On September 28, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held an Express Entry draw exclusively for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. The round issued 733 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 725. According to CIC News, this was the largest PNP invitation round since late June 2026.
For anyone pursuing permanent residence through a province, including Manitoba, this draw shows how IRCC is allocating invitations in 2026. Below, we set out the draw details, place them in the context of the 57 draws held so far this year, and explain what they mean in practice.
Key details of the September 28, 2026 draw
Date: September 28, 2026
Category: Provincial Nominee Program
Invitations issued: 733
Minimum CRS: 725
Tie-breaking rule: profiles created before 1:36 a.m. UTC on September 17, 2026
The previous PNP draw, on September 14, 2026, issued 576 invitations at a cutoff of 734. The latest round was 157 invitations larger, with a cutoff 9 points lower.
Why PNP cutoffs are always above 700
Candidates who receive an Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) provincial nomination receive 600 additional CRS points. A cutoff of 725 therefore corresponds to roughly 125 core CRS points plus the 600-point nomination.
In practice, in PNP-specific draws the deciding factor is whether a candidate holds a nomination, not the size of their core score. The real competition takes place at the provincial level, where each province applies its own criteria and scoring system.
Note that not every provincial nomination runs through Express Entry. "Base" nominations are processed outside Express Entry, do not add 600 points, and are not part of these draws.
57 Express Entry draws in 2026
As of September 28, 2026, IRCC has held 57 draws and issued 129,715 ITAs this year:
What the numbers show:
The PNP category has the most draws (19) but only about 7% of total invitations, an average of roughly 488 ITAs per draw.
CEC and French-language draws together account for about 80% of all invitations. The most recent CEC draw (September 15, 2026) issued 2,000 ITAs at a cutoff of 519.
As CIC News notes, candidates with Canadian connections (Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination) continue to feature prominently in 2026 selections.
What this means for Vietnamese applicants
Most Vietnamese candidates do not have French-language ability, which leaves two main routes to an ITA:
CEC: at least one year (1,560 hours) of skilled Canadian work experience and a competitive CRS score. Recent CEC cutoffs have been above 500.
PNP: a provincial nomination. Once an enhanced nomination is added, the core CRS score is no longer the main barrier.
For candidates with core scores between roughly 350 and 480, which is common among recent graduates and workers with limited Canadian experience, the PNP route is often the more realistic option compared with waiting for a CEC cutoff to come within reach.
The Manitoba connection
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) operates the Skilled Worker in Manitoba, Skilled Worker Overseas and International Education streams. Some nominations can be Express Entry-aligned, placing those candidates in PNP draws such as the September 28 round. The process has two stages:
Provincial: submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA), apply, and receive a nomination.
Federal: for enhanced nominations, accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile, receive 600 points, and wait for the next PNP draw.
Practical steps
Keep your Express Entry profile active. Profiles are valid for 12 months; creating a new one resets your position under the tie-breaking rule.
Confirm your stream. Check whether the MPNP stream you qualify for is Express Entry-aligned.
Accept your nomination promptly in your IRCC account so the points apply before the next draw.
Prepare documents early. After an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete application, including police certificates, medical exams, and proof of funds where required.
Track both stages. Manitoba EOI cutoffs and Express Entry CRS cutoffs are separate figures with different meanings.
Conclusion
The September 28, 2026 draw of 733 ITAs at a cutoff of 725 shows that IRCC continues to hold regular PNP draws in 2026. By total volume, however, PNP remains a small share compared with CEC and French-language selections. For applicants without French, understanding how provincial nominations connect to Express Entry is central to planning a path to permanent residence.
To better understand Manitoba provincial nomination and which options fit your specific profile, contact Nonsuch Immigration directly via Zalo 0946 749 585 or WhatsApp 204 963 9288.
Sources: IRCC, CIC News (September 28, 2026).
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