Express Entry: Canada Runs First-Ever Draw for Skilled Military Recruits
IRCC issued just four ITAs in its first-ever Skilled Military Recruits draw, the smallest Express Entry round on record and category number eight to launch since February 2026.
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Key Takeaways
- IRCC issued just four Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a new Express Entry draw targeting Skilled Military Recruits, the smallest invitation round ever recorded under the Express Entry system.
- The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this round was 368, and eligible candidates had to have created their profile before 8:11 p.m. UTC on June 2, 2026.
- This was the first Skilled Military Recruits draw since the category was introduced in February 2026, and it brings the total number of Express Entry rounds held in 2026 to 42.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended a new batch of invitations to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry, this time reserved for candidates in the Skilled Military Recruits category. The round was notably small, with only four ITAs issued in total.
Who Qualified
Candidates needed to meet two conditions to be considered in this round:
- A minimum CRS score of 368; and
- An Express Entry profile created before 8:11 p.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on June 2, 2026.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off Score | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
A Historic, if Tiny, Milestone
This round marks the first time IRCC has held a Skilled Military Recruits draw since introducing the category in February 2026. It is also the smallest invitation round in Express Entry history, with only four ITAs issued. As of this draw, IRCC has conducted 42 Express Entry selection rounds in 2026.
Taken as a whole, this year's selections have leaned heavily toward candidates with Canadian work experience and provincial nominations. The breakdown of draws by category so far in 2026 illustrates this pattern clearly.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 14 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 12 |
| French-Language proficiency | 8 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and social services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
Over the course of 2026, IRCC has issued 104,616 ITAs in total through Express Entry, broken down by category as follows:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 45,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 40,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6,450 |
| Healthcare and social services | 8,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
What This Means for Applicants: With only four ITAs issued, this inaugural Skilled Military Recruits round will have done little to move the needle for most Express Entry hopefuls, but it confirms IRCC is actively using the category rather than leaving it dormant. Candidates eligible under Canadian Experience Class and French-language proficiency streams continue to see the bulk of invitations in 2026, and those categories remain the most realistic paths for the majority of the pool. Anyone with military service background and a strong CRS score should keep their profile active, since future rounds under this niche category could open with little notice.
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