Canada has conducted another significant Express Entry draw, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pathway. The latest round highlights the federal government’s continued focus on selecting individuals who already possess Canadian work experience and are well-positioned to integrate into the country’s labour market.
The draw, held on June 23, 2026, represents the largest Canadian Experience Class selection round conducted in more than three months. It also reinforces a trend that has shaped Canada’s immigration strategy throughout 2026 – prioritizing candidates who are already living and working in Canada.
Also Read Canada Issues 4,000 ITAs in Largest Canadian Experience Class Draw Since March 2026
Draw Summary
Candidates invited in the June 23 draw were required to meet the following criteria:
- Draw Category: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Date of Draw: June 23, 2026
- Invitations Issued: 4,000
- Minimum CRS Score Required: 516
- Tie-Breaking Rule: Profiles created before 12:03 a.m. UTC on April 14, 2026
- Express Entry Draw Number in 2026: 32nd round
The draw surpassed the size of recent CEC rounds and marks the largest invitation round under this category since March 17, 2026.
Canada Continues to Prioritise Candidates with Canadian Experience
Throughout 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increasingly focused on applicants who have already established themselves in Canada through employment or provincial nomination programs.
Canadian Experience Class candidates often possess valuable advantages, including Canadian work experience, familiarity with the country’s labour market, and a demonstrated ability to adapt to life in Canada. These factors continue to make them a major target group for permanent residence selection.
The latest draw follows another Express Entry round held just one day earlier for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates, indicating that Canada remains committed to supporting both federal and provincial immigration pathways.
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Express Entry Draw Activity in 2026
The table below summarises all Express Entry invitation rounds conducted so far in 2026.
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off Score | ITAs Issued |
| 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 |
Which Draw Categories Have Dominated This Year?
A review of Express Entry activity shows that most invitation rounds have been concentrated in three major categories: Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program, and French-language proficiency.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 12 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 10 |
| French-Language proficiency | 6 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
The data indicates that Canada has consistently used Express Entry to target applicants already contributing to the Canadian economy, whether through employment, provincial nomination, or French-language skills.
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More Than 84,000 Invitations Issued in 2026
So far this year, Canada has extended nearly 85,000 invitations through Express Entry. Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the largest share of invitations, accounting for almost half of all ITAs issued in 2026.
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 41,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 30,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5,405 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
The latest draw sends a strong signal to temporary foreign workers and international graduates already in Canada. With Canadian Experience Class invitations continuing to make up a substantial portion of Express Entry selections, candidates with eligible Canadian work experience remain in a favourable position.
At the same time, French-speaking candidates and provincial nominees continue to benefit from dedicated invitation rounds, reflecting Canada’s broader immigration goals of supporting economic growth, addressing labour shortages, and encouraging settlement across different regions of the country.
As Express Entry activity continues through the second half of 2026, prospective immigrants will be closely watching future draws to see whether Canada maintains its strong emphasis on in-Canada candidates or expands invitations across additional priority categories.
