6000 ITA for Canadian Experience Class and a lower score

Once again, the January 2026 Express Entry draw invites candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. This time, 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in Canada were issued, and most importantly, the CRS score dropped to 509 out of 511 points in the previous CEC draw.

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Today, I will address the topic of Express Entry draws for the year 2026 based on the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which reflects a significant demand for foreign workers with Canadian work experience. 

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If you plan to obtain permanent resident status this year and have not yet received an ITA, read this article in its entirety so that you can take note of the steps you need to take before applying. This will increase your chances of being selected in the next rounds.

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Express Entry Draws 2026

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According to the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the Express Entry system set a target of 380,000 new permanent residents per year. For 2026, the priority of IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) is "internal transition. "

This means that the government will give priority to those who are already in the country, either working or studying. As for the economic goal (employment or entrepreneurship), the number of admissions is around 240,000 places for 2026.

Therefore, it is expected that exclusive draws for the Canadian Experience Class category, as well as specific categories such as health, trades, and transportation, will continue to be frequent.

Important: the plan also focuses on French-speaking immigration outside Quebec, so if you are fluent in French, this category may benefit you and grant you additional points.

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As of January, at the time of publication of this article, two CEC lotteries and two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lotteries have been launched. Let's take a look at how the second CEC round went.

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Second round CEC with lowest score

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The second CEC round (392) on January 21 reflects a minimum score of 509 CRS points versus 511 in the previous CEC draw (390). The number of invitations issued was 6,000, demonstrating the government's interest in foreigners with qualified work experience within Canada.

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Those who have previously applied to Express Entry and have not received an invitation because they did not achieve the required score for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category know very well that the drop in the cut-off score is a positive sign and a wake-up call to continue improving their profile. 

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Important: remember that the more competitive the candidate, the greater the chance of being selected in future draws where the score is lower.

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What is the Canadian Experience Class category?

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The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category is an immigration program managed by the Express Entry system, designed specifically for skilled foreign workers who have accumulated at least one year of work experience in Canada.

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Steps to become eligible for the CEC category

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To be eligible in 2026, you must meet these basic requirements:

• The main requirement is to have at least one year of qualified work experience in Canada on a full-time basis (or its part-time equivalent) within the last three years.
• The job must fall under TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. To find the NOC/TEER, visit this official link.
• Speak English or French and demonstrate an intermediate-advanced level through an official exam. If your position is TEER 0 or 1, you need a CLB 7; if it is TEER 2 or 3, a CLB 5 is sufficient.
• You must have gained that experience while you had valid temporary resident status and a valid work permit.

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Important: Don't worry about settlement funds. Unlike other routes, with the CEC you don't need to prove you have savings. 

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Do you know your CRS score? Do you know if your immigration profile is ready to compete in Express Entry or needs to be revised? At Immiland Canada, we offer a tool that can help you. It's the CRS Calculator. You can use it for free and find out if you are eligible for Express Entry.

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Immigration advice from Immiland Canada

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At Immiland Canada, we have a team of Canadian immigration experts ready to guide you through the process of transitioning to permanent residency. If you need to improve your profile and don't know where to start, contact us and we will be happy to review your case. 

You can fill out the following form for free: https://www.immilandcanada.com/evaluacion-gratuita and once you have received a response from one of our consultants, you can schedule a consultation.

Remember that the key to being selected in Express Entry draws is to improve your profile and raise your CRS score. I hope this analysis helps you on your path to permanent residence in 2026.

Thank you for reading. Don't miss our next blog post titled: Good news for international students who want PR through Express Entry.

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With love,

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Immiland Canada