The passing score for candidates with Canadian experience has risen to the 2026 maximum

In the August draw, only 1,000 people received invitations, and the cutoff score rose to 523 points.

On August 18, 2026, Canada held an Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class. Invitations to apply for permanent residence were sent to 1,000 candidates with work experience in the country.

The cutoff score rose to 523—the highest threshold for this category since the beginning of 2026. Over the previous months, the score had consistently stayed in the 514-518 range, and the current jump of 7 points marked a notable deviation from that corridor.

At the same time, the number of invitations was significantly reduced. In the previous draw on August 5, 3,000 candidates were invited with a cutoff score of 516. Now there are three times fewer invitations, and the threshold has increased.

When several candidates have the same score, those who submitted their profile earlier receive invitations first. In this draw, the tie-breaking date turned out to be August 17, 2026—literally one day before the draw. This means there was practically no queue among candidates with a score of 523, and even a recently registered profile could receive an invitation.

This draw became the second in two days in a row: the day before, on August 17, the system conducted a draw for provincial nominees.

Those invited have 60 days to submit a complete set of documents. The package includes language certificates, proof of education, and Canadian work experience.

Want to know if you have enough points? Calculate your score using our free points calculator.

Canadian Work Experience and Immigration

Canadian Experience Class remains one of the key Express Entry categories for those already employed in Canada. The program is available to candidates with skilled work experience in the country and evaluates them based on a combination of factors: age, education, language skills, and length of Canadian work experience. Alongside it, Express Entry also operates the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

If you're working in Canada and want to assess your prospects for obtaining permanent status, book a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant.