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Latest Express Entry Draw #407 : Canada Issues 2,250 ITAs for CEC Candidates

Final Express Entry Draw of March Invites Thousands of CEC Candidates

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    Canada Issues 2,250 ITAs in Latest CEC Express Entry Draw as CRS Holds at 509

    Canada has conducted another Express Entry draw, this time inviting candidates with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held the latest round on March 31, issuing 2,250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

    This draw highlights Canada’s ongoing focus on selecting candidates already working in the country, as the government continues to prioritise in-Canada applicants over general all-program selections.
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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Canadian Experience Class
    • Number of ITAs: 2,250
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 509
    • Date and time of round: March 31, 2026 at 10:53:56 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: March 18, 2026 at 08:27:11 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 55,830

    If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

    Invitations to Apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program may be issued through this round of invitations.

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    Total Express Entry ITAs for 2026

    With this latest draw, IRCC has now issued 55,830 ITAs through Express Entry in 2026. The distribution of invitations clearly reflects the department’s priority streams.

    The high volume of Canadian Experience Class invitations indicates a growing emphasis on bilingual talent as Canada works to meet its long-term Francophone immigration targets.

    Category-Based Draws Conducted in 2026

    Express Entry rounds this year have been limited to specific streams rather than broad, multi-program draws.

    The draws are now divided as follows:

    • PNP : 7 draw
    • CEC : 6 Draw
    • French-language skills : 3
    • Healthcare and social services : 1
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 1
    • Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience : 1
    • Education: No Draws Yet
    • Trade Occupations : No Draws Yet

    Provincial Nominee Program draws have been the most frequent in 2026, reflecting the federal government’s collaboration with provinces to address localized workforce shortages.

    Eligible Occupations Under the New Category

    The senior manager category was introduced as part of immigration policy adjustments announced in February 2026, which added several new occupational groups to category-based selection. To qualify, applicants must have at least one year of Canadian work experience within the last three years in one of the following leadership roles listed under the National Occupation Classification (NOC):

    • Senior managers in construction, transportation, production, and utilities
    • Senior managers in trade, broadcasting, and other service sectors
    • Senior managers in health, education, social services, and community organisations
    • Senior managers in financial services, communications, and other business sectors

    These occupations represent executive-level roles that play a key part in managing major industries and organisations across Canada.

    Total Express Entry ITAs Issued in 2026 So Far

    Below is a snapshot of all Express Entry draws conducted so far this year:
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : 30,250
    • French language proficiency: 18,000
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 2,939
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : 4,000
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 391
    • Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience : 250
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    407 March 31 CEC 2,250 509
    406 March 30 PNP 356 802
    405 March 18 french language Skills 4,000 393
    404 March 17 CEC 4,000 507
    403 March 16 PNP 362 742
    402 March 05 Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience 250 429
    401 March 04 French-Language proficiency 5,500 397
    400 March 03 CEC 4,000 508
    399 March 02 Provincial Nominee Program 264 710
    398 February 20 Healthcare and Social Services Occupations 4,000 467
    397 February 19 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 391 169
    396 February 17 CEC 6,000 508
    395 February 16 PNP 279 789
    394 February 06 French-Language proficiency 8,500 400
    393 February 3 PNP 423 749
    392 January 21 CEC 6,000 509
    391 January 20 PNP 681 746
    390 January 07 CEC 8,000 511
    389 January 05 PNP 574 711

    As of March 31, a total of 55,830 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026. CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 169

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    Number of Express Entry Draws by Category This Year:

    The Provincial Nominee Program category of the Express Entry categories leads the trend with the highest number of 14 rounds, followed by the Canadian Experience Class with 8 rounds. Also, IRCC has conducted 3 rounds each for French-speaking candidates and healthcare professionals. A single draw was also held for individuals in the education sector.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 14
    Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 8
    French-language proficiency 4
    Healthcare and social services 3
    Education 1

    The trend since June 10, 2025, reveals a pattern of alternating draws between PNP and CEC categories roughly every two weeks. Additionally, healthcare-focused draws have taken place monthly since May, reflecting IRCC’s commitment to addressing sector-specific shortages in Canada’s healthcare system.

    Why CEC Candidates Are Being Prioritised

    Canada’s provinces and territories play a crucial role in selecting immigrants who can address specific regional labour shortages. Through the Provincial Nominee Program, local governments can nominate candidates who match their economic and demographic needs.
    Applicants who receive a provincial nomination are awarded 600 additional CRS points, which significantly improves their chances of receiving an ITA in Express Entry draws.

    This explains the consistently high CRS cut-offs seen in PNP-specific rounds.

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    Current Express Entry Trends and Category Breakdown

    With the latest draw, the healthcare and social services category now joins a growing list of specialized selection categories implemented this year. The distribution of draws in 2025 highlights a more nuanced approach to selecting candidates who meet Canada’s urgent labour and demographic needs.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program 7
    French-language proficiency 3
    Canadian Experience Class 3
    Education 1
    Healthcare and social services 1

    Clear Shift Toward In-Canada Candidates

    All Express Entry draws held in 2026 so far have been limited to candidates who are already established in Canada. The department has focused exclusively on:

    • Provincial Nominee Program applicants,
    • Canadian Experience Class candidates with local work experience
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    Why Canada Is Prioritising CEC Candidates

    Canada is placing strong emphasis on candidates with local work experience to support long-term economic growth. By focusing on CEC applicants, IRCC aims to:

    With over 30,000 ITAs issued under CEC in 2026, this pathway remains one of the most reliable routes to permanent residency.
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    Recent Express Entry Trends

    Recent draw patterns indicate that IRCC is rotating between multiple selection categories, including:
    This balanced approach allows Canada to address both national and regional labour market needs effectively.
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    What This Means for Candidates

    The March 31 draw reinforces the importance of Canadian work experience in the current Express Entry system. Candidates with experience in Canada continue to have a competitive advantage due to frequent CEC draws and stable CRS thresholds. To improve their chances of receiving an ITA, applicants should consider:

    • Gaining eligible Canadian work experience
    • Improving language test scores
    • Enhancing CRS scores through education or additional credentials
    • Keeping their Express Entry profile active and updated

    As targeted draws continue throughout 2026, candidates who meet Canada’s labour market needs—especially those already in the country—are expected to remain in a strong position for future invitations.

    Also check out  2026-2028 immigration levels plan | Canada Immigration Plan 2025 to 2027 | Canada Immigration Levels Plan For 2024-2026 | Canada Immigration Level Plan for 2023-2025​

    Stay tuned for future updates on Express Entry draws and immigration news.

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