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PEI announces its immigration draw dates for 2026
Prince Edward Island has released its expected Invitation to Apply (ITA) schedule for 2026, providing insight into when provincial immigration draws are likely to be held throughout the year.
The publicly available schedule offers greater transparency for prospective provincial nominee candidates, as Prince Edward Island remains the only Canadian province or territory to publish an advance draw calendar.
The Government of Prince Edward Island posted the tentative invitation schedule on its official immigration website on January 7, 2026.
PEI’s planned provincial immigration draws in 2026
According to the schedule, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) plans to conduct 12 Expression of Interest (EOI) draws in 2026. Invitations are expected to be issued on a monthly basis, generally around the middle of each month.
Below is the list of anticipated draw dates for 2026:
| Draw Number | Date of Draw |
| 1 | January 15, 2026 |
| 2 | February 19, 2026 |
| 3 | March 19, 2026 |
| 4 | April 16, 2026 |
| 5 | May 21, 2026 |
| 6 | June 18, 2026 |
| 7 | July 16, 2026 |
| 8 | August 20, 2026 |
| 9 | September 17, 2026 |
| 10 | October 15, 2026 |
| 11 | November 19, 2026 |
| 12 | December 17, 2026 |
PEI has clarified that the published schedule is intended for general informational purposes only and does not guarantee that selection rounds will occur on the listed dates.
The province may conduct draws earlier or later than scheduled and may occasionally hold more than one draw in a single month, as seen in previous years.
Draw flexibility and EOI validity
In 2025, PEI conducted three unscheduled or “surprise” draws outside of its original calendar one each in January, October and December.
Candidates should also note that an Expression of Interest profile remains active in PEI’s system for six months from the date of submission. This is shorter than the validity period used by most other provinces, which typically keep EOIs active for up to one year.
As a result, candidates are advised to keep their profiles updated and submit a new EOI if their existing profile expires. PEI recommends submitting an EOI as soon as applicants meet the eligibility requirements for their chosen stream.
Selection criteria and invitation numbers
The number of invitations issued and the candidates selected in each draw will vary. Selection decisions depend on several factors, including PEI’s provincial nomination allocation for 2026, labour market demands and priority sectors and occupations.
Review of PEI PNP draws in 2025
In 2025, Prince Edward Island held a total of 14 draws, exceeding the 11 draws originally listed in its anticipated ITA schedule due to the three unscheduled rounds.
Of the 11 scheduled draws, the province followed the planned selection dates for eight.
Throughout 2025, PEI issued 1,609 Invitations to Apply. Nearly all invitations were issued through the Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry categories.
The province primarily targeted candidates working in priority sectors and occupations, as well as international graduates from selected designated learning institutions. Only one invitation was issued under the Business Impact Category through the Work Permit Stream.
In 2025, PEI’s priority sectors included healthcare, trades and manufacturing. The province has not yet announced its priority sectors for 2026.