Prince Edward Island (PEI), located in eastern Canada, announced its planned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw schedule for 2026 on its official website on January 7, 2026.

A “draw” refers to the province issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs)—official letters that allow selected candidates to submit an application for provincial nomination.

While most Canadian provinces do not publicly disclose when PNP draws will take place, PEI is currently the only province that publishes an annual draw schedule, offering a higher level of transparency for those seeking permanent residence in Canada.

According to the published schedule, PEI plans to conduct a total of 12 PNP draws throughout 2026, generally once per month, usually around mid-month.

PEI PNP Draw Schedule for 2026

Please note that this schedule is for general informational purposes only and does not guarantee that a draw will occur on each listed date.

Draw Dates May Change, and Additional Draws Are Possible

PEI has stated that draw dates may occur earlier or later than scheduled, and in some cases, more than one draw may be held in a single month.

In fact, in 2025, PEI conducted three “surprise draws” that were not included in the original schedule (in January, October, and December).

PEI PNP operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) system, where candidates submit a profile to enter the selection pool.One important point to note is that EOI profiles in PEI are valid for only six months from the date of submission.
This is shorter than many other provinces, where EOIs often remain valid for one year.

Candidates are advised to:

• Keep their EOI profiles up to date at all times
• Submit a new EOI if their profile expires after six months

PEI also recommends submitting an EOI as soon as candidates meet the eligibility requirements of their chosen stream.

Each draw differs in terms of:

• The number of ITAs issued, and
• The occupations and sectors targeted

These decisions depend on PEI’s annual nomination allocation, labour market needs, and priority industries and occupations for the year.

In 2025, PEI recorded the following outcomes:

• Total number of draws: 14
  (original schedule listed 11, with additional surprise draws)
• Total ITAs issued: 1,609
• The vast majority of invitations were issued through:
  • the Labour Impact category, and
  • the PEI Express Entry category

Only one ITA was issued under the Business Impact Category (Work Permit Stream).

PEI’s priority sectors in 2025 included healthcare, skilled trades, and manufacturing.
As of now, PEI has not yet announced its priority sectors for 2026.

PEI is one of Canada’s smaller provinces by population, and for candidates whose background aligns with local labour needs, it can be a realistic pathway to permanent residence.

However, PEI also has unique rules, such as the shorter EOI validity period, which require careful planning.

If you are unsure whether you may be eligible for the PEI PNP or when to submit your EOI, we recommend early information gathering and professional consultation to maximize your chances.

This article is a summary prepared by Visa JP Canada based on the official announcement from the Government of Prince Edward Island (PEI), organized for clarity and ease of understanding.