Canada has conducted another major Express Entry selection round, giving 2,000 candidates with Canadian work experience an opportunity to move forward with their permanent residence applications.
The latest draw, held on July 21, 2026, focused exclusively on candidates eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) set the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score at 516 for this round.
The result highlights the continued importance of Canadian work experience in Canada’s economic immigration strategy, particularly for temporary residents and foreign workers already established in the country.
Also Read Canada Sends 2,000 Invitations to CEC Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
2,000 Candidates Receive ITAs in Latest Express Entry Draw
The July 21 selection round saw IRCC issue 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.
Candidates who received an invitation must now submit their complete permanent residence application within the prescribed timeframe. Receiving an ITA does not itself guarantee permanent residence, as applicants must still satisfy IRCC’s eligibility and admissibility requirements during the application process.
For this particular CEC draw, the key selection conditions included:
- A minimum CRS score of 516.
- An Express Entry profile created before 5:33 p.m. UTC on May 26, 2026, based on the tie-breaking rule applied to candidates who shared the minimum CRS score.
The draw is particularly significant for candidates who have already gained qualifying Canadian work experience and are seeking to transition from temporary status to permanent residence.
Draw Summary: July 21, 2026
The latest Express Entry selection can be summarized as follows:
- Draw date: July 21, 2026
- Immigration program: Canadian Experience Class
- Invitations issued: 2,000
- Minimum CRS score: 516
- Tie-breaking profile creation deadline: May 26, 2026, at 5:33 p.m. UTC
- Target candidates: Express Entry applicants eligible under the Canadian Experience Class
Express Entry Draw Activity Continues Throughout 2026
The July 21 CEC round follows a busy sequence of Express Entry selections in recent weeks.
IRCC conducted a Provincial Nominee Program draw on July 20, issuing 511 ITAs with a CRS threshold of 744. This was followed by the July 21 CEC selection, which lowered the CRS requirement considerably to 516.
Earlier in July, IRCC also conducted targeted selections for senior managers with Canadian work experience and French-language proficiency, alongside another CEC draw.
The overall pattern of selections in 2026 shows that IRCC has continued to use category-based and program-specific draws to target candidates aligned with Canada’s immigration priorities.
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| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
| 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 |
Express Entry Draws Held So Far in 2026
With the latest selection, IRCC has now conducted 40 Express Entry draws in 2026.
The draw activity has been spread across several programs and targeted categories, with the largest number of rounds dedicated to provincial nominees and Canadian Experience Class candidates.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 14 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 12 |
| French-Language proficiency | 7 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and social services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
The distribution indicates that Canada’s 2026 Express Entry strategy has placed substantial emphasis on candidates who already have a connection to the Canadian labour market or who meet specific economic and demographic priorities.
2026 Express Entry ITAs Cross 99,000
IRCC has issued a total of 99,612 ITAs through Express Entry draws conducted in 2026 so far.
The Canadian Experience Class accounts for the largest share of invitations, followed by French-language proficiency selections. Targeted draws for healthcare, trades, physicians and senior managers have also contributed to the year’s overall invitation numbers.
The breakdown is provided below:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 45,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 35,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6,450 |
| Healthcare and social services | 8,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
The figures show that CEC candidates have received the highest number of invitations in 2026, reflecting the strong role Canadian work experience has played in this year’s Express Entry selection activity.
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What Invited Candidates Should Do Next
Candidates who received an ITA in the July 21 draw should begin preparing their permanent residence application without delay.
The next steps generally involve:
- Reviewing the ITA and application instructions.
- Gathering supporting documents.
- Providing police certificates where required.
- Completing medical examination requirements as applicable.
- Preparing proof of work experience and other eligibility documents.
- Ensuring all information submitted is accurate and consistent with the Express Entry profile.
- Submitting the complete permanent residence application within the applicable deadline.
Applicants should ensure that their documentation accurately reflects the information declared in their Express Entry profile. Providing incorrect or misleading information can lead to serious immigration consequences.
Key Takeaway
The July 21, 2026 Express Entry draw delivered 2,000 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class candidates, with the CRS cut-off set at 516. The selection brings the number of Express Entry draws held in 2026 to 40, while total invitations issued across all draw categories have reached 99,612.
With Canadian Experience Class selections accounting for the largest portion of ITAs issued this year, the latest draw reinforces the importance of Canadian skilled work experience for foreign workers seeking permanent residence. Candidates in the Express Entry pool should continue improving their CRS scores where possible and remain alert to upcoming federal and category-based selection rounds.
