IMMERGITY
IRCC held Express Entry Draw #406 on March 30, 2026 — a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw issuing 356 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a minimum CRS score of 802. This is exclusively for candidates who already hold a valid provincial nomination, which adds 600 points to their CRS score automatically.
If you don't yet have a provincial nomination, a CRS of 802 is not your target — it only applies to nominated candidates. Check your actual program eligibility with the free IMMERGITY Eligibility Assessment to see which stream you should be targeting.
Draw #406 — Key Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Draw number | #406 |
| Date | March 30, 2026 |
| Draw type | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| Minimum CRS score | 802 |
| Invitations issued | 356 |
| Tie-breaking rule | Profile submission date and time |
What Is a PNP Draw? Why Is the CRS So High?
A PNP-specific Express Entry draw only invites candidates who already hold a valid provincial nomination. When a province nominates you, IRCC automatically adds 600 CRS points to your score. That's why the cutoff appears so high — 802 means the base score of those candidates (before the nomination boost) was around 200, which is very accessible for most applicants.
If you're not nominated yet, 802 is not your number. Your target is the cutoff in an all-program or category-based draw — typically ranging from 470 to 550 in recent rounds. Use the CRS Simulator to see exactly where your score stands against recent draw cutoffs and what you need to reach an ITA.
Recent PNP Draw History — 2026
| Draw | Date | CRS Cutoff | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| #406 | March 30, 2026 | 802 | 356 |
| #403 | March 16, 2026 | — | 362 |
| #399 | March 2, 2026 | — | 264 |
| #395 | February 16, 2026 | — | 279 |
| #393 | February 3, 2026 | — | 423 |
PNP draws are smaller and more frequent than all-program draws. The volume of 356 ITAs is consistent with recent PNP rounds. For the full 2026 draw history, see the complete Express Entry draw results 2026 tracker.
How to Get a Provincial Nomination — Your Options
There are two ways to get a PNP nomination that feeds into Express Entry:
- Enhanced PNP streams — provinces nominate candidates directly from the Express Entry pool based on occupation, education, or ties to the province. You need an active Express Entry profile first. Use the PNP Program Finder to see which provinces are targeting your occupation right now.
- Base PNP streams — provinces have their own separate streams outside Express Entry. A nomination from these streams can be used to create or boost an Express Entry profile. Processing is slower but CRS requirements are lower.
Ontario (OINP), BC (BC PNP), Alberta (AINP), and Saskatchewan (SINP) are the most active provinces for Express Entry-linked nominations in 2026. Check the full breakdown in the Ontario PNP 2026 guide and the provincial comparison guide.
What To Do Right Now
- Don't have a nomination yet? Use the PNP Program Finder to identify which provincial streams match your profile — occupation, education, language scores, and work experience.
- Check your base CRS score: Use the Eligibility Assessment to get your full CRS score and see whether you qualify for an all-program draw without a nomination.
- Model your improvement scenarios: Use the CRS Simulator to see exactly what combination of language improvement, education, or work experience would get you to a competitive score.
- Already nominated? Make sure your Express Entry profile is active and up to date — IRCC cannot send you an ITA if your profile has expired or contains errors.
RCIC Take — What Draw #406 Signals
PNP draws in the 350–400 ITA range are consistent with IRCC's 2026 pattern of running smaller, targeted draws alongside larger all-program and category rounds. The March 30 date suggests IRCC held a quick PNP round to clear the nomination queue before the end of the month.
The next draw is likely in early April — either another category draw (French language proficiency and Canadian Experience Class have been alternating) or another all-program round. Candidates with scores in the 490–530 range should be positioned for an ITA in Q2 2026 if current trends hold.
Use the PR Masterplan to get a personalized projected ITA date based on your specific profile. And if you want to understand exactly how to close your CRS gap before the next draw, the free Eligibility Assessment is the place to start. — IMMERGITY Immigration Consultant, Mississauga. CICC R705848.