Express Entry Update — July 20, 2026
Monday, July 20, 2026
IRCC held four Express Entry draws between July 6–10, 2026, issuing 8,034 ITAs total across PNP, CEC, French-language proficiency, and a new targeted Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category.
The July 6 PNP draw had the lowest PNP cut-off score of 2026 so far at 708 (down from 730 on June 22 and 805 on May 25), while the new Senior Managers category set a very low cut-off of 392 for 500 invitations on July 10.
The French-language proficiency draw on July 9 was the largest of the week, issuing 5,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 420, continuing a pattern of high-volume French draws in 2026.
What You Should Do
- Check your current CRS score and category eligibility at canada.ca/express-entry — if you are a Senior Manager with Canadian work experience, review whether you qualify for that targeted draw type, which cleared at just 392 in July 10's round.
- If you have French-language proficiency, ensure your language test results (TEF Canada or TCF Canada) are current and uploaded to your Express Entry profile — French draws are issuing up to 5,000 ITAs at cut-offs around 409–420, making this one of the most accessible pathways right now.
- If you hold a provincial nomination (or are pursuing one), note that the PNP cut-off dropped to 708 on July 6 — the lowest PNP score in 2026. Check your province's nominee program portal for new streams or nomination opportunities that could boost your CRS by 600 points.
- Review the full 2026 draw history table at cicnews.com to identify which draw type best matches your profile before the next expected round, and set a profile creation date that falls within the tie-breaking cutoff used in recent draws.
Sources
Topics Covered
Category-Based Selection System: IRCC ran four targeted category-based draws in a single week in July 2026, including a brand-new Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category that issued 500 ITAs at a CRS of 392.
CRS Cutoff Trends: July 2026 saw PNP cut-offs drop to 708 (from highs of 805 in May), and a new Senior Managers category cleared at just 392. CEC cut-offs remain relatively stable around 516–517.
More Express Entry Updates
Express Entry Update — July 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
Express Entry Update — July 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026
Express Entry Update — July 9, 2026
Jul 9, 2026
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