On September 16, 2026, Canada held a new Express Entry draw for senior managers with Canadian work experience. In this round, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 389. The draw invited candidates who met the requirements for the senior managers with Canadian work experience category.

Overall, this draw forms part of Canada’s category-based Express Entry selection system. Through this system, IRCC can invite candidates with specific skills and work experience that support Canada’s immigration priorities.

Check Your Skilled Assessment & Eligibility

Key Details of the September 16, 2026 Express Entry Draw

The latest Express Entry draw focused on senior managers with qualifying Canadian work experience. Here are the main details:

  • Date of Draw: September 16, 2026
  • Draw Type: Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience
  • Number of Invitations: 250
  • Minimum CRS Score: 389
  • Rank Required: 250 or above
  • Tie-Breaking Rule: September 1, 2026 at 23:05:13 UTC

Furthermore, IRCC uses a tie-breaking rule when several candidates have the same CRS score. In this draw, the cut-off date was September 1, 2026 at 23:05:13 UTC.

What Is the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience Category?

The senior managers with Canadian work experience category is part of IRCC’s category-based Express Entry selection system.

To qualify, candidates must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada within the previous three years. Candidates can also meet the requirement through an equivalent amount of part-time work experience.

In addition, the work experience must fall under an eligible senior-manager occupation listed by IRCC. The occupation does not have to be the candidate’s primary occupation.

The eligible occupations include:

  • Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services — NOC 00012
  • Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations — NOC 00013
  • Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services — NOC 00014
  • Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities — NOC 00015

These occupations fall under TEER 0 in Canada’s 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

How Does the CRS Work?

The Comprehensive Ranking System ranks candidates in the Express Entry pool. The CRS considers several factors, including age, education, language skills and Canadian work experience.

Canadian work experience can add CRS points based on the number of years of qualifying experience. In addition, Canadian work experience can work with education and foreign work experience to generate skill-transferability points.

However, candidates should note that job offers no longer provide CRS points. IRCC removed these points from the CRS on March 25, 2025. This change also removed the previous 200-point allocation for senior management job offers.

Why Canadian Work Experience Matters

Canadian work experience can strengthen an Express Entry profile. Under the CRS, qualifying Canadian experience contributes to the core human capital factors.

It can also contribute to skill-transferability points when combined with other qualifying factors. Therefore, candidates with Canadian professional experience should carefully review how their work history affects their CRS score.

For this senior managers category, IRCC requires qualifying Canadian work experience within the three years before the relevant invitation round.

Understanding the September 16 Express Entry Draw

The CRS cut-off of 389 means that the lowest-ranked candidate invited in this draw had a CRS score of 389.

IRCC issued 250 invitations in total. Candidates ranked 250 or above received invitations in this round.

Moreover, IRCC applied the tie-breaking rule when candidates had the same CRS score. The tie-breaking date and time for this draw was September 1, 2026 at 23:05:13 UTC.

The tie-breaking rule does not mean that candidates who submitted their profiles after this date were automatically ineligible for Express Entry. Instead, IRCC used the rule to determine the final cut-off among candidates with the same CRS score.

What Candidates Should Do

Senior managers with Canadian work experience should review their Express Entry profile carefully. In particular, they should check their occupation, Canadian work history, education and language test results.

Next, candidates should ensure that their employment history matches the applicable NOC requirements. They should also confirm that their Canadian work experience meets the required duration.

Finally, candidates should keep their language test results, educational documents and employment records up to date. This preparation can help them respond quickly if they receive an ITA.

Check Your Skilled Assessment & Eligibility

Final Thoughts

Canada’s September 16, 2026 Express Entry draw issued 250 ITAs to senior managers with Canadian work experience. The minimum CRS score for the draw was 389.

This draw shows how IRCC uses category-based selection to target candidates with specific work experience and occupational backgrounds. Therefore, eligible senior managers should continue to monitor Express Entry invitation rounds and keep their profiles updated.

If you are a senior manager with Canadian work experience and plan to apply for Canadian permanent residence, Apical Immigration Experts can assist with profile assessment, eligibility review and Express Entry guidance.