Express Entry Draws 2026
/ Canadian Immigration Updates, Express Entry Draws / By

Express Entry Draw Results 2026: All CRS Scores, Dates & IRCC Categories

Live Tracker — Updated Weekly – By Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319 – Latest Update: September 4, 2026

IRCC has held 53 Express Entry draws between January 5 and September 4, 2026, issuing 126,156 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The most recent draw was held on September 4, 2026 for the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category, issuing 3,500 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 475. Before that, IRCC held a Physicians with Canadian Work Experience draw on September 3 (229 ITAs at CRS 198). Before that, IRCC held a Canadian Experience Class draw on September 1 (2,000 ITAs at CRS 521). The day before, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 31 (562 ITAs at CRS 697). Before that, IRCC held a French-language proficiency draw on August 19 (5,000 ITAs at CRS 382, a new 2026 low for that category). In the days before that, IRCC held a Canadian Experience Class draw on August 18 (1,000 ITAs at CRS 523, the highest CEC cut-off of 2026), a Provincial Nominee Program draw on August 17 (442 ITAs at CRS 760), and a Transport Occupations draw on August 7 (300 ITAs at CRS 470).

2026 Express Entry Draws at a glance:

StatFigure
Total draws (as of September 4, 2026)53
Total ITAs issued (as of September 4, 2026)126,156
Record low CRS (all-time)169 (Physicians, Feb 19)
CEC cut-off range 507 – 523
Latest Trades CRS477 (Apr 02)
Latest French CRS382 (Aug 19)
Latest Senior Manager CRS392 (July 10, 2026)
Active categories 202610

Key takeaways — what you need to know right now:

  • 126,156 ITAs issued across 53 draws as of September 4, 2026
  • Four new draws opened in early September: a Provincial Nominee Program round on August 31 (562 ITAs, CRS 697), a Canadian Experience Class round on September 1 (2,000 ITAs, CRS 521), a Physicians with Canadian Work Experience round on September 3 (229 ITAs, CRS 198), and a Healthcare and Social Services Occupations round on September 4 (3,500 ITAs, CRS 475).
  • August has brought seven new draws so far: PNP (Aug 4, 507 ITAs, CRS 768), CEC (Aug 5, 3,000 ITAs, CRS 516), French-language proficiency (Aug 6, 5,000 ITAs, CRS 391), Transport Occupations (Aug 7, 300 ITAs, CRS 470), a second PNP round (Aug 17, 442 ITAs, CRS 760), a CEC round (Aug 18, 1,000 ITAs, CRS 523, the highest CEC cut-off of 2026), and a second French-language round (Aug 19, 5,000 ITAs, CRS 382)
  • First-ever Trades Occupations draw of 2026 held April 2 — 3,000 ITAs at CRS 477
  • Record low CRS of 169 issued February 19, 2026, for Physicians with Canadian work experience
  • First-ever Senior Manager draw held March 5, 2026, at CRS 429 — 250 ITAs issued
  • Second Senior Manager draw held July 10, 2026, at CRS 392, with 500 ITAs — much lower than the first round
  • CEC cut-offs have stayed between 507 and 523, and there’s still no sign they’ll drop below 500 anytime soon.
  • French draws remain the most accessible pathway, with cut-offs hitting a new 2026 low of 382 in the August 19 draw, down from 391 on August 6.
  • First Transport Occupations draw of 2026 held August 7 — 300 ITAs issued at a CRS cut-off of 470.
  • No STEM category draw has occurred in over 27 months; STEM candidates need a different strategy.
  • Work experience requirement for all 2026 category draws increased to 12 months (up from 6 months in 2025).

Not sure how your profile fits the 2026 draw landscape? Check your Express Entry eligibility or Book Your Strategy Assessment with RCIC Amir Ismail (R412319).

How Express Entry changed in 2026

In 2026, IRCC moved decisively toward targeted category draws over broad CRS-based general draws. Five new categories were launched in February alone. The result is a system where your NOC code and occupation history matter as much as your CRS score.

