June 2026: 43 Draws, 16,012 Invitations

June 2026 was a highly active month for Canadian immigration, with a total of 43 draws issued and 16,012 invitations to apply (ITAs) extended to candidates across the country. The month featured 4 federal Express Entry draws and 39 provincial nominee program (PNP) draws, spanning programs from British Columbia to Quebec and New Brunswick. Among the largest single draws were the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class draw (#420) with 4,000 invitations at a CRS of 516, and the Express Entry Healthcare Occupations draw (#422) with another 4,000 invitations at a CRS of 475. Quebec's PSTQ (Arrima) program also contributed significantly, with Stream 1 alone issuing 1,094 invitations. Alberta's AAIP remained one of the most prolific provincial programs of the month, running multiple targeted draws across a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, health care, agriculture, aviation, tourism, and tech. The overarching trend for June was a strong focus on in-demand occupations — particularly health care and skilled trades — alongside robust provincial activity designed to address regional labour market needs.

Express Entry Highlights

June 2026 produced four federal Express Entry draws, collectively issuing 9,226 invitations. The month opened its federal activity with draw #419 on June 22, a Provincial Nominee Program-specific round that invited 955 candidates at a CRS score of 730. The following day, draw #420 — a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw — issued 4,000 invitations at a CRS cutoff of 516, representing a significant opportunity for candidates with Canadian work experience. On June 24, a targeted draw for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience (#421) invited 271 candidates at a notably accessible CRS of 223, reflecting ongoing federal efforts to address physician shortages. Rounding out the month, draw #422 on June 25 was dedicated to Healthcare Occupations and invited 4,000 candidates at a CRS of 475, signalling continued federal prioritization of healthcare workers. The CRS scores across these draws ranged from 223 (Physicians) to 730 (PNP), illustrating how category-based and stream-specific draws can create very different entry thresholds for different candidate profiles.

Provincial Nominee Program Highlights

Provincial programs were the dominant force in June 2026, accounting for 39 of the month's 43 draws. Alberta's AAIP was the most active single provincial program, running draws across multiple streams including the Alberta Opportunity Stream (June 5 at CRS 50 with 462 invitations, and June 17 at CRS 58 with 720 invitations), the Alberta Express Entry Stream targeting Priority Sectors such as Manufacturing, Health Care, Agriculture, and Aviation, and specialized pathways like the Dedicated Health Care Pathway and the Tourism and Hospitality Stream. British Columbia's PNP held two rounds of draws (June 2 and June 30), covering Regional, Base, Build (Construction Trades), Care (Veterinary, Health, and Childcare), and Innovate (High Economic Impact) streams, with CRS scores ranging from 92 to 136. Quebec's PSTQ (Arrima) issued draws across all four streams on June 4, with CRS scores ranging from 562 (Stream 3) to 677 (Stream 1) and a combined total of 2,549 invitations. New Brunswick ran five separate INNB draws on June 3–4, covering the Atlantic Immigration Program, New Brunswick Experience, Francophone worker initiatives, Graduates, and Express Entry streams. Manitoba's MPNP held two Skilled Worker Stream draws (#272 on June 4 with 104 invitations and #273 on June 18 with 124 invitations). Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador each conducted a single provincial draw, issuing 531, 182, and 108 invitations respectively.

What the Numbers Mean for Applicants

June's draw activity offers several important takeaways for prospective applicants navigating Canada's immigration landscape. The diversity of draw types — from general CEC rounds to highly targeted sector-specific provincial streams — means candidates at virtually every CRS score level may have viable pathways available to them.

• If your CRS score is below 500, provincial nominee programs remain your most strategic option. Alberta's Opportunity Stream and many BC PNP Care streams had CRS cutoffs as low as 50–117 in June, making them accessible to a wide range of candidates.
• Healthcare professionals should take particular note of June's activity: between federal Healthcare Occupations and Physician draws and multiple provincial health-focused streams in Alberta and BC, the demand for medical workers at every level is clearly reflected in invitation volumes.
• Candidates in skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology should actively explore Alberta AAIP and BC PNP Build/Innovate streams, where sector-specific draws issued invitations at competitive CRS thresholds throughout the month.

Outlook for Next Month

Based on the patterns observed in June 2026, July is expected to maintain strong draw activity across both federal and provincial programs. Alberta's AAIP has demonstrated a consistent cadence of bi-weekly or more frequent draws across its various streams and will likely continue targeting priority sectors. BC PNP's end-of-month draws on June 30 suggest another round of invitations is due in mid-to-late July. Federal Express Entry draws focusing on healthcare and Canadian experience categories are anticipated to continue, particularly as Canada pushes toward its immigration targets. Candidates should also watch for potential new MPNP draws, additional Quebec Arrima rounds, and any announcements from provinces that drew only once in June. Summer is traditionally a busy period for immigration processing, and applicants are advised to ensure their profiles and documents are fully up to date before the next wave of draws begins.

Take Action Now

June 2026 demonstrated that Canada's immigration system is actively welcoming skilled workers across dozens of pathways. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a skilled tradesperson, a tech worker, or a recent graduate, there is likely a stream designed for your profile. Ready to move forward?

• Update your Express Entry profile immediately to reflect your most current CRS-boosting factors, including language test scores, Canadian job offers, and educational credentials.
• Research which provincial streams align with your occupation, language ability, and regional ties — particularly Alberta AAIP, BC PNP Care and Build streams, and New Brunswick's INNB pathways.
• Book a consultation with an ITC iLand immigration consultant to assess your eligibility across all applicable streams and build a personalized strategy before the next round of draws.