Canada Issues 2,000 New Express Entry ITAs in Second Draw This Week, CRS Cut-Off Falls to 517

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its second Express Entry round of invitations this week,

Visas Avenue News Desk | July 7, 2026

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its second Express Entry round of invitations this week, issuing 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence. The draw was held on July 7, 2026, at 11:16:50 UTC, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 517.

Draw Highlights

Candidates who matched or exceeded a CRS score of 517 and had created their Express Entry profile before the tie-break cut-off of December 29, 2025, at 17:49:27 UTC were among those invited to apply for permanent residence.

Second Draw of the Week

This round comes just one day after IRCC ran a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draw on July 6, 2026, which issued 534 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 708 — the lowest PNP threshold recorded since November 2025. Two rounds of invitations in as many days signals that IRCC may be continuing the "cluster" scheduling pattern it has favoured through much of 2026: short, concentrated bursts of draws followed by longer gaps rather than a strict biweekly rhythm.

What This Means for Candidates

A cut-off of 517 sits close to where recent Canadian Experience Class (CEC)-type rounds have landed. For context, IRCC's most recent comparable round — held June 23, 2026 — issued 4,000 ITAs at a CRS of 516, itself a slight dip from the 518 cut-off seen in late May. The July 7 draw, at a smaller volume of 2,000 invitations, keeping the cut-off at a similar level suggests the pool of high-scoring, work-experience-eligible candidates remains fairly steady.

Candidates with CRS scores in the 500s who have Canadian work experience have had the strongest odds of an invitation in 2026's general and program-specific rounds. Those below this threshold may find better opportunities through:

• Category-based draws (French-language proficiency, healthcare, trades, and other priority occupations), which have consistently produced lower CRS cut-offs this year
• Provincial Nominee Programs, which add 600 points to a candidate's CRS score and virtually guarantee an ITA in PNP-specific rounds

Stay Ready for the Next Draw

IRCC does not announce the timing, size, or type of upcoming draws in advance. With two rounds already completed in the first week of July, candidates should ensure their Express Entry profiles are complete and up to date — including language test results, education credential assessments, and any changes in work experience — to avoid missing out on the next invitation round.

Visas Avenue will continue to track and report on every Express Entry draw as results are released. Check back for updates on CRS trends and category-based selection rounds throughout July 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. For personalized guidance on your Express Entry profile, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or contact Visas Avenue directly.

- Rajneesh Kumar