September 14, 2026 Express Entry Draw: 576 PNP Invitations, CRS 734

On September 14, 2026 at 10:26:01 UTC, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held an Express Entry round of invitations. The department issued 576 invitations to apply for permanent residence to candidates eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program. The cut-off score under the Comprehensive Ranking System was 734.

Candidates required a rank of 576 or above to receive an invitation. The score distribution among candidates in the pool was recorded as of September 13, 2026.

Latest Round Details

The following table details the key figures from the official Ministerial Instructions released for this round.

Why the CRS Cut-Off Is 734

A minimum score of 734 points might look high at first glance. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to a candidate's Comprehensive Ranking System score.

Because this selection invited only candidates eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program, the cut-off is much higher than in general draws. The 734 threshold includes the 600 points from the nomination. It does not mean applicants needed a 734 base score to qualify.

How PNP Rounds Work

Express Entry conducts three distinct types of invitation rounds throughout the year. These categories include general rounds, program-specific rounds, and category-based rounds.

This draw was a program-specific round restricted to candidates eligible for the Provincial Nominee Program. To qualify, an applicant must secure a nomination from a province or territory. Once the applicant accepts that nomination in their Express Entry profile, they receive the additional 600 points.

What the Tie-Breaking Rule Means

A tie-breaking rule applies when multiple candidates have the lowest qualifying score of 734. Under this rule, profile submission times determine who gets an invitation.

The tie-breaking date and time for this round was August 29, 2026 at 21:39:50 UTC. Eligible candidates with a score of 734 who submitted their profile before this timestamp received invitations. Candidates who submitted after this time did not.

What Happens Next for Invited Candidates

A total of 576 candidates received an Invitation to Apply in this draw. They now have a limited window to submit their permanent residence application.

Applicants must gather all required documentation and meet every deadline set by the department. If approved, candidates will receive permanent resident status in Canada.

What This Data Tells Us

The 734 marks a reversal from where PNP rounds had been heading. The August 31 round landed at 697, so a 37-point rise in two weeks reflects who held nominations this time rather than any change in federal standards.

Read with the 600 nomination points removed, the number describes a base score near 134. That remains a modest profile, and it shows why PNP cut-offs cannot be compared against CEC or category-based figures.

Round size moved very little, from 562 to 576, which points to composition rather than volume. The provinces issued nominations to candidates carrying higher base scores this cycle.

The tie-breaking timestamp of August 29, 2026 is unusually recent for a PNP round. Candidates sitting exactly at 734 had profiles roughly two weeks old, which tells you this group entered the pool with nominations already in hand.

For candidates without a nomination, the swing between 697 and 734 makes the same point either way. The number moves with provincial supply, not with anything a candidate in the general pool can influence.

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