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Express Entry Draw #396 : IRCC Issues 6,000 ITA to CEC Candidates for PR Visa

Canada issues 6,000 ITAs in latest Express Entry CEC Draw

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    Canada Invites 6,000 CEC Candidates in Major Express Entry Draw

    Canada’s Express Entry system has delivered another significant round of invitations, this time focusing on candidates with Canadian work experience. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a program-specific draw on February 17, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

    The latest selection highlights the federal government’s continued emphasis on applicants who are already employed and settled in Canada, reinforcing the 2026 strategy of prioritising in-country talent. Unlike general draws that consider multiple programs at once, this round was limited exclusively to CEC candidates.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Canadian Experience Class
    • Number of ITAs: 6,000
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 508
    • Date and time of round: February 17, 2026 at 11:33:44 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: March 16, 2025 at 09:35:59 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 30,457

    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 30,457 ITAs through Express Entry in 2026. The distribution of invitations clearly reflects the department’s priority streams.

    The high volume of French-language 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 : 4 draw
    • CEC : 3 Draw
    • French-language skills : 1
    • Healthcare and social services : No Draws Yet
    • Education: No Draws Yet
    • Trade Occupations : No Draws Yet

    So far, no general all-program draw has been held in 2026, underscoring IRCC’s selective and targeted invitation strategy.

    A Busy Period of ITAs for December 2026

    This is the 1st Express Entry draw of the month.

    • French language proficiency draw on December 17: 6,000 ITAs
    • CEC draw on December 16: 5,000 ITAs
    • PNP on December 15: 399 ITAs
    • Healthcare and Social Services draw on December 11: 1,000 ITAs
    • CEC draw on December 10: 6,000 ITAs
    • PNP draw on December 8: 1,123 ITAs

    With these rapid-fire invitation rounds, IRCC is closing out the year with one of the most active Express Entry periods in over the past 12 months.

    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) : 20,000
    • French language proficiency: 8,500
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 1,957
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : No Draws Yet
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    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 February 17, a total of 30,457 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026. CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 400

    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.

    February 17 Draw Reflects Continued Focus on In-Canada Talent

    The February 17 CEC-only round aligns with Canada’s broader immigration direction for 2026, which prioritises applicants with established Canadian work experience. By selecting CEC candidates in large numbers, IRCC is facilitating the transition of temporary foreign workers to permanent residents.

    This approach also supports labour market stability by retaining individuals who are already integrated into Canadian workplaces.

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    A Look at the Most Recent Express Entry Activity

    Just one day before the February 17 CEC draw, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program round on February 16, issuing 279 ITAs with a CRS cut-off score of 789.

    Earlier in the month, on February 6, the department conducted a French-language proficiency draw, inviting 8,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 400 — one of the largest category-based selections so far this year.

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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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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    For candidates in the Express Entry pool, these developments underline the growing importance of:
    • Provincial Nominee Programs
    • Canadian work experience
    • Building strong provincial or employer ties within Canada

    Applicants without provincial nominations may continue to see limited opportunities unless they qualify under targeted categories such as the Canadian Experience Class or future category-based draws.

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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    The drop to a CRS cut-off of 508 may encourage CEC candidates who were previously close to the threshold. With three CEC draws already held in early 2026, applicants with Canadian work experience appear to have strong prospects this year.

    For candidates seeking to improve their chances, strengthening CRS scores, maintaining updated profiles, and exploring provincial nomination opportunities remain strategic steps toward securing permanent residence under Express Entry.

    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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