The first few weeks of 2026 have sent a pretty clear message: if you’re already working in Canada, the government wants you to stay. We’ve seen a major shift in how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is handling things, and it’s looking like a strategic win for anyone currently in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pool.
If you’re on a temporary permit right now, you’ll want to pay close attention to this window.
IRCC is Moving Fast: The “Front-Loading” Strategy
Usually, the beginning of the year is a bit slow, but 2026 is different. IRCC has already issued 14,000 invitations (ITAs) specifically for CEC candidates in just three weeks. To put that in perspective, that’s more than 12% of the entire year’s target of 109,000 all before the end of January.
By “front-loading” the year like this, IRCC is trying to clear the path. Since it usually takes about six months to process an application, they are pushing these invites out now so they can officially count you as a permanent resident before the 2026 calendar year ends.
The Numbers: CRS Scores and the Reality of the Pool
We are seeing the scores move in the right direction, but it’s a slow grind. Here is the breakdown of what happened this month:
January 7: 8,000 invites went out, and you needed a 511 to get in.
January 21: Another 6,000 invites followed, and the score dipped slightly to 509.
It’s great to see that number 509, but we have to talk about “pool density.” Right now, there are over 16,000 people sitting with scores between 501 and 600. It’s a crowded room.
This leads to the big question that everyone is waiting for : Will the cut-off scores descend slowly rather than in large leaps, given that new candidates enter the pool daily as they complete their one year of Canadian work experience?
