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Canada Conducts First Express Entry Draw #402 Targeting Senior Managers

senior managers with Canadian work experience

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    Canada Launches First Express Entry Draw for Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience

    Canada has introduced a new targeted immigration selection through the Express Entry system, focusing on experienced senior managers who already have work experience in the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the draw on March 5, issuing 250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence.

    The selection marks the first invitation round under the newly created Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category, reflecting Canada’s strategy to retain high-level professionals contributing to key sectors of the economy. Unlike draws targeting broader categories such as the Canadian Experience Class or the Provincial Nominee Program, this round focused specifically on candidates holding leadership roles in major industries.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience
    • Number of ITAs: 250
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 429
    • Date and time of round: March 5, 2026 at 11:49:49 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: August 19, 2025 at 15:10:18 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 44,862

    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 44,862 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 : 2
    • 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) : 24,000
    • French language proficiency: 14,000
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 2,221
    • 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
    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 05, a total of 44,862 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 Canada Is Targeting Senior Managers

    Canada’s labour market increasingly requires experienced leadership professionals who can guide organisations, manage large teams, and drive economic growth.

    By introducing a dedicated category for senior managers with Canadian experience, IRCC aims to retain executives who already understand the Canadian business environment and are contributing to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, finance, and services.

    This targeted approach also helps ensure that immigrants selected through Express Entry are well-positioned to integrate quickly into the Canadian labour market.
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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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    Recent Express Entry Trends

    Recent activity in the Express Entry system shows that IRCC is rotating between multiple draw types, including:

    This strategy allows Canada to address specific labour shortages and economic priorities while maintaining a steady intake of skilled immigrants.
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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    The launch of the Senior Managers category demonstrates that Canada is continuing to expand targeted immigration pathways for skilled professionals already working in the country. Candidates seeking to strengthen their chances of receiving an ITA may consider steps such as:
    • Improving language test results
    • Gaining additional skilled work experience in Canada
    • Obtaining a provincial nomination
    • Ensuring their Express Entry profile remains updated
    As immigration rounds continue throughout 2026, category-based draws are expected to remain a key feature of Canada’s immigration system, offering additional opportunities for candidates who meet specific labour market requirements.

    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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