Category draws let IRCC pull candidates with specific skills from the pool at cut-offs far below the general CEC threshold. A candidate with CRS 450 in a qualifying trade or healthcare occupation may receive an ITA before a general draw ever reaches that score.

Three things define Express Entry in 2026:

  • 10 active categories now exist, with 5 added or introduced in the past four months
  • All renewed categories require 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience, up from 6 months in 2025
  • The STEM category has been dormant for over 27 months — STEM candidates need a clear alternative plan

Understand how Express Entry works before building your 2026 strategy.

What Are the New IRCC Express Entry Categories for 2026?

IRCC added five new 2026 categories on February 18: Senior Managers, Researchers, Transport workers, and Skilled Military Recruits — plus Physicians, quietly added December 8, 2025. Total active categories: 10. (Source: IRCC Ministerial Instructions, Feb 18, 2026)

Category Added Experience Required Location of Experience
French-language proficiency 2023 (renewed) 12 months Canada or abroad
Healthcare & Social Services 2023 (renewed) 12 months Canada or abroad
STEM occupations 2023 (renewed — no recent draws) 12 months Canada or abroad
Trade occupations 2025 (renewed, cooks removed) 12 months Canada or abroad
Education occupations May 2025 12 months Canada or abroad
Physicians with Canadian work experience New Dec 8, 2025 12 months Canada only
Senior Managers with Canadian work experience New Feb 18, 2026 12 months Canada only
Researchers with Canadian work experience New Feb 18, 2026 12 months Canada only
Transport occupations New Feb 18, 2026 12 months Canada or abroad
Skilled Military Recruits New Feb 18, 2026 Job offer from CAF required N/A (foreign military service)

⚠️ Note: The Agriculture and Agri-food category was retired for 2026. If you previously qualified under that stream, you will need a new strategy.

All 2026 Express Entry draw results

As of September 4, 2026 , IRCC has held 53 draws , issuing 126,156 ITAs in 2026. The most recent round was a Healthcare and Social Services Occupations draw on September 4, 2026, issuing 3,500 ITAs at CRS 475. Before that, IRCC held a Physicians with Canadian Work Experience draw on September 3, 2026, issuing 229 ITAs at CRS 198. CEC draws have stayed mostly in the 507 to 523 range, with the latest CEC round on September 1, 2026 landing at CRS 521, just under the 2026-high of 523 set August 18, with 2,000 ITAs.

French draws went as low as 393 in Q1, and the most recent French-language proficiency draw, on August 19, 2026, issued 5,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 382. The first Trades category draw of 2026 took place on April 2 at CRS 477, and the Senior Manager category has now seen two rounds, with the latest on July 10, 2026 at CRS 392.

