Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued another round of invitations through the Express Entry system. In the third Express Entry draw of April 2026, the department invited 2,000 candidates from the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 515. This is the highest CEC cut-off recorded so far in 2026 — a full six-point jump from the previous CEC draw on March 31 (CRS 509). It also represents the largest single increase in CRS cut-offs seen this year.
Candidates invited in this round must have created their Express Entry profile before 2:46 a.m. UTC on June 10, 2025.
Why This Draw Matters
This was the seventh CEC-specific draw of 2026 and the 22nd Express Entry draw overall this year. Although it is the smallest CEC draw of 2026 to date (the March 31 draw issued 2,250 ITAs), the rising cut-off score signals growing competition among candidates with Canadian work experience.
IRCC continues to focus heavily on in-Canada applicants. Throughout 2026, the majority of invitations have gone to people already living and working in Canada through the CEC program and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Full Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026 (as of April 15)
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off | ITAs Issued |
| Apr-15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| Apr-14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| Apr-13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| Apr-02 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| Mar-31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| Mar-30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| Mar-18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| Mar-17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| Mar-16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| Mar-05 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| Mar-04 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| Mar-03 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| Mar-02 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| Feb-20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| Feb-19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| Feb-17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| Feb-16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| Feb-06 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| Feb-03 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| Jan-21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| Jan-20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| Jan-07 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| Jan-05 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
2026 Express Entry by the Numbers
IRCC has now issued a total of 61,154 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across all Express Entry draws in 2026. Here’s how the invitations break down by category:
- Canadian Experience Class: 7 draws (most invitations overall)
- Provincial Nominee Program: 8 draws
- French-Language proficiency: 4 draws
- Trades: 1 draw
- Healthcare and social services: 1 draw
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 1 draw
- Senior Managers with Canadian work experience: 1 draw
The Canadian Experience Class continues to receive the largest share of invitations by a wide margin, reflecting IRCC’s clear preference for candidates who already have Canadian work experience.
What This Means for You
If you’re in the Express Entry pool under the CEC, expect competition to remain strong. CRS cut-offs for domestic candidates are trending upward, so maximizing your score through stronger language results, additional Canadian work experience, or a provincial nomination is more important than ever.
Stay prepared: Keep your profile up to date and monitor draw results closely. Even small improvements to your CRS score can make a big difference in the current environment.
Source: Official IRCC Express Entry draw results
