CEC draw: Express Entry cut-off score drops to a new low as thousands of candidates receive invitations

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.

The immigration department issued 6,000 ITAs in a draw for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have

• A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 509; and
• Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 4:35 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on October 29, 2025.

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2026

Draw date	Draw Type	CRS cut-off score	ITAs issued
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

Today's draw marks the third of the year, and the second large CEC selection of 2026.

Within just the first month of the year, IRCC has already issued 14,000 ITAs to CEC candidates through two Express Entry draws. These significantly sized draws have also contributed to drastic changes in the composition of the Express Entry candidate pool.

CEC draws this year have also featured some of the lowest CRS scores the program has seen in recent memory. Both today's draw and the CEC draw preceding it featured the lowest score cut-offs since September of 2024.

Express Entry draws in 2026 have seen Canada's immigration department focus exclusively on immigration candidates within the country, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.

Draw Type	Number of Draws
Canadian Experience Class	2
Provincial Nominee Program	2

In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 15,255 ITAs across two draw types:

Draw type	ITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class	14,000
Provincial Nominee Program	1,255

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is