Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 250 Invitations to Apply in an Express Entry senior managers draw held on September 16, 2026. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score was 389.
Express Entry Draw #444 targeted candidates in the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category. The tie-breaking rule was September 1, 2026, at 23:05:13 UTC.
This was the third Express Entry selection for this category in 2026 and produced its lowest CRS cut-off so far.
Express Entry Senior Managers Draw Results
| Draw detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Draw number | 444 |
| Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Category | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience |
| Invitations issued | 250 |
| Minimum CRS score | 389 |
| Tie-breaking rule | September 1, 2026, at 23:05:13 UTC |
The results can be verified through IRCC’s official Express Entry rounds page.
Who Is Eligible for the Senior Managers Category?
To qualify for the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category, a candidate must have accumulated at least 12 months of qualifying full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, during the previous three years.
The experience:
- Must have been obtained in Canada;
- Does not need to be continuous;
- Must be in one eligible occupation; and
- Must correspond with the duties of the declared National Occupational Classification code.
Candidates must also have an active Express Entry profile, qualify for at least one Express Entry program and meet all requirements contained in the instructions for the invitation round.
Eligible Senior Management Occupations
IRCC currently lists four eligible occupations under this category:
| NOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 00012 | Senior managers—financial, communications and other business services |
| 00013 | Senior managers—health, education, social and community services and membership organizations |
| 00014 | Senior managers—trade, broadcasting and other services |
| 00015 | Senior managers—construction, transportation, production and utilities |
A senior-sounding job title alone does not establish eligibility. IRCC assesses whether the candidate’s actual duties correspond with the lead statement and main duties of the selected NOC code.
Applicants should review IRCC’s official category-based selection requirements.
How Does This Draw Compare With Earlier Rounds?
IRCC has conducted three senior managers draws in 2026:
| Date | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2026 | 250 | 429 |
| July 10, 2026 | 500 | 392 |
| September 16, 2026 | 250 | 389 |
The latest score was three points lower than the July round and 40 points lower than the first senior managers selection held in March.
This does not guarantee that the score will decrease again. Future cut-offs will depend on the number of eligible candidates, their CRS scores and the number of invitations IRCC decides to issue.
How the Tie-Breaking Rule Applies
Candidates with a CRS score of exactly 389 needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before September 1, 2026, at 23:05:13 UTC.
The tie-breaking rule only decides between eligible candidates who have the same score at the cut-off. Candidates with more than 389 points were not affected by this timestamp, provided they satisfied all other requirements.
What Should Invited Candidates Do?
An Invitation to Apply allows a candidate to submit a permanent residence application. It is not a permanent residence approval.
Invited candidates should verify the deadline shown in their IRCC account. Express Entry applicants are generally given 60 days to submit a complete application.
Before submitting, candidates should:
- Confirm that they remain eligible for an Express Entry program;
- Verify that they satisfy the senior managers category requirements;
- Compare their actual employment duties with the declared NOC code;
- Obtain detailed Canadian employment letters;
- Recalculate their CRS score using information valid on the invitation date;
- Check the validity of their language test and educational assessment;
- Prepare police certificates and other required documents;
- Report any change in employment, family composition or immigration status; and
- Submit the complete application before the deadline.
IRCC may refuse an application if the supporting evidence does not establish the work experience, CRS score or program eligibility claimed in the Express Entry profile.
What If You Were Not Invited?
Eligible candidates may remain in the Express Entry pool while their profiles are valid. They should keep their employment, language results, education and family information accurate.
Candidates can review their estimated score using the Always Canada Group CRS calculator and learn more through the Express Entry immigration guide.
Key Takeaway
The September 16 Express Entry senior managers draw issued 250 invitations at a minimum CRS score of 389. Candidates required qualifying Canadian work experience in one of four eligible senior management occupations.
Invited candidates should confirm that their employment duties and supporting documents establish the work experience declared in their profiles before submitting permanent residence applications.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration requirements and draw results may change. Verify current instructions directly with IRCC before acting.
