Canada held a new Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class candidates on August 5, 2026, issuing 3,000 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score was 516, unchanged from the previous CEC draw held on July 21. Candidates with a score of exactly 516 were invited only if they had submitted their Express Entry profile before July 3, 2026, at 9:35:13 p.m. UTC.
The August 5 draw was 50% larger than the two previous CEC rounds, which each issued 2,000 invitations. Despite the higher number of invitations, the CRS cutoff remained at 516. CEC cutoffs have remained between 514 and 518 since April 2026.
This draw followed a Provincial Nominee Program round on August 4, in which IRCC invited 507 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 768. The back-to-back rounds continue IRCC’s frequent use of program-specific selections for candidates with Canadian work experience or provincial nominations.
Candidates who received an invitation have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence. Applicants should ensure that their language results, employment documents and other supporting information remain accurate and valid before submitting their application.
