Trending 
Canada has issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in its latest Express Entry draw, creating another opportunity for skilled workers seeking to settle permanently in the country.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the draw on August 18, 2026, targeting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 523 to qualify for the round.
The Canadian Experience Class is designed primarily for skilled workers who have obtained qualifying work experience in Canada and meet the programme’s other eligibility requirements.
Express Entry is the Canadian government’s online system for managing applications from skilled workers seeking permanent residence. Candidates enter a pool where they are ranked using the CRS, with factors such as age, education, language proficiency and work experience contributing to their scores.
Canada’s government explains that during invitation rounds, it determines the type of draw and number of candidates to invite before selecting the highest-ranking eligible candidates from the Express Entry pool.
The August 18 draw follows another round held on August 17, when Canada invited 442 Provincial Nominee Program candidates to apply for permanent residence.
However, the latest announcement should not be interpreted as an open invitation for any foreign national to immediately apply for Canadian permanent residence. The 1,000 invitations were specifically issued to eligible Canadian Experience Class candidates who were already participating in the Express Entry system and met the requirements of the draw.
For Nigerians and other prospective immigrants interested in Canada, the development highlights the importance of understanding Express Entry eligibility, building a competitive CRS score and following official IRCC immigration requirements rather than relying on misleading claims that Canada has opened 1,000 unrestricted permanent-residence slots.
