Canada holds first Express Entry draw under new category
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
The immigration department issued 250 ITAs in a draw for candidates in the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 429; and
- Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 3:10 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on August 19, 2025.
See how your competitive Express Entry profile is
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2026
| Draw date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Today's draw is the very first for the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category, and the fourteenth Express Entry selection of 2026.
The category was first announced as part of the February 2026 overhaul, which saw three new occupational categories introduced.
To be eligible for this category, candidates need to have at least 12 months of Canadian work experience within the last three years, in one of four occupations, under Canada's National Occupation Classification (NOC) system:
- Senior managers – construction, transportation, production, and utilities
- Senior managers – trade, broadcasting, and other services
- Senior managers – health, education, social and community services, and membership organizations
- Senior managers – financial, communications, and other business services
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 | 5 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 4 |
| French-Language proficiency | 2 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 39,362 ITAs across the following draw types:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 24,000 |
| French-Language proficiency | 14,000 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1,798 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
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