Dear future neighbour,
Waiting in the Express Entry pool with a CRS score in the 500s can feel endless. On September 29, 2026, Canada gave 2,000 candidates the news they were waiting for.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw and sent out 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The lowest score that made the cut was 518.
Who got picked?
Anyone with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score above 518 was invited. Candidates at exactly 518 also needed to have created their profile before 8:48 p.m. UTC on February 13, 2026. When people tie on the lowest score, IRCC picks whoever has waited longest. A date that far back shows a lot of candidates were bunched up around 518.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Draw Number | 446 |
| Program | Canadian Experience Class |
| Date | September 29, 2026 |
| Invitations Issued | 2,000 |
| CRS of Lowest-Ranked Candidate | 518 |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | February 13, 2026, at 20:48:08 UTC |
The cutoff keeps inching down
The CEC cutoff has dropped in each of its last three draws:
| Draw Date | CRS Cutoff | Change from Previous |
|---|---|---|
| August 18 | 523 | +7 |
| September 1 | 521 | -2 |
| September 15 | 519 | -2 |
| September 29 | 518 | -1 |
The August 18 draw invited only 1,000 candidates, and the cutoff jumped seven points. Since then, IRCC has gone back to 2,000 invitations per round, and the cutoff has eased each time.
The year so far
Canada has now held 58 Express Entry draws in 2026 and issued 131,715 invitations.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 19 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 17 |
| French-Language proficiency | 10 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 3 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 3 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 55,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 50,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9,270 |
| Healthcare and social services | 11,500 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1,000 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
Got an invitation? Move fast
You have 60 days to submit your permanent residence application, and an expired invitation can’t be brought back. Start gathering your documents right away.
If you’re already working in Canada, you may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit once your application is submitted. If your current permit expires before the bridging permit is finalized, you can keep working under maintained status while you stay in Canada. Eligible family members may qualify for an open work permit too.
Didn’t make the cut? Try:
- Boosting your language scores. Stronger English or French results are a common way to raise your CRS.
- Adding French. Reaching NCLC 7 or higher can open the door to French-language draws, where cutoffs ranged from 382 to 420 this year.
- Watching category draws. Healthcare (467 to 475), trades (477), and transport (470) all came in below the CEC cutoffs.
- Aiming for a provincial nomination. It adds 600 CRS points, more than enough to clear every cutoff seen this year.
Turn Your CRS Score Into an Invitation to Apply
To sum up, Canada invited 2,000 CEC candidates on September 29, 2026, with a cutoff of 518, the third drop in a row. Whether you were invited and need a strong application, or you’re a few points short and need a smarter plan, the right guidance can save you months.
Our team supports provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visiting visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions, and more. Book a consultation here and let’s find your best route to Canada: https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes