Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw conducted through the Express Entry system. The draw set a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of 507, and required candidates to have created an Express Entry profile before 6:57 p.m. UTC on May 11, 2025.
A CRS score measures factors such as age, education, language ability and work experience. A cut-off of 507 represents the lowest threshold in 18 months, expanding or maintaining access to ITAs for many candidates with Canadian credentials or ties to the system.
This draw is the sixteenth Express Entry selection of 2026 and the fifth CEC draw this year, underscoring IRCC’s ongoing emphasis on candidates already inside Canada or with significant Canadian connections.
Overall, IRCC has issued 49,604 ITAs across all Express Entry draw types in 2026 to date, with Canadian Experience Class draws accounting for the largest share—roughly 28,000 ITAs issued to CEC candidates so far this year. The year’s draws have heavily favored within-Canada candidates, including provincial nominees and those with Canadian work experience.
As of this round, the spectrum of draws has included Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, CEC draws, French-language proficiency draws, and targeted draws such as physicians with Canadian work experience, healthcare and social services professionals, and senior managers with Canadian work experience. To prospective applicants, this combination highlights the value of staying in Canada, pursuing provincial nomination routes, and strengthening a CRS profile through Canadian work and education credentials.
Maple News will continue monitoring Express Entry activity and provide updates as the CRS cut-offs and ITA volumes evolve, helping readers plan their immigration pathways with current data.