Canada Invites 2,000 Canadian Experience Class Candidates Through Express Entry
What the September 29 Draw Means for Candidates With Canadian Work Experience
Canada has issued 2,000 new invitations to apply for permanent residence to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class, marking another major draw for people who have already built Canadian work experience.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the draw on September 29, 2026. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 518 to receive an invitation.
For people in Surrey who are already working in Canada and building their immigration profiles, the latest draw provides another important update to watch. The selection also shows how Canadian work history continues to feature prominently in immigration selections throughout 2026.
The September 29 draw required candidates to have created their candidate profile before 8:48 p.m. UTC on February 13, 2026, according to the information provided for the draw.
What happened in the latest draw?
The latest express entry draw selected 2,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates for permanent residency.
The key figures were:
- Draw date: September 29, 2026
- Program: Canadian Experience Class
- Invitations to Apply: 2,000
- Minimum CRS score: 518
- Tie-breaking profile date: February 13, 2026, before 8:48 p.m. UTC
The Canadian Experience Class is intended for eligible skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and meet the program requirements.
For candidates currently living and working in Surrey, the draw is particularly relevant because Canadian work history can form an important part of an immigration profile.
However, receiving an invitation is not the same as receiving permanent residence. Candidates who receive an ITA must still submit a complete application and supporting documentation within the applicable timeframe.
That distinction matters. A candidate may have a CRS score that meets the cut-off during one draw, but the application process continues after the invitation.
Why the CRS score matters
The CRS is the ranking system used to assess candidates in the federal economic immigration pool.
Several factors can contribute to a candidate's CRS score, including age, education, language ability, Canadian work history, foreign work history, and other qualifying factors.
The September 29 cut-off was 518 for the Canadian Experience Class draw.
Looking at recent CEC selections shows that the cut-off has moved within a relatively narrow range during several recent draws.
For example:
| Date | CEC CRS Cut-Off | ITAs |
| September 29, 2026 | 518 | 2,000 |
| September 15, 2026 | 519 | 2,000 |
| September 1, 2026 | 521 | 2,000 |
| August 18, 2026 | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 5, 2026 | 516 | 3,000 |
| July 21, 2026 | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 7, 2026 | 517 | 2,000 |
| June 23, 2026 | 516 | 4,000 |
| May 27, 2026 | 518 | 3,000 |
| April 28, 2026 | 514 | 2,000 |
These numbers show why candidates should not treat one CRS cut-off as a permanent threshold. Draw sizes and selection categories can change, which means the score associated with an invitation can also move.
Canadian work history remains a major part of 2026 selections.
The latest draw is part of a wider pattern in Canada's 2026 immigration selections.
According to the supplied draw information, Canada had conducted 58 Express Entry draws by September 29, 2026.
Of those draws:
- 19 were Provincial Nominee Program draws
- 17 were Canadian Experience Class draws
- 10 focused on French-language proficiency
- 3 focused on physicians with Canadian work experience
- 3 focused on healthcare and social services
- 3 focused on senior managers with Canadian work experience
- 1 focused on trades
- 1 focused on transport
- 1 focused on skilled military recruits
The figures show that candidates with Canadian connections have been a significant part of the year's selections.
The CEC alone accounted for 17 draws by September 29.
For workers living in Surrey, the information is relevant because many temporary residents build their immigration profile while working in Canada before seeking permanent residence.
How many ITAs has Canada issued in 2026?
The supplied figures indicate that IRCC had issued 131,715 invitations to apply across the listed draw categories during 2026 as of September 29.
The breakdown was:
| Draw type | ITAs issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 55,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 50,500 |
| Healthcare and social services | 11,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9,270 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1,000 |
| Transport | 300 |
The Canadian Experience Class accounted for 55,250 ITAs in the supplied figures.
French-language selections also accounted for a large share, with 50,500 ITAs.
These figures demonstrate that IRCC has been using several selection categories rather than relying on a single type of draw throughout the year.
What should candidates in Surrey know?
For someone living in Surrey, the latest draw may raise an important question: What happens if my CRS score is close to 518?
The answer depends on the candidate's individual profile and the requirements of the specific draw.
A CRS score is not a guarantee of an invitation. The cut-off applies to a particular invitation round, and future draws can have different requirements.
For example, the CEC cut-off was 516 on July 7, 2026, 516 on July 21, 2026, 523 on August 18, 2026, and 521 on September 1, 2026.
The latest September 29 draw came in at 518.
This movement demonstrates why candidates should monitor their profiles rather than relying on a single historic cut-off.
A candidate whose score is below a recent threshold may also review whether there are legitimate ways to increase their CRS score, depending on their circumstances.