Express Entry Rounds of Invitation January 2026 to date

#DateRound typeInvitations issuedCRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited
441September 4, 2026Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 33,500475
440September 3, 2026Physicians with Canadian Work Experience229198
439September 1, 2026Canadian Experience Class2,000521
438August 31, 2026Provincial Nominee Program562697
437August 19, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 25,000382
436August 18, 2026Canadian Experience Class1,000523
435August 17, 2026Provincial Nominee Program442760
434August 7, 2026Transport Occupations, 2026-Version 2300470
433August 6, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 25,000391
432August 5, 2026Canadian Experience Class3,000516
431August 4, 2026Provincial Nominee Program507768
430July 23, 2026Skilled Military Recruits4368
429July 22, 2026French-Language proficiency5,000399
428July 21, 2026Canadian Experience Class2,000516
427July 20, 2026Provincial Nominee Program511744
426July 10, 2026Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 2500392
425July 9, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 25,000420
424July 7, 2026Canadian Experience Class2,000517
423July 6, 2026Provincial Nominee Program534708
422June 25, 2026Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 34,000475
421June 24, 2026Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1271223
420June 23, 2026Canadian Experience Class4,000516
419June 22, 2026Provincial Nominee Program955730
418May 28, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 24,500409
417May 27, 2026Canadian Experience Class3,000518
416May 25, 2026Provincial Nominee Program334805
415May 11, 2026Provincial Nominee Program380798
414April 29, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 24,000400
413April 28, 2026Canadian Experience Class2,000514
412April 27, 2026Provincial Nominee Program473795
411April 15, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 24,000419
410April 14, 2026Canadian Experience Class2,000515
409April 13, 2026Provincial Nominee Program324786
408April 2, 2026Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 33,000477
407March 31, 2026Canadian Experience Class2,250509
406March 30, 2026Provincial Nominee Program356802
405March 18, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 24,000393
404March 17, 2026Canadian Experience Class4,000507
403March 16, 2026Provincial Nominee Program362742
402March 5, 2026Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1250429
401March 4, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 25,500397
400March 3, 2026Canadian Experience Class4,000508
399March 2, 2026Provincial Nominee Program264710
398February 20, 2026Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 34,000467
397February 19, 2026Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1391169
396February 17, 2026Canadian Experience Class6,000508
395February 16, 2026Provincial Nominee Program279789
394February 6, 2026French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 28,500400
393February 3, 2026Provincial Nominee Program423749
392January 21, 2026Canadian Experience Class6,000509
391January 20, 2026Provincial Nominee Program681746
390January 7, 2026Canadian Experience Class8,000511
389January 5, 2026Provincial Nominee Program574711

The CRS has changed over time. You can check which version of the Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system was in force on the day a given round was held to see on what basis candidates were ranked for invitation.

Source: IRCC official immigration and citizenship page. Cumulative total: 126,156 ITAs across 53 draws . Updated September 4, 2026 .

What CRS score do you need for Express Entry in 2026?

There is no single CRS number. It depends entirely on your draw type. Here is where each pathway sat in Q1 and Q2 2026, and what to expect in Q3, based on all 53 draws and 126,156 ITAs issued as of September 4, 2026 .

Draw TypeQ1 & Q2 2026 CRS RangeQ3 2026 OutlookBest For
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)507–523505–523 – latest CEC draw (September 1, 2026) landed at 521, just under the 2026-high of 523 set August 18Candidates with Canadian work experience and CRS 500+
French Language Proficiency393–400390–420 – latest French draw (August 19, 2026) cut-off dropped to 382Candidates with strong French (CLB 7+) regardless of CRS
Healthcare & Social Services467460–475 – latest Healthcare draw (September 4, 2026) held at CRS 475NOC eligible healthcare workers with 12 months work experience
Senior Managers392–429 (two draws)390–410 – latest draw July 10, 2026 at CRS 392NOC 00 code executives with 12 months Canadian experience
Physicians169 (record low)Pool-dependent – Latest draw September 3, 2026 at CRS 198Physicians with 12 months Canadian clinical experience
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)697–802 (incl. +600 bonus)Consistent monthly draws – latest PNP draw (August 31, 2026) hit a new 2026 low of CRS 697Candidates with a valid provincial nomination
TradesFirst Draw – 477470-490Skilled trades workers with qualifying NOC and 12 months Canadian experience
Transport Occupations470 (First draw: Aug 7, 300 ITAs)Expected to continue periodically in H2 2026Transport occupations with 12 months Canadian experience
STEM (dormant)Last draw: Apr 11, 2024No confirmed draw as of August 2026STEM workers — explore CEC or PNP instead

If your CRS is between 400 and 507, your fastest route to an ITA in 2026 is a category draw, a provincial nomination, or French language skills. The truth is, French alone has driven 50,500 ITAs in 2026, including 5,000 new invitations in the August 19 French draw at a cut-off of CRS 382.

Calculate your current CRS score to see exactly where you stand.

The Senior Manager Express Entry category — who qualifies

On March 5, 2026, IRCC held the first-ever Senior Manager draw (#402), issuing 250 ITAs at CRS 429. For years, executives were disadvantaged by Express Entry. Job offers no longer carry the same weight they did before 2024. Age penalties hit senior candidates harder. The Senior Manager category changes that.

Which NOC Codes Qualify for the Express Entry Senior Manager Category?

