Express Entry Draw Results 2026: All CRS Cut-offs

The 2026 Express Entry draw results cover 51 rounds held between 5 January and 1 September, in which IRCC issued 122,427 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The most recent round was a Canadian Experience Class draw on 1 September, inviting 2,000 candidates at a CRS cut-off of 521.

For applicants outside Canada, the distribution matters more than the total. IRCC has not held a single general draw in 2026, and several of the lowest cut-offs came from categories that require Canadian work experience. This blog explains every 2026 cut-off and identifies which rounds remain open to candidates applying from Pakistan.

Latest Express Entry Draw Results

The most recent Express Entry draw was held on 1 September 2026. IRCC invited 2,000 candidates through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) at a CRS cut-off of 521.

• Draws held in 2026: 51 rounds between 5 January and 1 September.
  
  
• Invitations issued: 122,427.
  
  
• Lowest CRS cut-off of 2026: CRS 169, in the physicians draw on 19 February, a category limited to candidates with Canadian work experience.
  
  
• Lowest cut-off open from Pakistan: CRS 382, in the French-language draw on 19 August.
  
  
• General draws: None held in 2026.
  
  
• STEM draws: None held since April 2024.
  
  

All Express Entry Draws in 2026

Every round IRCC has held in 2026, from 5 January to 1 September, with the number of invitations and the CRS cut-off for each.

Source: IRCC rounds of invitations. The cut-off is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in each round.

Which Draws Issued the Most Invitations in 2026 

Two round types accounted for most of the invitations issued in 2026. Round sizes varied widely, from four invitations in the smallest round to 8,500 in the largest.

The Canadian Experience Class and French-language rounds together issued 101,750 invitations, 83 percent of the annual total. The Provincial Nominee Program held 17 rounds, more than any other type, running steadily through the year, while trades and transport each drew only once and three categories did not draw at all.

Shares are rounded to one decimal place. Figures to 1 September 2026.

Which 2026 Draws Are Open to Applicants in Pakistan? 

A CRS cut-off only matters if you meet the eligibility requirements for that draw. Some 2026 categories are available to candidates with qualifying experience gained in Canada or abroad, while others specifically require Canadian work experience.

Category-based rounds that did not require Canadian work experience issued 61,804 invitations in 2026 through 1 September. French-language draws accounted for 50,500 of them, or about 82 percent.

The Provincial Nominee Program is counted separately, and it remains the most reliable route for candidates applying from Pakistan. IRCC held 17 PNP rounds in 2026, more than any other round type, spread steadily across the year.

Three Key Trends in the 2026 Express Entry Draw 

No general draws were held in 2026 

IRCC held no general rounds in 2026. Every round was either program-specific or category-based. For candidates applying from outside Canada, that removed the one round type that required neither Canadian experience nor a provincial nomination.

French rounds carried the lowest cut-offs 

French-language rounds issued 50,500 invitations across ten rounds, at cut-offs between 382 and 420. They were also the largest rounds of the year, averaging just over 5,000 invitations each.

The 19 August French round closed at 382, while the Canadian Experience Class round the day before closed at 523, a difference of 141 points. Reaching NCLC 7 generally takes twelve to eighteen months of study, so this is a medium-term plan, though for a profile in the low 400s it is often faster than waiting for a round that may not come.

Your occupation now matters as much as your score

Six categories held rounds in 2026, and the framework was expanded in February with several new ones. Under the rule introduced on 18 February, category draws require 12 months of qualifying experience, which is assessed before your CRS score is considered at all. Read our guide on the Express Entry new rules for the full change.

Where Your CRS Score Stands in the Express Entry

The CRS cut-off shows the lowest score invited in a particular Express Entry draw, but it does not show how candidates are distributed across the pool. IRCC publishes a snapshot of the CRS score distribution before invitation rounds, which helps put individual scores into context. The distribution can change as new profiles are submitted and existing profiles expire.

Source: IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations. Pool distribution as published on 18 August 2026; IRCC updates this figure after each round.

Most candidates are in the middle of the pool. About 134,000 have scores between 401 and 500, while only 19,096 have scores above 500. Canadian Experience Class cut-offs were between 507 and 523 all year, so the great majority of the pool was never close.

This is the part people misread. The pool is not one queue. IRCC picks the round type first, then invites the highest-ranked candidates who are eligible for that round. So your score only matters next to the category you qualify for.

What CRS Score Do You Need in 2026? [h2]

There is no single CRS cut-off for Express Entry. The score required varies by draw type, the number of invitations issued and the CRS scores of candidates who are eligible for that particular round.

The table below shows the CRS cut-offs recorded for the main Express Entry draw types held in 2026 through September 1:

The CRS ranges above cover rounds held between 5 January and 1 September 2026. Three categories are part of the 2026 framework but held no rounds in that period: education occupations, STEM occupations, and researchers with Canadian work experience. STEM has been inactive since April 2024.

A score between 400 and 500 is not a weak profile. The issue is that no general round was held in 2026, so the round type best suited to that range never took place. Three routes remain open: a category round matching your occupation, a provincial nomination, or French. Our guide on how to improve your CRS score covers where the remaining points come from.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What was the latest Express Entry draw? 

As of September 1, 2026, the latest Express Entry draw was a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) round. IRCC issued 2,000 invitations at a CRS cut-off of 521.

What is the lowest CRS cut-off of 2026? 

CRS 169, in the physicians round on 19 February. That category requires 12 months of Canadian work experience, so it is closed to candidates who have not worked in Canada.

Has IRCC held any general draws in 2026?

No. Every round this year was either program-specific or category-based, so no round was open to all Express Entry candidates regardless of program or category.

Which draw is best for applicants from Pakistan? 

Most candidates from Pakistan are invited through a category-based round matching their occupation, or through a provincial nomination. IRCC held 17 Provincial Nominee Program rounds in 2026, more than any other round type.

What CRS Score Do You Need in the 2026 Express Entry Draws?

It depends on the round. Category rounds were between 382 and 477, while Canadian Experience Class rounds were between 507 and 523.

Get a Professional Assessment of Your Profile 

Cut-off scores are published for everyone. What decides your outcome is which rounds you are eligible for. Book your free assessment and we will check your category eligibility, and tell you which route gives you the strongest chance from Pakistan.