Canada holds the first Express Entry draw for senior managers, i.e., Canada has conducted another Express Entry draw and issued more Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The latest draw introduced a new category and invited applicants with senior management experience in Canada. 

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 250 ITAs in this draw. The invitations were sent to applicants under the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category.

To be eligible for this draw, applicants needed to meet two main requirements:

  • A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 429; and
  • Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 3:10 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on August 19, 2025.

This draw is important because it is the first time IRCC has invited applicants under the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category. The category was introduced earlier in 2026 as part of a broader update to Canada’s Express Entry system.

The latest invitation round is also the fourteenth Express Entry draw held in 2026.

Overview Of Express Entry Draws In 2026

Draw DateDraw TypeCRS Cut-Off ScoreITAs Issued
March 5Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience429250
March 4French-Language proficiency3975,500
March 3Canadian Experience Class5084,000
March 2Provincial Nominee Program 710264
February 20Healthcare and social services4674,000
February 19Physicians with Canadian work experience169391
February 17Canadian Experience Class5086,000
February 16Provincial Nominee Program789279
February 6French-Language proficiency4008,500
February 3Provincial Nominee Program749423
January 21Canadian Experience Class5096,000
January 20Provincial Nominee Program746681
January 7Canadian Experience Class5118,000
January 5Provincial Nominee Program711574

New Category For Senior Managers

The Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category was announced in February 2026 when Canada made several updates to the Express Entry system. Moreover, these updates introduced three new occupational categories to target specific workers needed in the Canadian labour market.

To qualify for this category, candidates must have at least 12 months of Canadian work experience within the last three years in one of the following occupations listed under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system:

  • Senior managers – construction, transportation, production, and utilities
  • Senior managers – trade, broadcasting, and other services
  • Senior managers – health, education, social and community services, and membership organizations
  • Senior managers – financial, communications, & other business services

These occupations include leadership roles across several major industries in Canada.

Draw Trends So Far In 2026

Express Entry draws in 2026 show that Canada is focusing more on applicants who already have Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination. These candidates are often already working or living in Canada and can integrate more easily into the labour market.

The breakdown of draw types this year is shown below.

Draw TypeNumber Of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program5
Canadian Experience Class4
French-Language proficiency2
Physicians with Canadian work experience1
Healthcare and social services1
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience1

So far in 2026, IRCC has issued 39,362 invitations to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry.

The number of invitations issued under each category is listed below.

Draw TypeITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class24,000
French-Language proficiency14,000
Healthcare and social services4,000
Provincial Nominee Program1,798
Physicians with Canadian work experience391
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience250

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