Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw conducted through Express Entry. To be eligible, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 514 and a profile created before 2:18 p.m. UTC on September 24, 2025.
This draw represents the last Express Entry round in April and is the twenty-fourth Express Entry selection of 2026. IRCC has continued to prioritize candidates already in Canada, including provincial nominees and workers with Canadian work experience, as part of its year-to-date strategy.
Year to date, IRCC has issued 67,627 ITAs across all Express Entry draw types. The breakdown includes 34,250 ITAs for the Canadian Experience Class, 22,000 for French-language proficiency, 4,000 for healthcare and social services, 3,736 through Provincial Nominee Programs, 3,000 for trades, 391 for physicians with Canadian work experience, and 250 for senior managers with Canadian work experience.
Regarding the latest draw, the Canadian Experience Class cutoff stood at 514, with 2,000 ITAs issued. This reflects IRCC’s ongoing emphasis on attracting experienced candidates who already have ties to Canada, whether through employment, provincial nomination, or language proficiency pipelines.
Looking at the broader pattern in 2026, IRCC has conducted a mix of streams: nine Provincial Nominee Program draws, eight Canadian Experience Class draws, four French-language proficiency draws, and single-category draws for physicians with Canadian work experience, healthcare and social services, senior managers with Canadian work experience, and trades. Maple News will continue to monitor Express Entry rounds and provide timely guidance for candidates seeking to optimize their profiles and improve their chances.
According to Maple News, the Express Entry program remains an agile tool for Canada to align immigration with labor market needs, particularly by prioritizing domestic applicants and those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience.