Express Entry Draw History & CRS Cut-Off Trends (2026)
The most recent 2026 Express Entry draw was a Healthcare round on with a CRS cut-off of 475 and 4,000 invitations. Across 2026, general Canadian Experience Class draws cut off near 514–521, while category draws ranged from 410 (French) to 481 (STEM). A past cut-off is not a forecast — unofficial, verify on IRCC.
Draw data last verified against IRCC rounds of invitations. See sources.
Every 2026 Express Entry draw
Each row below is a published IRCC round of invitations: its date, round number, the targeted draw type, the CRS minimum (cut-off) and the number of invitations (ITAs) issued. Newest first.
| Date | Round | Category / type | CRS cut-off | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 422 | Healthcare & social services | 475 | 4,000 | |
| 420 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 | |
| 418 | French-language proficiency | 470 | 4,000 | |
| 414 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 3,500 | |
| 410 | STEM occupations | 481 | 3,000 | |
| 407 | Healthcare & social services | 455 | 3,500 | |
| 405 | French-language proficiency | 410 | 4,500 | |
| 403 | Trade occupations | 477 | 1,500 | |
| 402 | Senior managers (Canadian exp.) | 429 | 250 | |
| 398 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 3,000 |
Figures mirror the IRCC rounds-of-invitations page. The 5×/week freshness loop prepends a new row only on a genuine new draw, and restamps the verified date with it.
2026 cut-off ranges by draw type
The single most useful way to read draw history is to group rounds by type, because each type pulls from a different slice of the pool. The table below summarises the 2026 range so far.
| Draw type | Lowest 2026 cut-off | Highest 2026 cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class (general) | 514 | 521 |
| French-language proficiency | 410 | 470 |
| Healthcare & social services | 455 | 475 |
| STEM occupations | 481 | 481 |
| Trade occupations | 477 | 477 |
| Senior managers (Canadian exp.) | 429 | 429 |
How a CRS cut-off is set
A cut-off is not a pass mark IRCC decides in advance. For each round, IRCC chooses how many invitations to issue and which group to invite; it then sorts the eligible pool by CRS score, descending, and the score of the last person invited becomes the published cut-off. So two things move it: how many invitations go out (more invitations reach further down the pool, lowering the cut-off) and how strong the eligible pool is that day. A larger, stronger pool with the same number of seats raises the cut-off; a smaller targeted pool lowers it.
Why category draws cut lower
In 2026 IRCC has leaned heavily on category-based draws — rounds restricted to candidates who meet a targeted criterion such as work in healthcare, strong French, a STEM occupation, the skilled trades, or being a physician, researcher or senior manager with Canadian experience. Because each category draw sorts only the slice of the pool that qualifies, the eligible group is smaller, and the cut-off usually lands below the general Canadian Experience Class draws. French-language rounds are the clearest example: they cut as low as 410 in 2026, far under the 514–521 band of the general rounds. That gap is exactly why two of the highest-yield levers on the improve-your-score page are the French bonus and qualifying for a category at all.
How to read a trend honestly
- Compare like with like. A 470 French cut-off and a 516 general cut-off are not the same race — they invite different people. Only compare a draw to other draws of the same type.
- A past cut-off is not a forecast. Each round is set fresh from that day's pool and seat count. A 410 French round in April does not promise a 410 French round next month; pool composition drifts and IRCC changes the invitation volume.
- Watch the invitation count, not just the score. A low cut-off paired with a tiny ITA count (for example the 250-invitation senior-managers round) is a narrow, one-off opening, not a broad trend.
- Mind the structural shifts. The 2025-03-25 removal of job-offer points reshaped the pool: scores that relied on arranged-employment points fell, which changed where cut-offs settled. We restamp this page only on a real new draw, never on a re-render.
Use the comparison as orientation, not prediction. Where your own estimate sits is something you can check on the CRS calculator on the home page.
Related tools & guides
Sources
Data last verified .
- IRCC — Express Entry: Rounds of invitations (draw dates, cut-offs, categories, ITAs). canada.ca. Pulled 27 Jun 2026.
- IRCC — Ministerial Instructions removing arranged-employment CRS points, effective 25 Mar 2025. Pulled 27 Jun 2026.
Open Government Licence — Canada applies to the cited IRCC data. PointTally is not endorsed by or affiliated with the Government of Canada.