August 31, 2026 Express Entry Draw: 562 PNP Invitations, CRS 697

On August 31, 2026, a new Express Entry draw issued 562 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The cut-off Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 697. This draw specifically targeted candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Latest round details

The CRS score distribution of candidates in the pool is current as of August 30, 2026.

Why the CRS cut-off is 697

A provincial nomination adds 600 points to a candidate's CRS score. A PNP-specific round only invites candidates who already hold a provincial nomination.

This requirement is why the cut-off is far higher than in general draws. The 697 figure reflects that 600-point addition on top of the candidate's base score. It does not mean applicants need a 697 base score.

How PNP rounds work

Express Entry runs three round types. These are general, program-specific, and category-based rounds. This was a program-specific round limited to PNP-eligible candidates.

To enter the PNP stream, a candidate must first receive a nomination from a province or territory. They must accept this nomination in their Express Entry profile to receive the 600 points.

What the tie-breaking rule means

If more than one candidate has the lowest CRS score (697), the cut-off is applied by profile submission date and time.

Anyone at 697 who submitted before April 12, 2026 at 04:32:26 UTC was invited. Those who submitted after this exact time were not.

What happens next for invited candidates

The statistic "invitations issued: 562" means these candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA). They now have a limited window to submit a complete permanent residence application.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Readers should consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer about their own specific situation.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html

What This Data Tells Us

The 697 is the lowest a PNP round has reached this year, and the reason is supply rather than competition. Fewer nominated candidates were sitting above the line, so IRCC reached further down to fill 562 spots.

Read with the 600 nomination points removed, the number describes a base score near 97. That is a modest profile by any measure, and it shows what a nomination actually does to a ranking.

The tie-breaking timestamp of April 12, 2026 is worth noting. Candidates sitting exactly at 697 had profiles more than four months old, so an earlier submission separated otherwise identical candidates at the cut-off.

PNP cut-offs have moved steadily downward through 2026, from the high 700s and low 800s in the spring to 708 in July and 697 now. That direction reflects the mix of nominations provinces are issuing rather than any change in federal standards.

For candidates without a nomination, the conclusion is unchanged. A provincial stream matching your occupation moves your position further than any realistic gain in language results or education.