Canada invites CEC candidates in a new Express Entry draw, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited more candidates to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.
In the latest selection round, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.
To receive an invitation in this draw, candidates needed to meet the following requirements:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 516; and
- Created an Express Entry profile before 12:03 a.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on April 14, 2026.
Candidates who met both requirements were eligible to be considered for this round.
Summary Of Express Entry Draws In 2026
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off Score | ITAs Issued |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
This latest draw is the 32nd Express Entry selection round held in 2026. It is also the largest Canadian Experience Class draw since March 17, when IRCC invited another 4,000 candidates.
The draw highlights Canada’s continued focus on candidates who already have experience living and working in the country.
Most Draws Continue To Target In-Canada Candidates
So far in 2026, IRCC has mainly invited candidates with Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination.
Well, IRCC has conducted the following Express Entry draw types this year:
| Draw Type | Number Of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 12 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 10 |
| French-Language proficiency | 6 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program candidates have remained the primary focus of Express Entry invitations throughout the year.
Total Invitations Issued In 2026
Since the beginning of 2026, IRCC has issued 84,796 invitations through Express Entry across several categories.
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 41,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 30,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5,405 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the largest share of invitations this year, accounting for more than 41,000 ITAs. French-speaking candidates have also seen strong support, with over 30,000 invitations issued so far.
The latest draw suggests that IRCC continues to prioritize candidates already established in Canada as it works toward meeting the country’s immigration goals for 2026.
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