Canada’s immigration department issued 1,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the latest Express Entry draw, targeting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
The draw, held on 18 August 2026, required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 523. To be eligible, applicants had to have created an Express Entry profile before 10:13 a.m. UTC on 17 August 2026.
Key details of the CEC draw
- Date: 18 August 2026
- Draw type: Canadian Experience Class
- CRS cut‑off: 523 (the highest CEC cut‑off recorded in 2026, five points above the previous high)
- ITAs issued: 1,000 (the lowest number of CEC invitations in a single draw for the year)
Recent Express Entry draw activity (2026)
| Date | Draw type | CRS cut‑off | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| 17 Aug | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| 7 Aug | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| 6 Aug | French‑Language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| 5 Aug | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| 4 Aug | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| … | … | … | … |
(The table continues with draws listed in the source; only the most recent entries are shown for brevity.)
2026 Express Entry statistics (year‑to‑date)
-
Total ITAs issued: 114,865 across 26 draw types.
-
Draw‑type breakdown:
- Canadian Experience Class – 49,250 ITAs (14 draws)
- French‑Language proficiency – 45,500 ITAs (9 draws)
- Provincial Nominee Program – 7,399 ITAs (16 draws)
- Healthcare and social services – 8,000 ITAs (2 draws)
- Trades – 3,000 ITAs (1 draw)
- Transport – 300 ITAs (1 draw)
- Physicians with Canadian work experience – 662 ITAs (2 draws)
- Senior Managers with Canadian work experience – 750 ITAs (2 draws)
- Skilled Military Recruits – 4 ITAs (1 draw)
Observations
- The 2026 draws have focused heavily on candidates already established in Canada, such as provincial nominees and those with Canadian work experience.
- The August 18 CEC draw marks the smallest batch of invitations for this category in the year, while simultaneously setting the highest CRS threshold for CEC draws in 2026.
Prospective applicants should verify that their Express Entry profile was submitted before the 10:13 UTC deadline on 17 August 2026 and that their CRS score meets or exceeds the 523 cut‑off to be considered in this round.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
