Canada has wrapped up March 2026 with another significant round of invitations under its flagship immigration system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The latest Express Entry draw focused specifically on candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), reinforcing the country’s continued emphasis on applicants already working and living in Canada.
Also Read Express Entry Draw of March Invites Thousands of CEC Candidates
Key Highlights of the Latest Express Entry Draw
In the most recent selection round held on March 31, 2026, a total of 2,250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to eligible candidates under the Canadian Experience Class.
To qualify for this draw, applicants were required to meet the following conditions:
- Achieve a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 509
- Have submitted their Express Entry profile before March 18, 2026, at 8:27 a.m. (UTC)
This draw marks the sixth CEC-specific round in 2026, signaling a consistent pattern of prioritizing candidates with Canadian work experience.
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Complete Overview of Express Entry Draws in 2026
Below is a detailed snapshot of all Express Entry draws conducted so far this year:
| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
| 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 |
Draw Trends: What Canada is Prioritizing in 2026
So far in 2026, Canada has conducted 19 Express Entry draws, with a strong preference for candidates already integrated into the Canadian workforce.
Here’s how the draws are distributed across different categories:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 7 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 6 |
| French-Language proficiency | 3 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
This trend highlights Canada’s strategic focus on:
- Retaining temporary residents with local work experience
- Supporting provincial labor market needs through PNP
- Encouraging French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec
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Total ITAs Issued in 2026 So Far
Canada has already issued 55,830 ITAs this year across multiple categories. The distribution reflects clear priorities in immigration selection:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 30,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 18,000 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 2,939 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
The latest results confirm that candidates with Canadian work experience continue to have a strong advantage in the Express Entry system. Frequent CEC draws and relatively stable CRS cut-offs suggest that profiles with local experience, strong language scores, and optimized CRS factors remain highly competitive.
Additionally, the continued presence of category-based and PNP draws indicates that Canada is balancing both economic needs and regional workforce demands.
Final Thoughts
As March concludes, Canada’s immigration strategy remains consistent—prioritizing candidates who are already contributing to the economy. With frequent draws and a high number of invitations issued, 2026 continues to be an active year for Express Entry.
For prospective immigrants, this is a strong signal to focus on improving CRS scores, gaining Canadian experience where possible, and exploring targeted pathways such as provincial nominations or French-language streams.