The following four NOC codes qualify for the Express Entry Senior Manager Category

NOC CODETypical Job Titles
00012financial, communications and other business services | CEOs, CFOs, banking executives, financial institution presidents, communications company leaders
00013health, education, social and community services | Hospital administrators, university presidents, social services directors, public health executives
00014trade, broadcasting and other services | Retail chain executives, media company leaders, hospitality conglomerate directors
00015construction, transportation, production and utilities | General contractors, logistics firm directors, utilities executives, manufacturing company presidents

A job title of “Manager” or “Director” does not automatically qualify you for NOC 00 codes. IRCC officers look for evidence that you establish overall organizational policy and direct other managers below you who in turn direct staff. Operational managers who report to a VP typically do not meet the threshold.

Do you qualify for the Senior Manager category?

You likely qualify if:

  • You hold a C-suite title (CEO, CFO, COO, VP) at a Canadian organization
  • You set organizational strategy, not just operational policy
  • You have 12 months in Canada in one of the four NOC 00 codes within the past 3 years
  • You directed other managers who in turn directed staff

You may face challenges if:

  • Your title is “Manager” or “Senior Manager,” but you report to a VP or Director
  • Your 12 months of experience includes self-employment or founder equity
  • You managed a team directly without subordinate managers between you and frontline staff

Consult an RCIC before applying if:

  • You are a founder or major shareholder — self-employment creates a significant grey area
  • Your qualifying experience spans two separate companies or two different NOC codes
  • Any portion of your 12 months was as an independent contractor

Executives applying under NOC 00 categories face the most intensive reference letter scrutiny of any Express Entry category. The documentation package needs to be airtight. Book Your Strategy Assessment to review your NOC eligibility before applying

The Physician Express Entry category — who qualifies

The Physicians category (added December 8, 2025) held its first draw on February 19, 2026, issuing 391 ITAs at a record-low CRS of 169. No other Express Entry draw in the program’s history has run at a lower cut-off.

When Draw #397 came out at CRS 169, it reflected one thing: the pool of eligible physicians in Canada with 12 months of Canadian clinical experience was small enough that IRCC could clear it entirely at a very low score threshold.

What do physicians need to qualify?

  • At least 12 months of full-time work experience as a physician in Canada within the past 3 years
  • A NOC code aligned with your medical specialty (confirm your specific code before applying)
  • All standard Express Entry eligibility requirements: valid language test, education credentials if applicable
  • The 12 months does not need to be continuous — multiple contracts across provinces can count

Physician Express Entry applications frequently face delays where provincial medical licensing boards have not yet updated their records to reflect completed contracts. Confirm that your licensing status and employment records are aligned before submitting.

What happened to STEM in Express Entry?

No STEM Express Entry draw has occurred since April 11, 2024 — over 27 months of dormancy.

In that same period, the eligible STEM occupation list has been progressively narrowed, removing some occupations that previously qualified. If you assumed a STEM draw was coming, it is time to build a parallel plan.

What STEM professionals should do in 2026:

  • If you have 12 months of Canadian work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, you qualify for CEC draws at current cut-offs of 507–515
  • If your French is at CLB 5 or above, investing a few months in improving it to CLB 7 opens access to French language draws where cut-offs ran as low as 393 in Q1 2026
  • Ontario, BC, and Alberta all have tech-focused PNP streams. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points and bypasses the general CEC cut-off entirely
  • A STEM category draw could be announced at any time. Keeping an active, complete Express Entry profile in the pool costs nothing and preserves your position

Several STEM clients who were waiting for a category draw in 2024 and 2025 have since pivoted to CEC or provincial nominations and have received their PR. Waiting for a specific category draw is not a strategy when there are active alternatives. Book Your Strategy Assessment to map your options.

How to prepare for your Express Entry category draw

Preparation before a draw matters more than speed after one. Most candidates receive no advance notice of a draw. When IRCC runs a category draw, only candidates who are already in the pool with a complete, eligible profile receive an ITA.

