Canada has thrown open another immigration window, inviting 1,000 foreign workers to take a major step towards securing permanent residence through its Express Entry system.
The latest draw, conducted on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, targeted candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), one of the country’s major pathways for skilled immigrants already working in Canada.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), only candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 523 received invitations in the latest round.
The immigration authorities revealed that the first 1,000 eligible candidates on the ranking list were selected for the coveted invitation to apply for permanent residency.
The draw was officially conducted at 10:13:44 UTC on August 18, with applicants who submitted their Express Entry profiles before the August 17, 2026, 22:09:00 UTC cut-off time getting priority where candidates had the same CRS score.
The tie-breaking rule means that when two or more applicants have identical scores, the candidate who created their profile earlier gets the advantage.
The latest invitation round was approved through ministerial instructions signed by Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Lena Metlege Diab, in Ottawa.
The instructions stated that eligible candidates ranked among the top 1,000 applicants in the pool could receive invitations between August 18 and August 19, 2026.
The Canadian Experience Class programme is designed for skilled foreign workers who have already gained work experience in Canada and want to make the country their permanent home.
Applicants generally need at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years, alongside meeting language requirements depending on their occupation category.
Unlike some other immigration routes, CEC applicants are not required to show proof of settlement funds or meet an education requirement. However, they must intend to live outside Quebec.
Express Entry remains Canada’s biggest immigration selection system for skilled workers, covering three federal programmes — the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Through the system, applicants are scored based on factors such as age, education, language ability, work history and other qualifications.
Those with the strongest profiles are invited during periodic selection rounds.
The latest draw came after Canada issued 3,000 invitations to CEC candidates on August 5, 2026, when the CRS cut-off stood lower at 516.
The new round’s smaller number of invitations and higher score requirement of 523 show that competition for Canadian permanent residency remains fierce.
By mid-August 2026, IRCC had already issued more than 113,000 Express Entry invitations this year, with Canadian Experience Class candidates receiving a significant share as Canada continues its drive to attract skilled workers from around the world.
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