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Canada Conducts First-Ever Express Entry Draw for Skilled Military Recruits

Canada Conducts First-Ever Express Entry Draw for Skilled Military Recruits

Canada Conducts First-Ever Express Entry Draw for Skilled Military Recruits

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held its first Express Entry draw for skilled military recruits, inviting eligible candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence. This marks a new milestone in Canada’s immigration system, as the category was introduced earlier in 2026.

In the latest selection round conducted on July 23, 2026, IRCC issued 4 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Skilled Military Recruits category. Although the number of invitations was small, the draw represents the first-ever selection under this newly introduced pathway and the lowest number of invitations issued in any Express Entry draw to date.

Express Entry Draw Highlights – July 23, 2026

Candidates selected in this draw were required to meet the following criteria:

  • Draw Date: July 23, 2026
  • Draw Type: Skilled Military Recruits
  • Number of Invitations: 4
  • Minimum CRS Score Required: 368
  • Express Entry Profile Submission Deadline: Before 8:11 p.m. UTC on June 2, 2026

Applicants who met these requirements received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry system.

Express Entry Draws List 2026

DateDraw TypeMinimum CRSNumber of ITAs
July 23Skilled Military Recruits3684
July 22French Language Proficiency3995,000
July 21Canadian Experience Class5162,000
July 20Provincial Nominee Program744511
July 10Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 392500
July 9French Language Proficiency4205,000
July 7Canadian Experience Class5172,000
July 6Provincial Nominee Program708534
June 25Healthcare and Social Services4754,000
June 24Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 223271
June 23Canadian Experience Class 5164,000
June 22Provincial Nominee Program 730955
May 28French Language Proficiency4094,500
May 27Canadian Experience Class5183,000
May 25Provincial Nominee Program805334
May 11Provincial Nominee Program798380
April 29French Language Proficiency4004,000
April 28Canadian Experience Class5142,000
April 27Provincial Nominee Program795473
April 15French Language Proficiency 4194,000
April 14Canadian Experience Class5152,000
April 13Provincial Nominee Program789324
April 2Trades4773,000
March 31Canadian Experience Class5092,250
March 30Provincial Nominee Program802356
March 18French Language Proficiency3934,000
March 17Canadian Experience Class5074,000
March 16Provincial Nominee Program742362
March 5 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience429250
March 4French Language Proficiency3975,500
March 3Canadian Experience Class5084,000
March 2Provincial Nominee Program 710264
February 20Healthcare and social services4674,000
February 19 Physicians with Canadian work experience169391
February 17Canadian Experience Class5086,000
February 16Provincial Nominee Program789279
February 6French Language Proficiency4008,500
February 3Provincial Nominee Program749423
January 21Canadian Experience Class5096,000
January 20Provincial Nominee Program746681
January 7Canadian Experience Class5118,000
January 5Provincial Nominee Program711574

First Draw for Skilled Military Recruits

The Skilled Military Recruits category was introduced by IRCC in February 2026 to recognize candidates with relevant military experience and skills that can contribute to Canada’s workforce and national priorities.

The July 23 draw is the first invitation round under this category since its launch. With only four invitations issued, it also became the smallest Express Entry draw ever conducted.

Express Entry Activity in 2026

Following this latest draw, IRCC has now conducted 42 Express Entry draws in 2026. Throughout the year, Canada has continued to focus on category-based selections while prioritizing candidates who can meet labour market demands.

The number of draws conducted by category this year includes:

Draw CategoryNumber of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)14
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)12
French-language Proficiency8
Physicians with Canadian Work Experience2
Healthcare and Social Services2
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience2
Trades1
Skilled Military Recruits1

More Than 104,000 Invitations Issued in 2026

So far in 2026, IRCC has issued 104,616 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across various Express Entry categories.

The distribution of invitations is as follows:

Draw CategoryITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)45,250
French-language Proficiency40,500
Healthcare and Social Services8,000
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)6,450
Trades3,000
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience750
Physicians with Canadian Work Experience662
Skilled Military Recruits4

What This Means for Immigration Candidates

Canada continues to use targeted Express Entry draws to address specific labour shortages and attract skilled professionals with experience in priority occupations. While this first military-focused draw involved only a handful of candidates, it demonstrates IRCC’s commitment to expanding category-based immigration pathways.

Candidates planning to immigrate to Canada should keep their Express Entry profiles updated and monitor upcoming draws, as IRCC continues to invite applicants through multiple categories based on Canada’s economic and workforce needs.

Looking to Apply for Canada PR?

Whether you qualify under the Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program, French-language category, or another Express Entry pathway, professional guidance can improve your chances of success.

Oasis Visas helps aspiring immigrants navigate every stage of the Canadian immigration process from eligibility assessment and profile creation to documentation and permanent residence applications. Connect with our experts to explore the best immigration pathway for your profile.

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