Six things to do now:

  1. Confirm your NOC code matches the category you expect to be drawn under. Use the Government of Canada NOC tool and verify based on duties, not job title.
  2. Verify you meet the 12-month work experience threshold within the past 3 years. This is a hard requirement for all 2026 category draws.
  3. Check your language test expiry. IRCC requires tests dated within the past two years. An expired test removes you from consideration.
  4. Submit or update your Express Entry profile. A profile with outdated information risks being screened out.
  5. Know your CRS score before the draw. A wrong self-assessment leads to misaligned strategy.
  6. Have your documents ready for the 60-day submission window. If you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to file a complete PR application. Medical exams, police certificates, and reference letters take time.

Learn how to prepare for Express Entry category-based draws at amirismail.com.

Check your Express Entry eligibility before your next draw.

Frequently asked questions

What are the new Express Entry categories for 2026?

IRCC added five new categories on February 18, 2026: Senior Managers with Canadian work experience, Researchers with Canadian work experience, Transport workers, Skilled Military Recruits, and Physicians (added December 8, 2025). Combined with the retained 2025 categories — French language, Healthcare and social services, Trades, STEM, and Education — there are now 10 active categories.

What is the lowest CRS score in Express Entry history?

CRS 169, issued on February 19, 2026, in Draw #397, is exclusively for Physicians with at least 12 months of Canadian clinical work experience.

What CRS score do I need for Express Entry in 2026?

It depends on the draw type. Across 2026 to date: CEC draws ran at 507–523; French draws hit a low of 382; Healthcare reached 475; Senior Managers dropped to 392; Transport occupations drew at 470; Physicians sat at 169 (record low); and PNP draws ranged at 697–805 (including the 600-point nomination bonus).

Do I need a job offer for 2026 Express Entry category draws?

With the exception of the Skilled Military Recruits category (which requires a job offer from the CAF), category draws do not require a future job offer. They are based on past work experience (gained in Canada or abroad, depending on the specific category rules) in a qualifying NOC code.

How often will IRCC hold Express Entry draws in 2026?

IRCC holds draws often, but they do not announce dates in advance. As of September 4, 2026, we’re already at 53 draws and 126,156 ITAs.

Which NOC codes qualify for the 2026 Senior Manager category?

Four TEER 0 double-zero NOC codes: NOC 00012, 00013, 00014, and 00015. These cover senior executives in financial services, health and education, trade and broadcasting, and construction and transportation. Title alone is not sufficient — the role must involve setting overall organizational policy and directing other managers.

Are STEM workers still invited in Express Entry draws in 2026?

No active STEM category draws have occurred since April 11, 2024. STEM professionals with Canadian work experience can still receive ITAs through CEC draws. Those without Canadian experience should explore French language draws, provincial nominations, or wait for a STEM category draw announcement.

What is the difference between category-based and general Express Entry draws?

General draws (CEC, PNP) invite candidates based purely on CRS score ranking across the full pool. Category draws pull only candidates who meet a specific occupation or language criterion, which allows IRCC to invite them at much lower cut-offs. A candidate with CRS 450 who qualifies for a trades category may receive an ITA before a general CEC draw ever reaches that score.

Is your Express Entry profile optimized for 2026?

Amir Ismail has reviewed over 25,000 immigration cases since 1991 from offices in Toronto, Karachi, and Dubai. The 2026 Express Entry landscape rewards preparation and penalizes generic strategy.

Book your Strategy Assessment, and we will review your NOC code, CRS score, category eligibility, and the fastest route to your ITA.

About the author

Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC #R412319) and founder of Amir Ismail & Associates, with offices in Toronto, Karachi, and Dubai. He has handled over 25,000 immigration cases across Express Entry, provincial nominations, and citizenship pathways since 1991.

Sources: IRCC official immigration and citizenship page; IRCC Category-Based Selection Announcement, February 18, 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice.

More Express Entry News By Amir Ismail

Subscribe to AIA Newsletter
Sign up with your email address to receive latest immigration news and updates.
Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.
BOOK A STRATEGY CONSULTATION