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Canada Conducts Its Second-Largest Canadian Experience Class Draw Ever
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted a new Express Entry draw, issuing a significant number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
In this round, IRCC issued 8,000 ITAs to CEC candidates. To be eligible for consideration, candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 511. Additionally, applicants needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 3:59 p.m. (UTC) on June 10, 2025.
Express Entry Draws List of 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
This draw is notable as it represents the second-largest Canadian Experience Class draw on record, surpassed only by the pandemic-era CEC draw that invited over 27,000 candidates. The CRS cut-off in this round is also lower than any Express Entry draw conducted in 2025. Previously, the lowest CRS score for a CEC draw was 509, recorded on September 19, 2024.
The latest CEC draw marks the second Express Entry selection of 2026, following a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw held on January 5. With these two draws, IRCC has continued its focus on candidates who are already in Canada, particularly those with Canadian work experience or provincial nominations.
Number of Express Entry Draws by Category
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Canadian Experience Class | 1 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1 |
Despite being only in the first full week of the year, Canada’s immigration department has already issued more than 8,500 ITAs through Express Entry.
ITAs Issued by Draw Type in 2026
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 574 |
Historically, January sees increased Express Entry activity as IRCC works to meet its annual admissions targets under federal immigration pathways. Due to processing timelines and waiting periods, successful applicants typically become permanent residents at least six months after receiving an ITA.