By admin
CEC CRS cut-off climbs to record high in latest Express Entry draw
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held a new Express Entry draw, with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates reaching its highest level in 2026.
In the April 14 draw, 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to CEC candidates.
To qualify, candidates needed:
- A minimum CRS score of 515; and
- A profile submitted before 2:46 a.m. (UTC) on June 10, 2025.
Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | ITAs Issued |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French Language Proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French Language Proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and Social Services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French Language Proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
This marks the highest CRS threshold for CEC draws this year, indicating growing competition in the pool.
This was the 7th CEC draw and the 22nd Express Entry draw overall in 2026. It also stands as the smallest CEC draw of the year, slightly below the March 31 round that issued 2,250 ITAs.
Notably, the CRS cut-off increased by six points, the biggest jump between consecutive CEC draws this year.
So far in 2026, IRCC has largely focused on candidates already in Canada, particularly those with Canadian work experience and provincial nominations.
A total of 61,154 ITAs have been issued this year, with CEC candidates receiving the largest share at 32,250 invitations, followed by French-language proficiency candidates at 18,000.
The upward trend in CRS scores highlights intensifying competition among applicants under the CEC category.