prepare key documents including:
- Police clearance certificates
- Medical examinations
- Proof of funds
- Employment records
- Valid language test results
CEC candidates with CRS scores between 510 and 520 should keep their profiles active and documentation updated in case draws resume soon.
Candidates below 510 may benefit from exploring category-based eligibility through healthcare, education, trades, or French-language pathways, where CRS requirements have been lower in 2026.
Provincial nomination programs also remain one of the strongest options for applicants struggling to meet rising CEC cutoffs because the 600-point nomination boost significantly improves invitation chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the CRS cutoff in the May 25, 2026 Express Entry draw?
The CRS cutoff was 805 points for the Provincial Nominee Program draw held on May 25, 2026.
Why are PNP CRS scores so high?
Provincial nominees receive an automatic 600-point CRS increase, which pushes overall cutoff scores much higher than standard CEC or category-based draws.
When will the next CEC draw happen?
IRCC has not announced the next CEC draw date. Based on previous years, draws could resume in late May or early June, though category-based rounds may return first.
Why is IRCC only conducting PNP draws?
IRCC has not officially explained the current pause in CEC and category-based invitations. Similar pauses occurred in previous years during immigration planning adjustments.
Why has IRCC pool data not changed?
The current pool snapshot on IRCC’s website still shows May 10, 2026 data, likely due to a technical or refresh delay rather than unchanged candidate activity.
