Canada’s Express Entry is a federal immigration management system that selects skilled workers for permanent residency (PR) via three main programs:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – for candidates with Canadian work experience.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – for workers with skilled employment experience abroad.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – for skilled trades workers.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rounds of invitations are also integrated with Express Entry.
Candidates enter a pool and are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) — a points-based system that rewards skills, education, work experience, language ability, and more. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) holds regular draws throughout the year to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for PR.
January was a hectic and strategic month for Express Entry as IRCC kicked off 2026 with multiple invitations across different draw types — particularly focusing on candidates with Canadian work experience (CEC) and those with provincial nominations (PNP).
Here’s a summary of the January rounds:
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 5, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 711 | 574 |
| January 7, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 20, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 746 | 681 |
| January 21, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 509 | 6,000 |
The year started with a PNP-specific selection on January 5. Candidates with provincial nominations — who automatically receive up to +600 CRS points — saw 574 ITAs issued with a CRS cut-off of 711.
Takeaway:
PNP draws reward region-specific skill needs, and these early-January invitations helped provinces address local labour shortages directly. Candidates without Canadian experience can receive nominations from provinces and boost their CRS significantly.
Just two days later, IRCC held a CEC-only draw that issued 8,000 ITAs — one of the largest CEC rounds in recent years — at a CRS of 511.
This draw signaled a strong focus on candidates already working in Canada, especially temporary workers and international graduates — bringing them quickly into permanent status.
The third January round was again PNP-focused:
681 ITAs
CRS cut-off: 746
These candidates had nominations from provinces before entering the pool, and continued the strategy of strengthening regional immigration pathways.
The biggest CEC move came on 21 January, with 6,000 ITAs issued at a CRS of 509 — the lowest cut-off so far in 2026 for CEC draws.
Important note:
To qualify for this draw, candidates had to have profiles created before a specific tie-break date/time — a standard rule used to determine eligibility when many candidates have similar scores.
Here’s what the January data tells us:
IRCC appears to be emphasizing candidates who already live and work in Canada, especially CEC candidates — backed by two massive CEC draws that issued 14,000 combined ITAs in January alone.
PNP draws remain a critical route for candidates whose base CRS scores may not be competitive for general draws, especially international skilled workers outside Canada.
The broad range — from 509 for CEC to 746+ for PNP candidates — showcases how draw types influence competitiveness and scoring. The extra provincial nomination points often push scores higher for PNP rounds.
Your chances improved significantly in January due to large-volume draws.
Lower CRS thresholds (around ~509–511) meant mid-range candidates could receive ITAs.
A strategy many use is to gain Canadian work experience via temporary status (e.g., work permit), then enter Express Entry.
Provincial nominations remain advantageous due to the 600-point CRS boost — often making candidates “auto-qualifiers” even with moderate core scores.
If your CRS is not competitive for general draws, a PNP route can be a game changer.
Expect continued diversity in draw types.
Keep profiles updated with latest credentials, language results, and work experience to stay competitive.
January set a fast pace for Express Entry — with both high volume and strategic selections. Many experts believe this trend will continue into 2026, with possible category-based draws targeting in-demand occupations like healthcare, technology, and trades.
Stay tuned for more Express Entry updates — especially CRS cut-offs and new draw categories. And if you are an active candidate in the pool, continue monitoring these trends to refine your profile strategy.
👉 January 2026 saw 4 key Express Entry draws — two CEC and two PNP — making it one of the busiest opening months in recent years.
👉 CEC draws offered low CRS cut-offs (~509) with high ITA issuance — great for candidates with Canadian experience.
👉 PNP draws reinforced the value of provincial pathways in the immigration process.
