March 18, 2026
Canada continues to prioritize candidates with local work experience as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts another major Express Entry draw in 2026.
In the latest round, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.
To qualify for this draw, candidates were required to:
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| 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 |
This marks the lowest CRS cut-off for CEC candidates in the past 18 months, making it a significant opportunity for applicants already working in Canada.
The latest draw, held on March 17, 2026, is:
So far in 2026, CEC draws have been among the most frequent and have issued the highest number of ITAs, totaling 28,000 invitations.
Canada’s immigration strategy this year clearly shows a strong focus on:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 6 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 5 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 2 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
As of now in 2026, IRCC has issued 39,362 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system across different categories:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 28,000 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 14,000 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 4,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 2,583 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
The latest draw highlights Canada’s continued preference for candidates who are already contributing to the local workforce. With CRS scores dropping for CEC draws, now is an ideal time for eligible candidates to strengthen their profiles and maximize their chances.
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