Express Entry: IRCC Invites 2,000 CEC Candidates for PR

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 2,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the latest Express Entry draw. The September 1 draw focused on candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Candidates selected in this round needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 521. They also needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:24 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on August 18, 2026.

Canadian Experience Class Continues to Receive Invitations

The latest draw continues a trend of Canada prioritizing candidates who already have connections to the country through work experience. The Canadian Experience Class is designed for skilled workers who have gained eligible work experience in Canada and want to transition to permanent residence.

The September 1 draw was the latest CEC selection round in 2026 and brought the total number of Express Entry draws conducted by IRCC this year to 51.

So far in 2026, Express Entry selections have largely focused on candidates already connected to Canada, including provincial nominees and workers with Canadian experience.

Recent Express Entry Draws Show Changing Priorities

IRCC has conducted several types of Express Entry draws throughout 2026. These include category-based selections and program-specific draws.

Before the latest CEC invitation round, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 31, issuing 562 invitations with a CRS cutoff of 697. Earlier, a French-language proficiency draw on August 19 issued 5,000 invitations with a CRS cutoff of 382.

The previous Canadian Experience Class draw took place on August 18 and issued 1,000 invitations to candidates with a minimum CRS score of 523.

The latest CEC draw had a slightly lower CRS requirement compared with the previous round, allowing more eligible candidates to receive invitations.

Express Entry Invitations Continue Growing in 2026

With the September 1 selection, IRCC has issued a total of 117,427 invitations to apply through Express Entry draws in 2026.

Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the largest share of invitations this year, with 51,250 ITAs issued through this category. French-language proficiency candidates received 50,500 invitations, while Provincial Nominee Program candidates received 7,961 invitations.

Other categories that received invitations include healthcare and social services, trades, transport, physicians with Canadian work experience, senior managers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits.

CEC Remains a Key Pathway for Temporary Workers

The Canadian Experience Class remains one of the main pathways for temporary workers in Canada who want to become permanent residents. Candidates generally need qualifying Canadian work experience, language ability, and a competitive CRS score to receive an invitation.

The latest draw highlights the importance of Canadian work experience in Canada’s current immigration selection process. Workers already contributing to the Canadian economy continue to represent a significant portion of Express Entry invitations issued by IRCC.