Canada Express Entry invited 2,000 skilled workers to apply for permanent residence in its latest draw held on September 15, 2026.
The selection was conducted under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), which is meant for candidates with eligible Canadian work experience.
Candidates invited in this round needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 519.
The tie-breaking rule applied to candidates with the same score based on when their Express Entry profiles were submitted.
Canada Express Entry Invites 2,000 Candidates
The September 15 draw was the second CEC selection held in September. The previous CEC draw on September 1 issued 2,000 invitations with a CRS cut-off of 521.
The latest cut-off was therefore two points lower than the September 1 draw. Earlier, the August 18 CEC draw issued 1,000 invitations with a minimum CRS score of 523.
The Canadian Experience Class is specifically for people with qualifying skilled work experience in Canada.
Under the programme, eligible candidates generally need at least one year of qualifying Canadian skilled work experience gained during the three years before applying.
CRS Score and Tie-Breaking Rule
The minimum CRS score in the September 15 round was 519.
Candidates who had the same score were selected according to the tie-breaking rule, which used the date and time their Express Entry profile was submitted.
For this draw, the tie-breaking date was March 26, 2026, at 00:16:39 UTC.
A tie-breaking rule does not change the CRS cut-off itself; it determines which candidates with the cut-off score receive invitations when there are more eligible candidates than available invitations.
What Happens After an Express Entry Invitation
Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) does not itself grant Canadian permanent residence.
Invited candidates must submit a complete permanent-residence application within the specified period and provide the required documents and fees.
According to Canada’s official immigration guidance, an Express Entry invitation is valid for 60 days.
Applicants are required to complete the application, upload the documents listed in their personalised checklist and pay the applicable fees before submitting it.
Required documents can include police certificates, proof of funds and other supporting records depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Applicants may also need a medical examination and biometric information as part of the permanent-residence process.
Why the Latest Draw Matters for Applicants
Canada’s Express Entry system uses the CRS to rank candidates in the pool, with invitations issued through different types of draws.
These can include general, programme-specific and category-based rounds.
The September 15 selection was specifically for Canadian Experience Class candidates rather than a general Express Entry draw.
Therefore, having a CRS score of 519 alone does not mean that every Express Entry candidate was eligible for this particular round.
Indian applicants working or studying in Canada may also follow CEC draws because the programme is focused on candidates with eligible Canadian work experience.
However, eligibility depends on the individual applicant’s work history and other Express Entry requirements.
