On March 5, 2026, IRCC ran Express Entry round #402, a new category-based draw for “Senior managers with Canadian work experience (2026-Version 1)”. The draw issued 250 invitations with a minimum CRS score of 429, targeting NOC 00012–00015 senior.

managers who have at least one year of recent full-time Canadian work experience in these occupations.

• Express Entry round #402 invited 250 senior managers with Canadian work experience, with a CRS cut-off of 429.
• Eligibility requires at least one year of recent full-time Canadian experience in NOC 00012–00015 senior management roles.
• Candidates below CRS 429 should optimize their profiles, consider PNP options, and prepare for future category-based draws.

Express Entry draw 402 for senior managers with Canadian work experience

According to new Ministerial Instructions dated March 5, 2026, Express Entry round #402. was a category-based selection titled “Senior managers with Canadian work experience, 2026-Version 1”.

The round took place on March 5, 2026 at 11:49:49 UTC and issued 250 invitations. to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 429.

The tie-breaking date for this round was August 19, 2025 at 15:10:18 UTC. This means that if more than one candidate had a CRS score of 429, only those.

who submitted their Express Entry profiles on or before that tie-breaker date and time received an invitation.

This round is part of the category-based selection strategy that is using in 2026 to prioritize. candidates in specific occupations and with Canadian work experience, including senior managers, researchers and other key groups.

The Ministerial Instructions specify an “economic goal” of retaining top talent in senior leadership roles who already have Canadian experience.

As with all Express Entry rounds, the underlying permanent residence applications will be processed through one or more of the three economic. programs managed by Express Entry: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Eligibility for the “Senior managers with Canadian work experience” category

Minimum Canadian work experience

To be considered in this category-based round, candidates had to be “eligible foreign nationals” in. the Express Entry pool and meet the specific category criteria set out in the Ministerial Instructions.

In practical terms, that means:

• Within the last three years, at least one year of full-time work (or. an equivalent amount in part-time work) in Canada in an eligible senior manager occupation; and
• During that period, having performed the actions in the NOC lead statement for the occupation; and
• Having performed a substantial number of the main duties, including all essential duties, as described in the NOC 2021 profile for that occupation.

Any period of unauthorized work in Canada must be excluded when calculating the one year of Canadian work experience. Work must be authorized and meet the usual Express Entry requirements for skilled, paid work in NOC TEER 0–3 roles.

Eligible senior manager occupations (NOC 2021)

The Ministerial Instructions restrict this category to four National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021) unit groups, all at TEER 0 senior management level:​

• 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

Candidates must ensure that their job duties, not just their job titles, match one of these NOC codes. Using the wrong NOC code can lead to misrepresentation findings and refusals. You can cross-check your job against the official NOC descriptions using the government’s tool: Find your National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Other Express Entry conditions still apply

Being a senior manager with Canadian work experience is not enough on its own. Candidates must also:

• Qualify under at least one of the three Express Entry programs (CEC, FSWP, or FSTP);
• Have a valid Express Entry profile in the pool on the date of the draw;
• Meet minimum language, education, work experience, admissibility and settlement funds requirements for their chosen program.

If you are unsure which program you qualify under, review the official “Who can apply”. guidance or use IRCC’s online questionnaire: Express Entry – Who can apply and eligibility tools.

Draw statistics for March 5, 2026 (Express Entry round 402)

The key numbers from this category-based round are summarized below.

Draw	Date	Invitations	CRS Score	Draw Type
402	March 5, 2026	250	429	Category-based: Senior managers with Canadian work experience

Only the top 250 ranked candidates in this category grouping received invitations, based on their CRS scores and profile submission dates. Candidates with CRS 429 or higher who did not receive an ITA should verify whether their NOC code and other profile.

details correctly reflect their senior manager experience and that their profile was actually in the pool at the time of the draw.

Analysis: what this draw means for senior managers

CRS competitiveness compared to recent draws

Analysis: A CRS cut-off of 429 is noticeably higher than the cut-off in the most recent. general Express Entry round, which invited 5,500 candidates at a CRS of 397 on March 4, 2026. This is not surprising: category-based draws often have higher CRS thresholds because they target smaller, highly skilled groups.

However, for many senior managers—who often lose CRS points due to age—this specialized category may. still improve their chances compared with competing in large, general or Canadian Experience Class–focused rounds.

