## Key takeaways
– IRCC held Express Entry draw #451 on October 26, 2026, for the Provincial Nominee Program.
– 792 candidates received invitations to apply for permanent residence.
– The minimum CRS score was 761, down 11 points from the October 13 PNP draw.
– The tie-breaking rule was April 3, 2026 at 18:00:26 UTC.
– The round was held at 10:38:23 UTC on October 26, 2026.
## What happened
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted Express Entry invitation round #451 on October 26, 2026. The round was limited to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program, meaning every invited candidate already held a provincial or territorial nomination linked to their Express Entry profile. IRCC issued 792 invitations to apply, and the lowest-ranked candidate invited had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 761.
## How the tie-break worked
When more than one candidate shares the lowest score in a round, IRCC uses the date and time the Express Entry profile was submitted as the tie-breaker. For draw #451, candidates with exactly 761 points were invited only if their profile had been submitted before April 3, 2026 at 18:00:26 UTC. Candidates with scores above 761 were not affected by the tie-break.
## What it means for candidates
PNP draws always show much higher cut-offs than other Express Entry rounds, and that is expected: a provincial nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score. The 761 cut-off therefore reflects the nomination bonus, not a higher bar on the candidate’s own core factors. Compared with the previous PNP round on October 13, 2026, which invited 752 candidates at a minimum of 772, this round invited 40 more people and lowered the cut-off by 11 points. That modest easing is good news for nominated candidates waiting in the pool, although a single round never guarantees how the next one will go.
## What invited candidates should do next
An invitation to apply is an opportunity to submit a complete permanent residence application, not an approval. Invited candidates should check the deadline and document instructions in their IRCC account, gather supporting documents such as police certificates and medical exam results, and submit a complete application within the window IRCC sets. Candidates who were not invited remain in the pool and may be considered in future rounds if their profile is still valid.
## Frequently asked questions
Q: What was Express Entry draw #451?
A: Draw #451 was a Provincial Nominee Program round held on October 26, 2026. IRCC invited 792 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 761.
Q: Why is the PNP cut-off so high at 761?
A: A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Every candidate in a PNP round already carries that bonus, so cut-offs in the 700s are normal for this round type and cannot be compared directly with CEC or French-language rounds.
Q: What was the tie-break for draw #451?
A: The tie-breaking rule was April 3, 2026 at 18:00:26 UTC. It applied only to candidates with exactly 761 points.
Q: How does draw #451 compare with the previous PNP draw?
A: The October 13 PNP draw invited 752 candidates at a minimum CRS of 772. Draw #451 invited 792 candidates at 761, which is 40 more invitations and 11 points lower.
For help checking your eligibility or preparing your application, contact ImmiQuest Immigration at +1 778-855-4155, info@immiquest.ca, or https://immiquest.ca. Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710