First June Express Entry Draw: 955 PNP Candidates Invited

Canada has conducted its first Express Entry draw of June. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 955 Provincial Nominee Program candidates to apply for permanent residence.

First Express Entry Draw of June Targets PNP Candidates

This marks the first round of invitations for the month of June. IRCC targeted candidates specifically under the Provincial Nominee Program. The department set the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score at 730 for this round.

IRCC holds different types of rounds of invitations throughout the year. For program-specific rounds, they invite top-ranking candidates who are eligible for a specific Express Entry program. Because they held a round specifically for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), they only invited candidates eligible for the PNP.

The government will continue to invite candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination through general and Provincial Nominee Program-specific rounds.

Tie-Breaking Rule Applied

IRCC applies specific rules to manage the candidate pool. The official tie-breaking rule for this draw was set to March 09, 2026 at 01:02:28 UTC.

If more than one candidate has the lowest score of 730, a cut-off applies. This cut-off is based on the exact date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles. The system ranks these candidates accordingly to distribute the invitations.

During these rounds, IRCC identifies the highest-ranking candidates from the pool. They select those eligible for the chosen round type. They then invite these candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Source: https://www.cicnews.com/2026/06/provincial-nominees-receive-invitations-in-first-express-entry-draw-since-may-0676084.html

What This Data Tells Us

Nine hundred fifty-five invitations is a large round by PNP standards, and the size explains the score. When more nominations have accumulated between draws, IRCC reaches deeper into the group and the cut-off settles lower.

The 730 carries 600 nomination points inside it, which places the lowest-ranked invited candidate near a base score of 130. Compared against any CEC round this year, that is a modest profile receiving a far higher number.

The tie-breaking timestamp of March 9, 2026 is worth noting. Candidates sitting exactly at 730 had profiles roughly three months old, so an earlier submission separated otherwise identical candidates.

Opening June with a PNP round after a quiet stretch also fits the pattern of 2026. Provincial nominees and candidates with Canadian work experience have absorbed the large majority of invitations this year.

For candidates without a nomination, the practical move is a provincial stream that matches your occupation and experience. No realistic gain in language results or education comes close to what a nomination delivers.

Update on French-Language Proficiency Draw

IRCC shared a critical update regarding a previous Express Entry round. The department has resolved an issue affecting invitations for the Express Entry French-language proficiency round (#418, May 28, 2026).

If candidates were eligible for that specific round, they should now have been invited. The government invites candidates from the pool to apply in rounds throughout the year. They choose them based on points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).