The fact that IRCC created a specific 2026 category for senior managers supports. the goal of retaining leadership-level talent already integrated into the Canadian labour market.

Signals about IRCC’s 2026 Express Entry strategy

Analysis: In February 2026, IRCC announced that it would use category-based selection in 2026 to prioritize. groups such as medical doctors, researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, alongside other key categories. Round #402 is a concrete implementation of that strategy.

This suggests that for 2026, Express Entry will continue to favour candidates who. are already contributing to the Canadian economy, especially in leadership and specialized roles.

It also fits with the broader policy trend of using category-based rounds to align. immigration more closely with labour market needs rather than only relying on overall CRS scores.

Who benefits most from this draw

Analysis: The profile that benefits most from this round is a senior manager who:

• Has at least one year of recent, authorized Canadian experience in NOC 00012–00015;
• Has strong language results in English and/or French;
• Holds post-secondary education that can be fully counted in the CRS (with an ECA if completed abroad); and
• Is already inside Canada on a valid work permit and meets CEC or FSWP requirements.

Older candidates, or those whose CRS scores were previously uncompetitive in general rounds, may find that targeted senior manager. draws give them a more realistic pathway—provided their work experience clearly fits one of the four eligible NOC codes.

Practical next steps for Express Entry senior manager candidates

If you received an invitation (CRS 429 or higher)

• Log into your IRCC account and confirm that you have an official Invitation to Apply (ITA) linked to Express Entry round #402.
• Review the program (CEC, FSWP or FSTP) under which you were invited, as the document checklist and proof requirements differ.
• Gather supporting documents for your senior manager experience, including detailed reference letters confirming your duties and responsibilities match your NOC.
• Check the deadline in your invitation (commonly 60 days, but always. rely on the specific instructions in your account) and plan your application timeline accordingly.

If you are in the pool but below CRS 429

Even if you were not invited in this round, you may still benefit from future category-based draws. Consider:

• Improving your language scores, which can significantly boost CRS points and help in any future senior manager or general draws. See our guide on how to improve your CRS score.
• Ensuring your job duties truly match NOC 00012–00015 and updating your profile if you have moved into a more senior role.
• Exploring provincial nomination pathways for senior managers or executives, which can add 600 CRS points. Learn more in our overview of Provincial Nominee Program pathways for Express Entry candidates.

If you are eligible but not yet in the Express Entry pool

For senior managers currently working in Canada but not yet in the pool, this. round is a strong signal that you should plan your profile as soon as feasible. Key steps include:

• Confirming eligibility under CEC or FSWP, including minimum language scores and education requirements.
• Obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees.
• Booking approved language tests and targeting scores that make you competitive in both general and category-based rounds.
• Preparing accurate NOC-based job descriptions and reference letters in advance, so you can submit a complete application if invited.

Our detailed Express Entry profile optimization guide can help you structure your documents and information before you submit your profile.

If your status is expiring soon or you have complex work history

If your Canadian status is close to expiring, or if any of your past work may. have been unauthorized, you should seek personalized advice before relying on that experience to meet category requirements.

Unauthorized work cannot be counted towards the one-year Canadian work experience requirement for this senior manager category.

In situations involving status restoration, previous refusals, or mixed in-Canada and overseas work history, a. tailored assessment is often critical to avoid misrepresentation or refusals at the permanent residence stage.

Staying updated on future senior manager draws

The current Ministerial Instructions authorize invitations in this category during the period from March 5 to March 6, 2026. Future rounds for senior managers will depend on new instructions and IRCC’s evolving labour market priorities.

There is no guarantee of how often this category will be used or how many invitations will be issued each time.

To monitor future developments, candidates should regularly check:

• IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations for new draws and CRS cut-offs;
• Ministerial Instructions for Express Entry rounds for the legal details of each category-based round.

Get professional guidance on your Express Entry strategy

This new senior manager draw shows how quickly Express Entry can shift toward targeted categories. If you are a senior manager in Canada—or planning to become one—and want to understand.

how this affects your pathway, a detailed eligibility and strategy review can be very helpful.

For a personalized assessment of your profile, including NOC selection, CRS optimization and PNP options. aligned with senior management roles, you can book a consultation with a regulated immigration professional.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.