On September 29, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sent out 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residency in a new Express Entry draw for Canadian Experience Class candidates, pushing the CRS threshold down for a third consecutive round since the August peak.
The Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff fell to 518 points, one point below the September 15 draw that required 519 and five points below the 523 that the August 18 round had established as the steepest CEC floor of the year.
This round is draw number 446 and the 17th CEC-specific selection of 2026, arriving one day after the Provincial Nominee Program draw on September 28 that issued 733 invitations at a CRS of 725.
The back-to-back sequencing follows the cluster pattern that IRCC has maintained since March, where a PNP round opens each weekly window and a CEC round follows within 24 to 48 hours.
With this draw, IRCC has now distributed 131,715 invitations across 58 Express Entry rounds in 2026, and CEC selections alone account for 55,250 of that total.
Table of Contents
Official Express Entry Draw Parameters September 29
IRCC published the following details for the September 29, 2026, Canadian Experience Class round.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Draw Number | 446 |
| Program | Canadian Experience Class |
| Date and Time (UTC) | September 29, 2026, at 10:19:21 |
| Invitations Issued | 2,000 |
| CRS of Lowest-Ranked Candidate | 518 |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | February 13, 2026, at 20:48:08 UTC |
Candidates scoring above 518 were invited regardless of profile submission date. Candidates at exactly 518 needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before February 13, 2026, at 20:48:08 UTC
3 Consecutive CRS Decreases Since The August Peak
The CEC cutoff has now declined in each of the last 3 rounds, tracing a clear downward arc from the 2026 high point.
| Draw Date | CRS Cutoff | Change from Previous |
|---|---|---|
| August 18 | 523 | +7 |
| September 1 | 521 | -2 |
| September 15 | 519 | -2 |
| September 29 | 518 | -1 |
The August 18 round carried the smallest CEC invitation volume of the year at just 1,000, which compressed the selection window and forced the cutoff to spike by seven points in a single draw.
Every subsequent round restored the invitation count to 2,000, and the cutoff responded by retreating one to two points each time.
That mechanical relationship between volume and threshold has been the defining pattern of CEC selections throughout 2026.
Larger draws reach further into the ranked list and pull the cutoff down, while smaller draws tighten the selection band and push it up.
The current cutoff of 518 matches exactly where the CRS sat on May 27, when IRCC issued 3,000 invitations in a single CEC round.
Reaching that same threshold with only 2,000 invitations suggests that the pool composition around the 516 to 520 CRS band has thinned since the spring, likely because months of aggressive draw activity have cleared older profiles from that range.
Complete CEC Draw Record For 2026
IRCC has conducted 17 Canadian Experience Class draws between January and September 2026, distributing 55,250 invitations to candidates with qualifying Canadian work experience.
| Draw # | Date | Invitations | CRS Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 446 | September 29 | 2,000 | 518 |
| 443 | September 15 | 2,000 | 519 |
| 439 | September 1 | 2,000 | 521 |
| 436 | August 18 | 1,000 | 523 |
| 432 | August 5 | 3,000 | 516 |
| 428 | July 21 | 2,000 | 516 |
| 424 | July 7 | 2,000 | 517 |
| 420 | June 23 | 4,000 | 516 |
| 417 | May 27 | 3,000 | 518 |
| 413 | April 28 | 2,000 | 514 |
| 410 | April 14 | 2,000 | 515 |
| 407 | March 31 | 2,250 | 509 |
| 404 | March 17 | 4,000 | 507 |
| 400 | March 3 | 4,000 | 508 |
| 396 | February 17 | 6,000 | 508 |
| 392 | January 21 | 6,000 | 509 |
| 390 | January 7 | 8,000 | 511 |
The data reveals two distinct phases in CEC draw behavior during 2026.
The first quarter featured high-volume rounds of 4,000 to 8,000 invitations with cutoffs between 507 and 511, as IRCC aggressively cleared inventory from the Express Entry pool.
From April onward, invitation volumes dropped to the 1,000 to 3,000 range and the CRS threshold climbed into the 514 to 523 band, reflecting a more measured draw pace through the second and third quarters.
The lowest CEC cutoff of the year remains 507 from the March 17 draw that issued 4,000 invitations, while the highest was 523 on August 18, when only 1,000 invitations were distributed.
Options For Candidates Below The 518 Threshold
CEC candidates scoring between 500 and 517 remain within striking distance of the cutoff and should evaluate whether targeted improvements could push their profiles above the threshold before the next round.
Language proficiency carries the highest per-point return of any CRS factor, and the jump from Canadian Language Benchmark 8 to CLB 9 across all four skills can add 50 to 80 points through cascading skill transferability bonuses.
Candidates who score well in French alongside English should ensure their profiles reflect both languages, since a second official language at NCLC 7 or above also opens eligibility for French-language proficiency draws that have operated between CRS 382 and 420 throughout 2026.
Those whose CRS scores fall in the 450 to 500 range may find faster pathways through category-based draws targeting healthcare occupations, trades, or transport, all of which have delivered cutoffs below the CEC range this year.
A provincial nomination remains the most powerful accelerator available, adding 600 CRS points that place candidates well above every cutoff recorded in 2026 across all draw types.
Ontario’s new Workforce Priority stream, Alberta’s AAIP, and the BC PNP all have remaining nomination room for 2026 and are actively processing expressions of interest.
The September 29 CEC draw extended a 3-round CRS decline that has brought the cutoff from 523 down to 518 since mid-August, signalling that IRCC’s steady 2,000-invitation pace is gradually easing competitive pressure in the pool.
Canadian Experience Class selections remain the largest single source of Express Entry invitations in 2026, with 55,250 distributed through 17 rounds and the CRS operating in a narrow 507 to 523 band all year.
The deep tie-breaking date of February 13, 2026, reveals significant candidate density at the 518 CRS level, which means profiles sitting at exactly this score face stiff competition from others who submitted months earlier.
Invited candidates should treat the 60-day application window as their top priority and begin assembling documentation immediately, since an expired invitation cannot be reinstated and forces a complete restart of the Express Entry process.
IRCC has not indicated any changes to the current draw cadence, so candidates in the CEC stream can anticipate another round within approximately two weeks based on the rhythm that has held since April.
For complete coverage of every Express Entry draw, CRS trend, and IRCC processing time update, follow Immigration News Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why does the tie-breaking date matter in a Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw?
The tie-breaking date determines which candidates receive invitations when multiple profiles share the lowest qualifying CRS score in a draw. IRCC sorts tied candidates by the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles, with earlier submissions receiving priority. In the September 29, 2026, draw, candidates with exactly 518 points needed profiles submitted before February 13, 2026, meaning anyone at that score who entered the pool after that date was not selected. A tie-breaking date that stretches several months before the draw signals heavy candidate congestion at that CRS level, while a date only days or weeks old indicates relatively few candidates sharing the cutoff.
How is the Canadian Experience Class different from other Express Entry programs?
The Canadian Experience Class is one of three federal immigration programs managed through the Express Entry system, alongside the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. CEC is exclusively for candidates who have gained at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada within the three years before their application. Unlike the other two programs, CEC does not require an educational credential assessment or proof of settlement funds, and it places significant weight on Canadian work history and language proficiency. CEC draws in 2026 have consistently required CRS scores between 507 and 523, making them more competitive than category-based draws but accessible to candidates with strong Canadian employment records.
Is the Express Entry CRS cutoff likely to keep falling below 518 in upcoming CEC draws?
The CRS cutoff direction depends primarily on two variables: the number of invitations IRCC issues per round and the volume of new profiles entering the pool between draws. If IRCC maintains the 2,000-invitation pace that has been standard since July 2026, the cutoff is likely to remain in the 516 to 520 range based on current pool dynamics. A larger draw of 3,000 or more could push the threshold below 516, while a smaller round of 1,000 like the August 18 draw could spike it back above 520. IRCC does not pre-announce draw sizes, so candidates should prepare for fluctuations in either direction.
Can I improve my CRS score while my Express Entry profile is already in the pool?
Yes, you can update your Express Entry profile at any time before receiving an invitation to apply. Common improvements include retaking a language test to achieve higher Canadian Language Benchmark scores, completing additional education, accumulating more months of skilled work experience, or obtaining a provincial nomination. After making changes, you update the relevant section of your profile in your IRCC account, and your CRS score recalculates automatically. Updated language test results must come from an IRCC-designated testing organization, and any new credentials must be supported by proper documentation before you can claim the additional points.
What happens if IRCC issues a category-based draw right after a CEC draw and I qualify for both?
Each Express Entry draw operates independently with its own eligibility criteria, CRS cutoff, and invitation count. If you meet the requirements for both a CEC draw and a category-based draw, you could receive an invitation from whichever round your profile qualifies for first. However, once you receive an invitation to apply, your profile is removed from the pool and you cannot receive a second invitation. If a category-based draw for healthcare, French-language proficiency, or trades offers a lower CRS cutoff than the CEC stream, candidates who qualify for both benefit by remaining in the pool for whichever round reaches their score level first.
Fact-Checked: All draw figures, CRS cutoffs, invitation counts, tie-breaking timestamps, and year-to-date totals cited in this article were verified against the official IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations data as published on Canada.ca on September 29, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Readers should consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or licensed immigration lawyer for guidance specific to their individual circumstances.
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