Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) kicked off the new month with a Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-only Express Entry round on 7 July 2026. The department invited 2,000 skilled workers already living and working in Canada to apply for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 517, just one point lower than the previous CEC-specific draw on 23 June. IRCC has used category-based draws heavily in 2026 as part of its strategy to reduce the inventory of temporary residents and prioritise applicants with Canadian work experience. So far this year, 11 CEC rounds have issued more than 43,000 Invitations to Apply, accounting for nearly half of all ITAs granted. By focusing on candidates who are already contributing to the labour market, Ottawa hopes to speed up transitions from temporary to permanent status and ease pressure on processing capacity. For employers, the latest draw offers a clearer path to retention: work-permit holders who receive an ITA can file a bridging open work-permit application, ensuring they remain authorised to work while their permanent-residence file is finalised. HR teams are therefore encouraged to track employees’ Express Entry profiles closely and budget for medicals, police certificates and the CAD 850 application fee that follows an invitation.
![Canada issues 2,000 ITAs in first Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw of July]()
At this stage, VisaHQ can be a valuable partner: the company’s online platform streamlines the collection of police certificates, translations and other supporting documents needed for Express Entry submissions. Its Canada-focused portal guides applicants and HR coordinators through every step while offering live support, helping ensure packages are complete, compliant and filed on time.
From a business-mobility standpoint, the steady cadence of CEC draws underscores Canada’s commitment to talent already in-country. Companies sponsoring foreign workers should note that CRS cut-offs are hovering in the low 510s; boosting scores through additional Canadian education, stronger language results or a provincial nomination can still make a decisive difference. With 91,601 ITAs issued across all categories in 2026, observers expect IRCC to maintain frequent, occupation-targeted rounds through the summer, especially as the department works toward the 2026-2028 immigration-levels plan. The next scheduled ministerial update on category allocations is due in early September, giving employers a window to align workforce-planning with forthcoming target numbers.
At this stage, VisaHQ can be a valuable partner: the company’s online platform streamlines the collection of police certificates, translations and other supporting documents needed for Express Entry submissions. Its Canada-focused portal guides applicants and HR coordinators through every step while offering live support, helping ensure packages are complete, compliant and filed on time.
From a business-mobility standpoint, the steady cadence of CEC draws underscores Canada’s commitment to talent already in-country. Companies sponsoring foreign workers should note that CRS cut-offs are hovering in the low 510s; boosting scores through additional Canadian education, stronger language results or a provincial nomination can still make a decisive difference. With 91,601 ITAs issued across all categories in 2026, observers expect IRCC to maintain frequent, occupation-targeted rounds through the summer, especially as the department works toward the 2026-2028 immigration-levels plan. The next scheduled ministerial update on category allocations is due in early September, giving employers a window to align workforce-planning with forthcoming target numbers.
