Canadian Experience Class draw hits the lowest CRS since 2024, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system in a surprise draw held on a statutory holiday.
In this round, 6,000 ITAs were sent to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 508
- Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 9:35 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on March 16, 2025.
Summary Of Express Entry Draws In 2026
| Draw Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off Score | ITAs Issued |
| 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 draw is the eighth Express Entry round of 2026. It is also the third draw this year focused on CEC candidates. The CRS score of 508 is the lowest cut-off for CEC candidates since 2024.
So far in 2026, most Express Entry draws have focused on candidates already in Canada. These include those with Canadian work experience and those with provincial nominations.
| Draw Type | Number Of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 |
| French-Language proficiency | 1 |
In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 30,457 ITAs across the following draw types:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 20,000 |
| French-Language proficiency | 8,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1,534 |
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