Canada's Second-Ever Senior Managers Express Entry Draw Lands at a Low CRS of 392

Key Takeaways

• IRCC held its second-ever senior managers Express Entry draw on July 10, issuing 500 invitations.
• The CRS cut-off was just 392 — 37 points below the first such draw's 429 threshold in March.
• It was the year's 38th round, bringing 2026's total to 92,101 invitations.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued another set of invitations to apply (ITAs) through Express Entry on July 10, this time reserving 500 invitations for senior managers with Canadian work experience — only the second draw ever aimed at this group.

Who qualified

Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 392 and an Express Entry profile created before 1:46 a.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on March 15, 2026.

The 2026 draw record

A notably lower bar

As of writing, IRCC has held 38 Express Entry rounds in 2026. The July 10 draw was the second to target senior managers with Canadian work experience, but at a far lower threshold than the first — 392 versus 429, a 37-point gap. As throughout the year, draws have mostly favoured candidates already in Canada, whether through work experience or provincial nominations. The distribution by draw type:

Total invitations in 2026

Across all categories, IRCC has issued 92,101 ITAs this year:

What This Means for Applicants: The 392 cut-off is a rare opening for a specialized group — senior managers with Canadian experience were invited at a score more than 120 points below the same week's Canadian Experience Class threshold of 517. Category-based draws like this can reward candidates whose occupation matches a targeted category far more than their raw CRS would suggest, so managers in the pool should ensure their profile accurately reflects qualifying senior-management experience.