On February 17, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Express Entry draw which issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to Canadian work experience candidates.
This is a program-based draw which carries on the strategic emphasis of IRCC in picking out competent employees who have proved that they can fit in the Canadian labor market and society.
The cut-off score of this draw was 508 points based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which indicates how competitive the Canadian Experience Class category in 2026 is.
One of the most prolific draw categories under Express Entry has become the Canadian Experience Class, and IRCC issues several CEC-specific rounds during 2025 and 2026.
February 17, 2026 Express Entry Draw Details
| Draw Parameter | Details |
| Program | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Date and Time of Round | February 17, 2026 |
| Number of ITAs Issued | 6,000 |
| CRS Score Cut-Off | 508 points |
| Rank Required | 6,000 or above |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | March 16, 2025 at 09:35:59 UTC |
In a draw where there are more than one candidate with the lowest CRS, tie-breaking rule is used.
In this round, candidates whose CRS score was at exactly 508 points were invited only provided they had entered their Express Entry profile prior to March 16, 2025 at 09:35:59 UTC.
This is the time that decides who is selected first among the candidates that have scored the same.
Understanding the Canadian Experience Class
One of the three federal economic immigration programs operated under the Express Entry system is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) which is also known as the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
CEC was also created with the specific aim of offering the channel towards permanent residence to the skilled workers who already have Canadian work experience.
IRCC focuses on the CEC applicants since they have already proved to be able to fit well into Canadian society and make a contribution to the economy.
These candidates know the Canadian work environment, they have already built a professional network and can usually achieve better settlement results than the newcomers who come to Canada directly.
The CEC is popular, especially among international students who have graduated from Canadian institutions and have earned work experience using Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) and those of such who are temporary foreign workers who have been serving in the Canadian labor market.
This route acknowledges the good investment that these people have made in Canada.
Canadian Experience Class Draw Trends in 2026
Since it is a relatively recent entity, Canadian Experience Class has come to be one of the preferred routes through which IRCC chooses permanent residents in the year 2026.
The immigration department has shown a strict concern with those candidates already available in Canada and have already shown that they can contribute to the economy.
Some important draws of CEC were made by IRCC in early 2026.
In January there was 8,000-ITA draw with a cut-off of 511, and 6,000-ITA draw with a cut-off of 509, the lowest CEC cut-off since September 2024.
Such draws indicate that IRCC is keen to see out the Express Entry pool without having to raise the CRS levels too high.
The number and size of CECs brought in 2026 indicate the re-designed immigration strategy of Canada which favors the candidates who are already in the nation.
This will assist in transforming the temporary residents into permanent residents and this will deal with concerns of population growth and at the same time new permanent residents will be well integrated into the Canadian society on the very first day.
Next Steps After Receiving an Invitation to Apply
Applicants that were selected on an ITA during the February 17, 2026 Express Entry draw have 60 calendar days to make a full electronic Application for Permanent Residence (e-APR).
This is a strict deadline and anything that is not turned in before this time will automatically lead to cancellation of the invitation.
The permanent residential application should be accompanied by all the supporting documents about your eligibility.
Such documents as valid identity documents are usually required.
- passports,
- language test results demonstrating you meet the minimum requirements for your TEER category,
- reference letters from employers detailing your job duties, hours worked, and wages received,
- T4 tax slips and pay stubs to verify your claimed work experience,
- police clearance certificates from all countries where you have lived for six months or more since age 18, and
- results from an immigration medical examination conducted by an IRCC panel physician.
The target of IRCC is to process eighty percent of the Express entry applications within six months of a complete submission.
Processing times however may change depending on the complexity of the application, verification of the background and current volumes of processing.
This is because applicants must make sure that their papers are fully filled and correct in order to prevent unnecessary delays by being requested to provide more information.
What to Expect from CEC Draws Going Forward
According to the current trends and priorities of IRCC, the draws of Canadian Experience Class will continue to be an important part of the Express Entry system in the next five years, i.e., in 2026.
The fact that the government is concentrated on the conversion of temporary residents to permanent ones implies that this category will be active.
CRS cut-offs of CEC draws may vary depending on a number of factors, among them the size of draws, Express Entry pool composition and ambitions of IRCC.
Applicants are encouraged to watch draw results closely and to be ready to make their applications in accordance with the cut-offs that correspond to their CRS scores.
The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan does not change the permanent resident admissions, but the highest number is 380,000 annually, of which economic immigration is the most significant portion.
This implies that the rate at which CEC attracts will be consistent, with competent candidates having a consistent chance of getting invitations.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your CEC Application
There are numerous mistakes such applicants commit which prolong or jeopardize the permanent residence applications.
Being aware of these pitfalls will help you prevent them and have a better experience of the application process.
Misalignment of job duties with the NOC codes is one of the common errors. The title of the job that you have done as stated by your employer might not be the same as the one you have stated in your application under the NOC code.
The officers in the IRCC assess your qualification by your real roles and not the position.
Make sure that your reference letters outline the responsibilities that are corresponding to the lead statement and primary responsibilities of your selected NOC code.
The other mistake is differences in stating ineligible work experience. The years of experience obtained in the course of full-time studies, as a self-employed person, an unpaid intern are not considered in the CEC eligibility.
Always tell the truth with regards to your work history and do not report hours that do not actually qualify according to the program requirements.
The filing of incomplete or inconsistent documentation is one of the biggest reasons behind application delays and refusals.
Check: All the dates, job titles and details must be matched before submitting through your Express Entry profile, the reference letters, tax documents and any other supporting documents.
Any differences will be a red flag and a possible impetus to further verification.
The Express Entry draw dated February 17, 2026, shows that the IRCC was yet again bent on selecting the permanent residents who have already proved to be of value to the Canadian economy.
This CEC specific draw offering a significant avenue to talented workers in Canada with experience in the country will be able to have 6,000 of their workers but with a CRS cut off point of 508 points.
The CEC is one of the surest ways to permanent residence as far as candidates that are already in the Express Entry pool or those who are planning to enter the pool are concerned.
You can also place yourself in a vantage to succeed in future draws by working on improving your CRS score in terms of language, further experience, and strategic planning.
The applicants who were invited under this draw are now supposed to start preparing their documentation so that the process of application becomes smooth.
Under close consideration and full documentation, excellent candidates will be able to obtain their permanent residence within the most reasonable time span, about half a year after they submit their full applications.