Latest Express Entry round: 250 invitations for Senior Managers
On September 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its 444th Express Entry round overall, and the 56th round of 2026. This round invited 250 candidates under the "Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience" category to apply for permanent residence. The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff was 389 — the lowest of the three rounds held for this category since it was introduced in March 2026.
The tie-break rule, used when multiple candidates share the same CRS score, was set at 23:05:13 UTC on September 1, 2026. Candidates with a score of exactly 389 who had submitted their profile before that time were included in this round.
Comparison of the three Senior Managers rounds held in 2026:
As of this round, the Senior Managers category has issued a total of 1,000 invitations across three rounds in 2026. Total Express Entry invitations across all categories in 2026 have reached 128,982 — higher than any previous year, according to IRCC data.
What is the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category?
This is one of Express Entry's category-based rounds — a group of draws targeting candidates with specific occupations or characteristics, rather than drawing from the general pool by CRS score alone. The category applies to TEER 0 occupations, the highest management tier in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. The eligible NOC codes are:
NOC 00012 — Senior managers in financial, communications, and other business services
NOC 00013 — Senior managers in health, education, social and community services
NOC 00014 — Senior managers in trade, broadcasting, and other services
NOC 00015 — Senior managers in construction, transportation, production, and utilities
Specific eligibility requirements:
At least 12 months of full-time, paid work experience in Canada in one of the NOC 00 codes above, within the past three years. The experience does not need to be continuous, but must be within a single qualifying occupation.
The experience must be Canadian work experience — unlike some other Express Entry category streams, foreign experience does not count toward this category.
A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in all four language abilities: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
An existing Express Entry profile through one of three federal programs: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Whether a role qualifies as "Senior Manager" is determined by the actual nature of the duties performed, as defined under the NOC system — not by job title alone. Titles such as CEO, CFO, President, Vice President, or General Manager typically fall into this group when the actual duties match the NOC 00 description.
Practical steps to check your profile
If you are currently working in Canada in a senior management role and believe your position may fall under NOC 00, consider the following steps:
Determine the exact NOC code for your current role based on your actual job duties, using the official NOC lookup tool from the Government of Canada — not based on the job title on your contract or business card.
Confirm your total full-time work experience in Canada under that NOC code adds up to at least 12 months within the past three years.
Take a language test (IELTS General Training or CELPIP General) and confirm you meet CLB 7 in all four abilities.
If you do not yet have an Express Entry profile, create one through CEC, FSWP, or FSTP, depending on which program's requirements you meet.
Calculate your overall CRS score (including spousal points, if applicable) and monitor upcoming Senior Managers rounds.
The trend across the last three rounds shows a declining CRS cutoff (429 → 392 → 389), but this is historical data reflecting the composition of the candidate pool at each point in time — not a basis for predicting future cutoffs. The number of invitations and cutoff score for each round are determined by IRCC based on labour market needs and pool composition at the time of the draw.
One point worth noting: incorrectly self-assessing a NOC code is a common reason applications are refused after submission, since IRCC cross-checks the actual job duties described in employment letters and contracts against the official NOC description claimed.
Conclusion
To better understand the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category and which Express Entry pathways fit your specific profile, contact Nonsuch Immigration directly via Zalo 0946 749 585 or WhatsApp 204 963 9288.
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