On April 14, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates. IRCC issued 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in Round #410, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 515 points.

Draw at a Glance

Detail	Result
Draw Number	#410
Draw Date	April 14, 2026
Draw Type	Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
ITAs Issued	2,000
CRS Cut-Off Score	515
Tie-Breaking Rule	June 10, 2025, at 02:46:26 UTC
Express Entry Pool Size (as of April 12, 2026)	233,555 profiles
2026 Year-to-Date ITAs	61,154

CRS Score Increases as Draw Size Shrinks

The 515 cut-off represents a six-point increase from the previous CEC-targeted draw, held on March 31, 2026, where the cut-off stood at 509. That earlier draw issued 2,250 ITAs; the round before it, on March 17, 2026, issued 4,000 ITAs at a cut-off of 507. The pattern across 2026 CEC draws is clear: as invitation volumes have decreased, the CRS cut-off has climbed in response.

Round #410 is the smallest CEC draw of 2026 to date, and at 515 points, it carries the highest cut-off score of any CEC round this year. Candidates sitting between 500 and 514 were not reached in this round.

Pool Composition and What It Means for Clients

As of April 12, 2026, there were 233,555 profiles registered in the Express Entry pool — an increase of approximately 3,369 profiles since late March. The 501 to 600 CRS band holds roughly 13,610 candidates, the segment most directly affected by CEC draws. With the cut-off now at 515, a significant number of candidates in the lower portion of that range remain in the pool awaiting future rounds.

Candidates below 505 should not rely solely on CEC draws as their primary pathway. Category-based draws, provincial nominations, and French language proficiency remain the most accessible routes for those candidates in the current draw environment.

Year-to-Date Express Entry Activity

Since January 1, 2026, the Government of Canada has issued 61,154 ITAs across all Express Entry draw types. In Q1 2026, CEC draws accounted for the majority of all invitations issued. IRCC has also held category-based draws for Skilled Trades, Healthcare and Social Services, French Language Proficiency, Senior Managers, Physicians, and the Provincial Nominee Program, reflecting the system’s continued shift toward targeted, occupation-specific selection.

For the full history of Express Entry rounds, visit the official IRCC page: Express Entry rounds of invitations — Canada.ca

Stay Current with Express Entry Practice

Join us at our upcoming course Express Entry Applications 2026 on July 29, 2026 for an in-depth, 5-hour look at the Express Entry system and mastering federal skilled worker applications. Instructor Andrew Carvajal covers current draw trends, category-based selection strategy, and everything practitioners need to advise clients effectively in today’s evolving landscape. Learn more and register at lpen.ca.

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