Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada conducted Express Entry draw #426 on July 10, 2026, targeting candidates in the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category. IRCC issued 500 Invitations to Apply with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 392.
This draw is notable because the CRS cut-off was below 400, which is lower than many recent Express Entry rounds in broader or program-specific categories. The previous senior managers drawn in 2026 reportedly had a CRS cut-off of 429, meaning the July 10 round showed a lower threshold for eligible candidates in this specific category.
Who qualifies under the Senior Managers category?
According to IRCC’s category-based selection page, candidates must first meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry and be eligible for one of the programs managed under Express Entry. In addition, candidates must meet the requirements of the specific category-based round.
For the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category, IRCC lists the following requirement: candidates must have accumulated, within the past three years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, in Canada, in one eligible senior management occupation.
The eligible occupations listed by IRCC are:
- 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
You can review the full list of occupations under NOC 00012–00015 to confirm whether your work experience qualifies.
What the CRS cut-off means
A CRS score of 392 means that candidates who met the senior managers category requirements and had a CRS score at or above that level could receive an Invitation to Apply, subject to the tie-breaking rule. In category-based rounds, IRCC ranks only the candidates who meet the requirements of the selected category and invites the highest-ranking candidates within that group.
IRCC explains that category nd invites the highest-ranking candidates within that group.
IRCC explains that category-based selection allows invitations to be issued based on criteria such as official-language ability, work experience in a specific occupation, or education. These rounds supplement general and program-specific rounds and are used to meet identified economic goals.
Age, education, and senior managers
For the Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience category, IRCC’s published category requirements are based on qualifying Canadian work experience in specific senior management occupations, together with the requirement to meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry. The category requirements do not list a separate minimum age or a specific education level as standalone conditions for this draw.
However, age, education, language ability, work experience, and other factors still form part of the Comprehensive Ranking System used to assess and rank Express Entry profiles. This means these factors may affect a candidate’s CRS score, even though they are not separate eligibility requirements for the senior managers category itself.
Key takeaways
The latest senior managers draw shows a CRS cut-off below 400 for candidates who met the specific Canadian work experience and occupation requirements of this category. The draw was limited to senior managers with qualifying Canadian work experience, and eligibility depends on both Express Entry program eligibility and the category instructions for the round.
Candidates who work in senior management should carefully review their NOC code, Canadian work experience, Express Entry eligibility, and supporting documents before relying on this category. Full details should always be checked against IRCC’s official instructions for the applicable round.
Need help?
If you have questions about your eligibility, your NOC code, or how this draw may affect your Express Entry strategy, you are welcome to contact our office. We can review your profile, assess your options, and help you prepare a strong application.