India's No.1 Award Winning Immigration Firm
Check your eligibility in 5 min. (Free): +91 88 85 85 85 15
Email Us: info@universaladviser.com
Canada News
Site Logo

Canada Issues 1,000 Invitations to Canadian Experience Class in Latest Express Entry Draw

Canadian Experience Class Draw – August 18

    Get in Touch

    Canada Invites 1,000 CEC Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw With CRS Cut-Off of 523

    Canada has conducted another Express Entry invitation round, this time selecting candidates through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the August 18 draw.

    The latest round focused on skilled candidates with Canadian work experience. Those selected needed to meet the draw’s CRS threshold and satisfy the profile submission cut-off set by IRCC.

    Check your Eligibility for Express Entry
    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Canadian Experience Class
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 523
    • Number of ITAs: 1,000
    • Date and time of round: August 18, 2026 at 10:13:44 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: August 17, 2026 at 22:09:00 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 114,865

    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.

    Source Website :- Express Entry system

    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.

    Apply for Canada PR

    Total Express Entry ITAs for 2026

    With this latest draw, IRCC has now issued 114,865 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 : 16 draw
    • CEC : 14 Draw
    • French-language skills : 9
    • Healthcare and social services : 2
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 2
    • Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience : 2
    • Trade Occupations : 1
    • Transport Occupations : 1
    • Skilled Military Recruits : 1
    • Education: 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) : 49,250
    • French language proficiency: 45,500
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : 8,000
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 7,399
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : 3,000
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 662
    • Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience : 750
    • Transport Occupations : 300
    • Skilled Military Recruits : 4
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    436 August 18 Canadian Experience Class 1,000 523
    435 August 17 Provincial Nominee Program 442 760
    434 August 7 Transport Occupations 300 470
    433 August 6 French-Language 5,000 391
    432 August 5 Canadian Experience Class 3,000 516
    431 August 4 Provincial Nominee Program 507 768
    430 July 23 Skilled Military Recruits 4 368
    429 July 22 French-Language proficiency 5,000 399
    428 July 21 Canadian Experience Class 2,000 516
    427 July 20 Provincial Nominee Program 511 744
    426 July 10 Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience 500 392
    425 July 9 French-Speaking Candidates 5,000 420
    424 July 7 CEC 2,000 517
    423 July 6 PNP 534 708
    422 June 25 Healthcare and Social Services Occupations 4,000 475
    421 June 24 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 271 223
    420 June 23 CEC 4,000 516
    419 June 22 Provincial Nominee Program 955 730
    418 May 28 French-Language proficiency 4,500 409
    417 May 27 CEC 3,000 518
    416 May 25 PNP 334 805
    415 May 11 PNP 380 798
    414 April 29 French-Speaking 4,000 400
    413 April 28 CEC 2,000 514
    412 April 27 PNP 473 795
    411 April 15 French-Language 4,000 419
    410 April 14 CEC 2,000 515
    409 April 13 PNP 324 786
    408 April 2 Trades Occupations 3,000 477
    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 August 18, a total of 114,865 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026. CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 169

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    CEC Remains a Major Express Entry Route

    The Canadian Experience Class is intended for skilled workers who have gained qualifying work experience in Canada and want to obtain permanent residence.

    The program is particularly relevant to temporary residents and other eligible workers who have already developed professional experience in the Canadian labour market. Candidates must meet the program’s eligibility conditions before entering the Express Entry pool, but eligibility alone does not guarantee an invitation.

    Once profiles are in the pool, candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System. Factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience and other qualifying circumstances can influence the overall CRS score.

    Check your Eligibility

    What the August 18 Draw Means for Candidates

    The latest CEC round provides another opportunity for skilled workers already established in Canada, but the higher CRS requirement shows that competition can change from one draw to the next.

    Candidates below the latest threshold may want to examine ways of improving their ranking where possible. Better language results, additional qualifying work experience, further education or a provincial nomination can affect a candidate’s CRS position depending on their individual profile.

    Check your Eligibility

    Express Entry Selection Pattern in 2026

    IRCC’s draw schedule this year shows that invitations have been distributed through several targeted routes rather than one single selection model. 

    Recent rounds have included:

    This category-based approach means candidates should determine which Express Entry or provincial stream best matches their background instead of focusing only on the overall CRS cut-off.
    Check your Eligibility

    Express Entry Candidates Should Prepare for Future Draws

    The August 18 selection demonstrates that IRCC can adjust both invitation numbers and CRS thresholds across different rounds. Candidates who remain in the pool should continue monitoring future selections and ensure their profiles contain accurate, up-to-date information.
    For eligible skilled workers with Canadian experience, the CEC remains an important route toward permanent residence, particularly as Canada continues using targeted Express Entry selections throughout 2026.

    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.

    Is it worth moving to Canada?

    Take a free online profile assessment with Universal Adviser

    Recent News

    Related News

    Website-Pop-UpPOP UP New