Express Entry Update — April 27, 2026
Monday, April 27, 2026
The most recent Express Entry draw (#411) was held April 15, 2026, issuing 4,000 invitations to French-language proficiency candidates at a CRS cut-off of 419.
In Q1 2026, IRCC held 23 draws and issued 65,154 ITAs total, with CEC cut-offs consistently ranging between 507–515 and French-language draws as low as CRS 393.
IRCC has decisively shifted to category-based draws in 2026, with 10 active categories including Trades, Healthcare, Physicians, Senior Managers, and French-language proficiency — general draws have not been held.
What You Should Do
- Check your current CRS score and compare it against recent cut-offs at canada.ca/express-entry. If your score is 419 or above and you have French-language proficiency, you may have been eligible for Draw #411 — ensure your profile is active and up to date.
- If you work in trades occupations, the most recent Trades draw (#408, April 2) had a cut-off of 477. Log in to your IRCC account and verify your NOC code is correctly listed under an eligible trades occupation to be considered in future category draws.
- Review the full list of 10 active Express Entry categories for 2026 at canada.ca/express-entry to determine which category you qualify for, then optimize your profile accordingly (e.g., improve language scores or add Canadian work experience).
- If your Express Entry profile was created before November 19, 2025, confirm it has not expired — profiles are valid for 12 months. Log in to your IRCC account at ircc.canada.ca to check your profile's expiry date.
Sources
Topics Covered
Category-Based Selection System: IRCC ran all 23 draws in Q1 2026 as category-based draws across 10 active categories, with no general pool draws conducted. Categories include French language, CEC, Trades, Healthcare, Physicians, Senior Managers, and PNP.
CRS Cutoff Trends: The April 15 French-language draw had a cut-off of 419, while CEC draws have held between 507–515 throughout Q1 2026. The all-time record low CRS of 169 was set in the Physicians draw on February 19, 2026.
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
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