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Express Entry Update: CEC Candidates Invited in Final Draw of April 2026
Canada’s immigration authority, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has conducted the final Express Entry draw of April, inviting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
In this latest round, IRCC issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible CEC candidates. To qualify, applicants were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 514 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 2:18 p.m. UTC on September 24, 2025.
Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | ITAs Issued |
| 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 | 789 | 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 |
CEC Draws Remain a Key Focus
This draw marks the ninth CEC-specific draw of 2026 and the 24th Express Entry draw overall this year, reinforcing Canada’s continued focus on candidates with Canadian work experience.
CEC candidates are often already residing and working in Canada, making them a priority for permanent residency as they can integrate more quickly into the labor market.
Express Entry Trends in 2026
So far in 2026, Express Entry draws have largely targeted candidates already inside Canada, particularly those with Canadian work experience or provincial nominations. This approach aligns with Canada’s broader immigration strategy of transitioning temporary residents into permanent residents.
Breakdown of draw types this year:
- Provincial Nominee Program: 9 draws
- Canadian Experience Class: 8 draws
- French-language proficiency: 4 draws
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 1 draw
- Healthcare and social services: 1 draw
- Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience: 1 draw
- Trades: 1 draw
Total ITAs Issued in 2026
IRCC has issued a total of 67,627 ITAs so far in 2026 across various categories:
- Canadian Experience Class: 34,250
- French-language proficiency: 22,000
- Healthcare and social services: 4,000
- Provincial Nominee Program: 3,736
- Trades: 3,000
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 391
- Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience: 250
What This Means for Candidates
The consistent focus on CEC draws highlights the importance of gaining Canadian work experience for those aiming to secure permanent residency through Express Entry. With CRS cut-offs remaining competitive, candidates should focus on improving their profiles through language scores, additional work experience, or provincial nominations.
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