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CEC Express Entry Draw #400 : inviting 4,000 Candidates with a CRS cut-off score of 508

IRCC Sends 4,000 CEC Invitations as CRS Score Holds at 508

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    Canada Conducts New Canadian Experience Class Draw, Issues 4,000 ITAs

    Canada has carried out another Express Entry selection round, this time inviting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the latest draw on 3rd March.

    The round highlights the government’s continued emphasis on retaining skilled workers who already have professional experience in Canada. Throughout 2026, Express Entry selections have largely favoured candidates with Canadian work backgrounds or provincial nominations. Unlike Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rounds, this selection was limited specifically to CEC candidates within the Express Entry pool.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Canadian Experience Class
    • Number of ITAs: 4,000
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 508
    • Date and time of round: March 3, 2026 at 11:41:00 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: June 24, 2025 at 22:35:48 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 39,112

    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 39,112 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 : 5 draw
    • CEC : 4 Draw
    • French-language skills : 1
    • Healthcare and social services : 1
    • Physicians 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.

    Why Canadian Experience Class Candidates Remain a Priority

    The Canadian Experience Class is designed for individuals who have gained skilled work experience within Canada. Because these candidates are already familiar with the country’s labour market, workplace standards, and culture, they are often viewed as strong long-term contributors to the economy.

    By prioritising CEC draws, Canada is reinforcing its commitment to retaining international graduates and temporary foreign workers who are already filling workforce gaps.

    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) : 24,000
    • French language proficiency: 8,500
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 2,221
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : 4,000
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 391
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    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 03, a total of 39,112 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.

    Recent Express Entry Trends

    In recent weeks, IRCC has alternated between PNP rounds, Canadian Experience Class draws, and targeted category-based selections such as healthcare and French-language proficiency.

    The consistent absence of general all-program draws suggests that Canada is maintaining a highly targeted approach to immigration in 2026. Priority appears to be given to candidates with Canadian work experience or those selected by provinces.

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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 latest CEC draw demonstrates that candidates with Canadian work experience continue to have strong prospects in 2026. With CRS cut-offs hovering around the low 500s in CEC rounds, applicants may benefit from improving language test scores, gaining additional skilled work experience, or securing a provincial nomination to boost competitiveness.

    As the year progresses, Express Entry is expected to remain focused and strategic, with Canadian Experience Class candidates continuing to play a central role in meeting Canada’s immigration and labour market goals.

    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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