Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) kicked off the month with a Canadian-Experience-Class (CEC)-only Express Entry draw on 7 July 2026, inviting 2,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off was set at 517 points and profiles had to be created before 29 December 2025. The CEC draw follows Ottawa’s 2026 strategy of favouring candidates who are already working in Canada and therefore likely to integrate quickly into the labour market.
![Canada issues 2,000 ITAs in first Canadian Experience Class draw of July]()
Meanwhile, applicants who need streamlined assistance securing or extending the visas and permits that keep them eligible for CEC consideration can turn to VisaHQ. Our online platform simplifies Canadian entry paperwork—from eTAs and visitor visas to study and work-permit renewals—and provides status tracking in one dashboard, ensuring candidates maintain lawful status while their Express Entry profiles await selection. Learn more at
So far this year IRCC has conducted 36 Express Entry rounds – 11 of them CEC-specific – issuing more than 91,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). For employers, the CEC focus shortens the timeline from work permit to permanent residence for staff already on the ground, improving retention and reducing the need for repeated Labour-Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). Foreign workers with Canadian experience also receive additional CRS points, making strategic intra-company transfers and postgraduate work permits even more valuable. Prospective applicants should note the steadily inching-up CRS cut-offs in CEC draws (514 in April, 516 in June, 517 in July). Strong language scores, Canadian work experience, and—where possible—provincial nominations remain the most reliable ways to stay competitive. With Express Entry processing times currently averaging six to eight weeks for CEC files, successful candidates could realistically land permanent residence before year-end, giving employers time to plan long-term assignments and mobility budgets for 2027.
Meanwhile, applicants who need streamlined assistance securing or extending the visas and permits that keep them eligible for CEC consideration can turn to VisaHQ. Our online platform simplifies Canadian entry paperwork—from eTAs and visitor visas to study and work-permit renewals—and provides status tracking in one dashboard, ensuring candidates maintain lawful status while their Express Entry profiles await selection. Learn more at
So far this year IRCC has conducted 36 Express Entry rounds – 11 of them CEC-specific – issuing more than 91,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). For employers, the CEC focus shortens the timeline from work permit to permanent residence for staff already on the ground, improving retention and reducing the need for repeated Labour-Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). Foreign workers with Canadian experience also receive additional CRS points, making strategic intra-company transfers and postgraduate work permits even more valuable. Prospective applicants should note the steadily inching-up CRS cut-offs in CEC draws (514 in April, 516 in June, 517 in July). Strong language scores, Canadian work experience, and—where possible—provincial nominations remain the most reliable ways to stay competitive. With Express Entry processing times currently averaging six to eight weeks for CEC files, successful candidates could realistically land permanent residence before year-end, giving employers time to plan long-term assignments and mobility budgets for 2027.
