Canada has conducted another targeted Express Entry selection, inviting 250 senior managers with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence. The September 16, 2026 draw used a CRS cut-off of 389, giving eligible candidates with Canadian senior-management experience another pathway toward Canada PR.
Candidates invited in this round needed a minimum CRS score of 389. Their Express Entry profiles also had to be submitted before 11:05 p.m. UTC on September 1, 2026, which served as the tie-breaking cut-off for candidates who had the minimum score.
This was the third Express Entry draw for senior managers in 2026. The previous senior-manager selection took place on July 10, when 500 candidates received ITAs with a CRS requirement of 392. The latest round therefore brought the cut-off down by three points.
Also Read Senior Managers Draw – September 16, 2026
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Who Qualifies Under the Senior Managers Category?
The senior managers category is one of Canada’s 2026 category-based Express Entry selections. IRCC introduced this category to target candidates with Canadian work experience in specific senior-management occupations.
Applicants must generally have at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, within the previous three years in one eligible occupation. The experience does not have to be continuous.
The eligible senior-management occupations are:
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | TEER category |
| Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services | 00012 | 0 |
| Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations | 00013 | 0 |
| Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services | 00014 | 0 |
| Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities | 00015 | 0 |
Candidates must also satisfy the requirements of at least one of the three federal programs managed through Express Entry and meet the specific instructions for the category-based round.
Express Entry Draws in 2026: Latest Results
| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
| September 16 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 389 | 250 |
| September 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 519 | 2,000 |
| September 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 734 | 576 |
| September 4 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 3,500 |
| September 3 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 198 | 229 |
| September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 2,000 |
| August 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 697 | 562 |
| August 19 | French-Language proficiency | 382 | 5,000 |
| August 18 | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| August 7 | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| August 6 | French-Language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| 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 | 786 | 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 |
56 Express Entry Draws Held So Far in 2026
With the September 16 selection, Canada has conducted 56 Express Entry invitation rounds in 2026. The draw mix includes program-specific selections such as the Canadian Experience Class and PNP, along with category-based rounds targeting specific occupations, language skills and Canadian work experience.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 18 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 16 |
| French-Language proficiency | 10 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 3 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 3 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
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- 250 Senior Managers Receive ITAs at CRS 389 in Latest Express Entry Draw
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- Canada Issues 576 Express Entry ITAs to Provincial Nominees in Latest Draw
- Canada Sends 3,500 Express Entry Invitations to Healthcare and Social Services Professionals
- Canada Sends 229 Permanent Residence Invitations to Physicians With Canadian Experience
2026 Express Entry ITAs by Draw Category
According to the 2026 draw figures through September 16, IRCC has issued 129,982 ITAs through the listed Express Entry selection categories.
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 53,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 50,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 8,537 |
| Healthcare and social services | 11,500 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1,000 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
What Should Senior Managers Do After Receiving an ITA?
Candidates who received an ITA should carefully review the information in their Express Entry profile before submitting their permanent residence application. Supporting documents must substantiate the claimed work experience, education, language results and other factors used to establish eligibility and CRS points.
Applicants already working in Canada may also have access to a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after submitting an eligible permanent residence application. Depending on their circumstances, this can help maintain authorization to work while their permanent residence application is being processed.
The September 16 draw adds another targeted selection to Canada’s 2026 Express Entry activity, with 250 senior managers receiving invitations at a CRS cut-off of 389. Candidates with qualifying Canadian senior-management experience should continue monitoring category-based draws and ensure their Express Entry profiles accurately reflect their current qualifications.
