Express Entry Update — April 23, 2026
Thursday, April 23, 2026
On April 14, 2026, IRCC issued 2,000 ITAs to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with a CRS cut-off of 515 — the highest CEC cut-off score in 2026 so far, up 6 points from the March 31 draw (509).
On April 15, 2026, IRCC issued 4,000 ITAs in a French-Language proficiency draw with a CRS cut-off of 519.
Canada has issued over 58,000 invitations through Express Entry in 2026 to date, with draws targeting CEC, French-language, Trades, PNP, and other category-based streams. The Express Entry pool stood at 233,555 candidates as of April 12, 2026.
What You Should Do
- Check your current CRS score using the official CRS tool at canada.ca/express-entry and compare it against the latest CEC cut-off of 515 to assess your competitiveness for upcoming CEC draws.
- If your CRS is below 515, consider boosting your score by taking a French-language test (TEF Canada or TCF Canada) — French-language draws have had cut-offs as low as 393–419 in 2026, making them significantly more accessible.
- If you work in a trades occupation, monitor IRCC's rounds of invitations page at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html — the April 2 Trades draw had a cut-off of 477 with 3,000 ITAs issued.
- Review the CRS score distribution table on the IRCC rounds page — with 13,610 candidates scoring 501–600, competition at the top of the pool is intense; profile-building strategies (job offers, provincial nominations) may be necessary to stand out.
Sources
Topics Covered
Category-Based Selection System: April 2026 draws covered four distinct categories: CEC, French-language, PNP, and Trades, continuing IRCC's pattern of using category-based selection to target specific labour market needs.
CRS Cutoff Trends: The April 14 CEC draw set a 2026 high of 515 CRS, up from 509 on March 31, while French-language draws remain significantly lower at 419. The pool contains 233,555 candidates as of April 12.
More Express Entry Updates
Express Entry Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Express Entry Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
Express Entry Update — May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
Get immigration updates in your inbox
Weekly analysis. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.