Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system, in a surprise statutory holiday draw.
The immigration department issued 6,000 ITAs in a draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 508; and
- Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 9:35 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on March 16, 2025.
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is
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 |
Today’s draw marks the eighth Express Entry selection of the year, and the third draw selecting CEC candidates in 2026.
Express Entry draws in 2026 have seen Canada’s immigration department focus largely on immigration candidates within the country, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.
| 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 |
See how competitive your Express Entry profile is