The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada authority has now closed the month by marking their draw by a considerable point reduction since The Last Express Entry Draw of August 2026 Issued 562 Invitations with 697 CRS Cutoff was conducted among the target of provincial nominees. The draw was conducted under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) on August 31, 2026, whereby the number of PR invites for Canadian permanent residence was 562. The CRS cutoff score required was less than 700 points at 697 points.
Highlights of Last Express Entry Draw Of August 2026
● Draw Date – August 31, 2026
● Draw Category – Provincial Nominee Program
● Total Invitations Issued – 562
● Minimum CRS Score Required – 697
Explanation of the 697 CRS Cut-off Score
The CRS cut-off score of 697 is the lowest cut off score ever observed in all 17 PNP draws held during the year 2026, beating out the previous record of 708 points established on July 6. Since any candidate who receives an enhanced nomination from a Canadian province or territory gets 600 extra points added to his/her profile, deduction of the nomination bonus means that the cut-off human capital score was as low as 97 for this round of draw. The human capital points include such aspects as age, education, language and work experience.
Comparison of the Recent August 2026 Express Entry PNP Draws
The following table illustrates how the draw on August 31 differs from the two previous PNP specific draws.
| Metric | August 4, 2026 PNP Draw | August 17, 2026 PNP Draw | August 31, 2026 PNP Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw Number | #431 | #435 | #438 |
| Invitations Issued | 507 | 442 | 562 |
| CRS Cutoff Score | 768 | 760 | 697 |
| Score Shift | — | -8 points | -63 points |
| Tie-Breaking Date | May 15, 2026 | August 7, 2026 | April 12, 2026 |
A 27% growth in the number of Invitations to Apply (from 442 to 562) made it possible for IRCC to invite a larger pool of PNP candidates, resulting in a decrease of the cut-off score by 63 points.
What Provincial Nominee Candidates Should Do Now
Candidates selected from the last express entry draw held in August 2026 that issued ITAs with 697 CRS cut-off issued 562 invitations have exactly 60 days to prepare and file their online application for permanent residence. The crucial actions required from the selected candidates are –
1. Confirm Provincial Nomination
Confirm that the nomination certificate from the province under which you are selected is still valid.
2. Medical & Police Check
Arrange for an upfront medical examination through the designated panel physician and police clearance documents for all the countries where you have lived for 6+ months after 18 years of age.
3. Submit Employment & Language Test Scores
Provide the official reference letter, payslip, taxes, and original copies of language test scores as claimed in your profile.
For candidates who are already sitting in the pool but have no nomination
● Research Active Provincial Nominations-Investigating advanced PNP streams such as the Ontario OINP, Alberta AAIP, BC PNP, or Manitoba MPNP is by far the most dependable approach for gaining 600 extra points and thus an automatic selection.