That can involve checking language results, education information, work history, marital status, provincial nomination possibilities, and other CRS factors.
What happens after receiving an ITA?
Receiving an ITA is a significant step, but there is still work to complete.
Candidates must prepare and submit their permanent residence application with the required information and supporting documents.
This can include documentation related to identity, education, employment, language testing, police certificates, medical requirements, and other elements applicable to the applicant and their family.
The information submitted should be accurate and consistent with the candidate's profile.
A difference between the information declared in the candidate profile and the information later submitted in the permanent residence application can create questions during processing.
Applicants should therefore review their profile information carefully before submitting their application.
The process can also involve documents from more than one country, depending on a person's residence and travel history.
For applicants in Surrey who have lived in Canada and another country, collecting documentation early can help reduce last-minute pressure after receiving an invitation.
What is the tie-breaking rule?
The September 29 draw included a tie-breaking date.
Candidates needed to have created their Express Entry candidate profile before 8:48 p.m. UTC on February 13, 2026.
A tie-breaking rule is used when multiple candidates have the same CRS score as the published cut-off.
It does not mean that creating a profile after that date automatically prevents a person from immigrating through the program. Instead, it relates specifically to how candidates were selected in this invitation round.
This is an important distinction for people following draw announcements.
Someone who did not meet the tie-breaking date for this particular draw can remain interested in future selection rounds if they remain eligible and their profile is valid.
Bridging Open Work Permit considerations
The latest draw information also highlights a work permit issue that can matter to foreign nationals already living in Canada.
A foreign national who has submitted a permanent residence application through express entry may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit, commonly called a BOWP, if they meet the applicable requirements.
A BOWP can allow an eligible applicant to continue working while their permanent residence application is being processed.
There are also situations involving maintained status.
If an existing work permit expires before a BOWP submission is finalized, an eligible person may be able to continue working under maintained status, subject to the conditions that apply and provided they remain in Canada.
These rules can depend on the applicant's circumstances, so the expiry date and status of a work permit should not be ignored.
Eligible family members may also qualify for open work permits under applicable rules.
For a Surrey resident whose employment depends on valid authorization to work in Canada, understanding the timing of work permit applications can therefore be an important part of the immigration process.
How recent CEC draws compare
The 2026 draw history provides useful context for the September 29 results.
The year began with a CEC draw on January 7 that issued 8,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 511.
Another CEC draw on January 21 issued 6,000 ITAs with a cut-off of 509.
The February 17 draw issued 6,000 ITAs at 508.
In March, IRCC conducted several CEC selections, including a March 17 draw with 4,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 507.
The June 23 draw issued 4,000 ITAs at 516.
The August 5 draw issued 3,000 ITAs at 516.
The September 29 selection issued 2,000 ITAs at 518.
This history shows that both invitation volumes and CRS thresholds have changed during the year.
Candidates should therefore look at several draws rather than assuming that the most recent figure will remain unchanged.
What can candidates do while waiting?
People who are already in the candidate pool can review their profiles and make sure their information remains current.
Changes to employment, education, language test results, marital status, or other relevant information may affect a candidate's profile.
Language test validity is another point to monitor. Applicants should ensure their test results remain valid when required.
Education credentials should also be checked carefully, particularly where an Educational Credential Assessment is relevant.
Candidates should retain copies of important documents and maintain accurate employment records.
For workers in Surrey, keeping employment documentation organized can be useful when preparing to demonstrate Canadian work history.
The goal should be accurate preparation rather than trying to predict exactly when the next draw will occur.
What does the latest draw mean for Surrey applicants?
The September 29 selection provides Surrey-based candidates another data point when reviewing Canada's 2026 immigration landscape.
The 518 CRS cut-off applies to this specific CEC draw. It should not automatically be treated as a future cut-off.
The wider 2026 figures also indicate that CEC candidates have received a substantial share of invitations, with 55,250 ITAs listed for the category through September 29.
For someone currently working in Canada, the cut-off may make reviewing their eligibility and CRS profile particularly relevant.
At the same time, each immigration profile is different. A candidate's occupation, work history, language results, education, age, family circumstances, and other factors can affect the assessment.
Candidates should use the official requirements that apply to their situation when deciding what information to submit.
Need help reviewing your immigration profile in Surrey?
The September 29 draw issued 2,000 invitations to Canadian Experience Class candidates with a CRS score of 518 or higher. If you are working in Canada and considering permanent residence, reviewing your profile and application documents can help you understand where you currently stand.
Visa Harbour Immigration
12899 80 Ave #215, Surrey, BC V3W 0E6, Canada
Call +1 236-900-2144 to discuss your Canadian Experience Class profile and the documents relevant to your immigration application.
