Canada has entered 2026 with a big boost to foreign skilled workers living in the country as
IRCC did a New Express Entry Draw for CEC and issued 8,000 PR invitations under the
Canadian Experience Class. This large selection emphasizes Canada’s ongoing priority of
keeping international graduates and temporary foreign workers who are already part of the
economy. With a competitive CRS cut-off and the biggest CEC invitation round in recent
years, this draw indicates a strong immigration demand and creates a considerable pathway
to permanent residence for candidates with Canadian work experience.
New Express Entry Draw for CEC – Draw Highlights
● Draw Date – 7 January 2026
● Program – Canadian Experience Class
● Number of Invitations – 8,000
● CRS Score – 511
Importance of the CEC Draw
● Historic Invitations Issued – This recent round of 8,000 ITAs stands as the
second-largest draw of the Canadian Experience Class category in Express
Entry history, beating only the draw from the pandemic in 2021 that issued more
than 27,000 invitations.
● Emphasis on the In-Canada Experience – The CEC stream gives preference to the
candidates who are already in Canada working or studying, thus allowing a quicker
integration into the labor market and also making it possible for the applicants to get
their PR processed in less time than usual.
● Planned CRS Cut-Off – The 511 cutoff CR score ascertains that the IRCC is trying
to compromise between the competition and the closing of the net, thus giving
access to more people but still keeping the quality standard high.
Candidates’ Scenario
Typically, the candidates who received ITAs have skilled work experience in Canada, valid
language test results (in English or French) and strong education and adaptability factors.
The issuing of an Invitation to Apply is regarded as a very important stage in the journey of
getting permanent residency and the applicants typically have two months to file a full PR
application after the draw. The applicants can raise their CRS points by retaking the
language tests and scoring higher, receiving a nomination from a province or getting
additional skilled work experience.
Recap of Recent Express Entry Draws
| Date | Number of Invitations | CRS Score | Draw Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Jan 2026 | 8,000 | 511 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| 05 Jan 2026 | 574 | 711 | Provincial Nominee Program |
| 17 Dec 2025 | 6,000 | 399 | French Language Proficiency |
| 16 Dec 2025 | 5,000 | 515 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| 15 Dec 2025 | 399 | 731 | Provincial Nominee Program |
| 11 Dec 2025 | 1,000 | 476 | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations |
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