Canada Issues 8,000 Express Entry Invitations in Major CEC Draw
Latest Express Entry Update
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has sent out more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system.
Big CEC Draw Announced
This time, IRCC invited 8,000 candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category.
This is for people who already have work experience in Canada.
Who Was Eligible for This Draw?
To be selected in this draw, candidates needed to:
- CRS score of at least 511, and
- An Express Entry profile created before 3:59 PM (UTC) on June 10, 2025
Express Entry Draws So Far in 2026
So far in 2026, IRCC has conducted two Express Entry draws:
- January 7 – CEC draw
- CRS cut-off: 511
- ITAs issued: 8,000
- January 5 – PNP draw
- CRS cut-off: 711
- ITAs issued: 574
Why This CEC Draw Is Important
Now here’s why this draw stands out:
- It is the second-largest CEC draw ever
- Only the pandemic-era draw was bigger (27,000+ ITAs)
- It also has the lowest CRS cut-off seen since 2024
- In 2025, no draw had a CRS lower than this
What This Means for 2026
Additionally, this was only the second Express Entry draw of the year, showing that IRCC has started 2026 with strong activity.
IRCC’s Current Focus
Clearly, IRCC is prioritizing:
- Candidates already in Canada
- Applicants with Canadian work experience
- People nominated through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
So far in 2026:
- 1 CEC draw
- 1 PNP draw
Total ITAs Issued This Year (So Far)
Even though it’s just the first full week of January, IRCC has already issued:
- 8,000 ITAs (CEC)
- 574 ITAs (PNP)
Total: Over 8,500 ITAs
Why January Matters
Usually, January is a busy month for Express Entry.
This is because IRCC tries to issue more ITAs early so they can meet their annual immigration targets.
When Do Applicants Actually Land in Canada?
Finally, keep in mind:
- There is a time gap between getting an ITA and moving to Canada
- Processing and approvals usually take at least 6 months
- So, most landings happen months after the ITA is issued
Get in touch with SPS Global
Receive advice on any of your questions regarding Immigration Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).
