Express Entry Is Closing in on a Record Year. How Many More Invitations Could IRCC Issue in 2026?

As of July 10, 2026, IRCC has issued 97,100 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Express Entry draws this year, including 8,034 invitations across four draws during the first full week of July.

That means 2026 is already within striking distance of becoming the busiest year in Express Entry’s history.

So – how many more invitations could IRCC issue before the end of 2026?

The short answer is that nobody outside IRCC knows. However, looking at invitation patterns over the past several years provides a useful framework for understanding what the rest of 2026 could look like.

Express Entry Is Already Approaching Historic Invitation Levels

Express Entry invitation levels have fluctuated considerably over the past several years.

The current total ITAs for 2026 is already higher than the entire number of invitations issued during 2022 and only about 1,800 invitations shy of matching all of 2024.

It also means IRCC needs just 17,123 more invitations to surpass the current all-time annual record of 114,224 ITAs, which was set in 2021.

Looking back even further, Express Entry did not issue more than 100,000 invitations in a single calendar year until 2020. If IRCC issues 3,000 more invitations this year, 2026 will become only the fifth year in the system’s history to surpass that milestone.

What Could the Rest of 2026 Look Like?

While the exact number of future invitations is impossible to predict, recent years provide several useful points of comparison.

These comparisons illustrate just how far ahead 2026 already is.

Even if invitation levels slowed considerably over the coming months, the year will still likely rank among the busiest in Express Entry history. As well, maintaining a pace similar to recent high-volume years would be enough to establish a new annual record.

Why a Record Year for Express Entry is Possible

At first glance, another record-breaking year might seem difficult to reconcile with Canada’s current immigration levels.

The federal government has kept admissions targets for high-skilled immigrants relatively stable since 2024. In 2026, Canada aims to admit 109,000 new permanent residents through high-skilled pathways (mostly Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker) with another 91,500 admissions through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). These targets are similar to recent years.

However, invitations and admissions are not the same thing.

Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply must still submit a permanent residence application and wait for it to be processed. Not all applications will be approved. And, many applications include multiple people – as a principal applicant may be applying with a spouse, partner, and/or dependent children. Each accompanying family member is counted as an additional admission.

According to IRCC, the current processing times for most Express Entry applications is 6–7 months, meaning many candidates invited during the second half of 2026 won’t become permanent residents until 2027.

IRCC’s application inventory also supports this possibility. According to the most recent processing times data, IRCC has 61,500 Canadian Experience Class applications and 55,800 Federal Skilled Worker applications awaiting processing. Together, those inventories exceed the federal high-skilled admissions target for 2026.

There are also 12,100 Express Entry-aligned PNP applications awaiting processing.

One possible explanation is that IRCC is continuing to build its application inventory to support admissions in 2027. This could justify a higher number of ITAs being issued in the second half of 2026, despite the record-breaking first half.

In contrast, it’s worth noting that from July 2025 through June 2026, IRCC issued nearly 170,000 ITAs. Most applications submitted from these ITAs will be processed in 2026, meaning that Express Entry could overshoot its admissions target for 2026.

While the department has not publicly explained its invitation strategy, the first half of 2026 suggests it is comfortable issuing invitations at a pace well above recent years. What remains to be seen is whether that pace will continue in the months ahead.

July Has Not Shown Signs of a Major Slowdown

Some observers expected Express Entry draw activity to slow after the exceptionally busy first half of the year. So far, that has not happened.

Between July 6 and July 10, IRCC held four Express Entry draws, issuing invitations for Provincial Nominee Programs, Canadian Experience Class, French-language candidates, and the senior manager category.

Together, those draws issued 8,034 invitations, bringing the 2026 total to more than 97,000. While one week of draw activity does not establish a long-term trend, it suggests IRCC has not yet meaningfully reduced invitation levels for the second half of 2026.

In the coming months, we are expecting a series of proposed Express Entry reforms to take effect, including possible changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. It might be possible that Express Entry draws will be slowed or paused while these reforms are implemented, especially if they require significant technical changes to existing systems.

The Number of Invitations is Only Part of the Story

The total number of invitations issued is only one piece of the puzzle. Who receives those invitations can be just as important as how many are issued.

So far in 2026, most invitation growth has come through Canadian Experience Class, French-language proficiency, and other category-based selection draws. General draws have not returned, and Provincial Nominee Program invitations have remained broadly consistent with recent years.

As a result, two candidates with identical CRS scores could have very different chances of receiving an invitation depending on which Express Entry draws they qualify for.

For future Express Entry candidates, planning to learn French or gain work experience in a targeted occupation category may help get you an advantage. However, current priorities may not remain over the long term, especially with the Express Entry reforms expected in the months ahead.

What Should Express Entry Candidates Watch for Next?

As the year continues, candidates should pay attention to more than just the total number of invitations.

The biggest questions for the second half of 2026 include whether IRCC maintains the frequency and size of recent draws. If so, 2026 will turn into a record-breaking year for Express Entry.

However, Express Entry hopefuls should also pay attention to the type of candidates receiving invitations. Will Canadian Experience Class and French-language draws continue to dominate? And will categories like education, STEM, transport, research, or military occupations begin receiving invitations?

The answers to those questions will have a significant impact on candidates’ chances of receiving an ITA in 2026.

Methodology

This analysis compares Express Entry invitation totals from 2020 through 2025 with invitations issued in 2026 through July 10. The scenarios presented are comparisons based on historical invitation levels and should not be interpreted as predictions of future IRCC draw activity.