Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted the fourth Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This draw, held on January 21, set a new low for Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores in 2026, with a cut-off of 509.
To qualify, candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profiles before 4:35 a.m. UTC on October 29, 2025, and met the minimum CRS score. The Canadian Experience Class targets individuals with recent Canadian work experience, often seen as well-positioned for successful integration into the country’s labour market and society.
This marks the second CEC-specific draw of 2026, reaffirming IRCC’s continued focus on applicants already contributing to Canada’s economy. By targeting experienced workers who are already living in the country, the government aims to streamline integration and fill labour market gaps more effectively.
This year has seen a total of 15,255 ITAs issued across four Express Entry rounds. Of these, 14,000 were allocated to CEC candidates, while 1,255 went to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants. Both program categories are considered high priorities as they reflect IRCC’s intent to boost permanent residency applications from candidates with ties to Canada.
The four draws to date in 2026 are as follows:
– January 5: PNP, 574 ITAs, CRS 711
– January 7: CEC, 8,000 ITAs, CRS 511
– January 20: PNP, 746 ITAs, CRS 681
– January 21: CEC, 6,000 ITAs, CRS 509
So far this year, IRCC has evenly split its draws between the CEC and PNP streams—two each. This trend highlights a strategic focus on attracting immigrants who are either already contributing to the Canadian economy or have secured provincial nominations based on regional labour needs.
Maple News will continue to follow updates from IRCC as Canada advances its immigration targets in 2026, aligning them with economic recovery and demographic strategies.