Canada Express Entry Update: 2,000 CEC Candidates Invited in Final Draw of April 2026

Canada continues to actively invite skilled workers through its Express Entry system, with the latest draw in April 2026 focusing on candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). In this recent round, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), reinforcing the country’s strategy of prioritizing candidates with Canadian work experience.

Latest Draw Details 

• Draw Date: April 28, 2026
• Draw Type: Canadian Experience Class
• Number of Invitations: 2,000
• Minimum CRS Score Required: 514

Express Entry Draws List 2026

Date	Draw Type	Minimum CRS	Number of ITAs
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

Key Highlights of the Latest CEC Draw

The Express Entry draw held on April 28, 2026, targeted candidates who qualify under the Canadian Experience Class. This program is specifically designed for individuals who have already gained skilled work experience in Canada, making them strong candidates for permanent residency.

To be eligible for this draw, applicants were required to meet the following criteria:

• A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 514
• Submission of an Express Entry profile before 2:18 p.m. UTC on September 24, 2025

The CRS score requirement remains competitive, but significantly lower than Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, making CEC one of the most accessible pathways for candidates already working in Canada.

What is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?

The Canadian Experience Class is a key immigration pathway under Express Entry that targets foreign nationals with at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada. This program is particularly beneficial for international students and temporary foreign workers who wish to transition to permanent residency.

CEC candidates are often preferred because they are already familiar with Canada’s labor market, culture, and work environment, allowing for smoother economic integration.

Express Entry Trends in 2026

The April 28 draw marks the ninth CEC-specific draw and the 24th overall Express Entry draw of 2026. This highlights the importance of Canadian work experience in the country’s immigration strategy.

So far this year, IRCC has consistently prioritized candidates who are already in Canada or have strong ties to the country. The majority of draws have focused on:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• French-language proficiency candidates

This trend indicates a shift toward selecting candidates who can immediately contribute to the economy.

Distribution of Express Entry Draws in 2026

An analysis of draw types conducted this year shows the following distribution:

• Provincial Nominee Program: 9 draws
• Canadian Experience Class: 8 draws
• French-language proficiency: 4 draws
• Healthcare and social services: 1 draw
• Trades: 1 draw
• Physicians with Canadian work experience: 1 draw
• Senior managers with Canadian work experience: 1 draw

The high number of CEC draws demonstrates Canada’s strong emphasis on retaining talent already present in the country.

Total Invitations Issued in 2026

As of now, Canada has issued a total of 67,627 ITAs in 2026, reflecting an aggressive immigration intake strategy. The breakdown across categories is as follows:

Draw Type	Total Number of Invitations
Canadian Experience Class	34,250
French-language proficiency	22,000
Healthcare & social services	4,000
Trades	3,000
Provincial Nominee Program	3,736
Physicians with Canadian experience	391
Senior Managers with Canadian experience	250

The dominance of CEC draws clearly shows that Canada is prioritizing candidates with domestic work experience.

What This Means for Immigration Aspirants

The latest CEC draw sends a strong signal to individuals currently working or studying in Canada: gaining Canadian work experience significantly improves your chances of receiving an ITA.

For candidates in the Express Entry pool, the following strategies can help improve CRS scores:

• Gaining additional Canadian work experience
• Improving IELTS or CELPIP scores
• Learning French to qualify for language-specific draws
• Securing a provincial nomination for a major CRS boost

Candidates should also ensure that their profiles are accurate and updated regularly to remain competitive.

Canada’s Immigration Focus in 2026

Canada’s immigration system in 2026 reflects a targeted and strategic approach. By focusing on CEC candidates, the government is ensuring that newcomers are already well-integrated into the workforce.

This approach helps:

• Address immediate labor shortages
• Reduce settlement challenges for newcomers
• Strengthen long-term economic growth

At the same time, draws for French-speaking candidates highlight Canada’s commitment to promoting bilingualism and supporting Francophone communities.

The latest Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class candidates underscores Canada’s continued focus on selecting skilled workers who are already contributing to the economy. With frequent draws and a clear preference for in-country candidates, the Express Entry system remains one of the fastest and most reliable pathways to permanent residency.

For those planning to immigrate to Canada, staying informed, improving CRS scores, and gaining relevant work experience are essential steps toward success.

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