First Ever Express Entry Draw for Skilled Military Recruits Issued 4 PR Invitations on July 23, 2026 has been made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This was done in Round #430, where IRCC issued 4 PR invitations through the newly launched Skilled Military Recruits stream. The qualifying minimum CRS score was set at 368. This is the first ever draw conducted through the military stream, as well as the lowest number of PR invitations issued in an Express Entry selection round.
Highlights of First Ever Express Entry Draw for Skilled Military Recruits
- Draw Date – July 23 2026
- Draw Type – Skilled military recruits
- Total Invitations Issued – 4
- Minimum CRS Score Required – 368
Factors Explaining the Small Number of 4 ITAs
In Round #430 only 4 Invitations to Apply have been issued, making this particular Express Entry draw record-small in terms of the number of invitations issued in the entire history of the program, thus beating all existing minimum numbers of invites issued previously in specialized rounds for physicians or law enforcers. This particularly low number of invitations issued is due to the very strict requirements regarding the Skilled Military Recruits class of immigrants, which can be considered as an instrument used for attracting foreigners who have certain qualifications within their defense sphere and employment opportunities within CAF recruitment.
What Applicants Should Do Now
The 4 military applicants who were invited in this historic draw must sign into their online profiles to access the ITAs issued to them. Within the next 60 days, applicants need to submit their complete online application for permanent residency status, along with special defense clearance and background checks.
For other eligible skilled applicants who are in the Express Entry pool
- Monitor Specialized Categories – IRCC is constantly increasing the number of category-based draws focused on healthcare workers, STEM professionals, trades, Francophones, and specialized public sectors.
- Update Profiles – Maintaining up-to-date codes for NOC TEER and language proficiency will ensure instant eligibility upon activation of such categories.