Express Entry Draw Results 2026: All CRS Scores, Dates & IRCC Categories

Live Tracker — Updated After Every Draw – By Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319

Last Updated: April 29, 2026

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Latest update — April 29, 2026: IRCC held 26 Express Entry draws between January 5 and April 29, 2026, issuing 71,627 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The most recent draw (#414, April 129 was the French language proficiency draw, issuing 4000 ITAs at CRS 400. CEC cut-offs held between 507 and 511 all of Q1. French draws ran as low as CRS 393. The record-low CRS of 169 was set in the Physicians draw on February 19.

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Q1 2026 at a glance:

Stat	Figure
Total draws (as of Apr 29, 2026)	26
Total ITAs issued (as of Apr 29 2026)	71,627
Record low CRS (all time)	169 (Physicians, Feb 19)
CEC cut-off range	507 – 515
Latest Trades CRS	477 (Apr 02)
Latest French CRS	400 (Apr 29)
Active categories 2026	10

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Key takeaways — what you need to know right now:

• 71,627 ITAs issued across 26 draws as of April 29, 2026
• First-ever Trades Occupations draw of 2026 held April 2 — 3,000 ITAs at CRS 477
• Record low CRS of 169 issued February 19, 2026 for Physicians with Canadian work experience
• First-ever Senior Manager draw held March 5, 2026 at CRS 429 — 250 ITAs issued
• CEC cut-offs held at 507–511 all of Q1; unlikely to drop below 500 before Q3
• French draws remain the most accessible general pathway, with cut-offs as low as 393
• No STEM category draw has occurred in over 23 months — STEM candidates need a different strategy
• Work experience requirement for all category draws increased to 12 months (from 6 months in 2025)

Not sure how your profile fits the 2026 draw landscape? Check your Express Entry eligibility or Book Your Strategy Assessment with RCIC Amir Ismail (R412319).

How Express Entry changed in 2026

In 2026, IRCC moved decisively toward targeted category draws over broad CRS-based general draws. Five new categories launched in February alone. The result is a system where your NOC code and occupation history matter as much as your CRS score.

Category draws let IRCC pull candidates with specific skills from the pool at cut-offs far below the general CEC threshold. A candidate with CRS 450 in a qualifying trades or healthcare occupation may receive an ITA before a general draw ever reaches that score.

Three things define Express Entry in 2026:

• 10 active categories now exist, with 5 added or introduced in the past four months
• All renewed categories require 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience, up from 6 months in 2025
• The STEM category has been dormant for over 23 months — STEM candidates need a clear alternative plan

Understand how Express Entry works before building your 2026 strategy.

What Are the New IRCC Express Entry Categories for 2026?

IRCC added five new 2026 categories on February 18: Senior Managers, Researchers, Transport workers, and Skilled Military Recruits — plus Physicians, quietly added December 8, 2025. Total active categories: 10. (Source: IRCC Ministerial Instructions, Feb 18, 2026)

⚠️ Note: The Agriculture and Agri-food category was retired for 2026. If you previously qualified under that stream, you will need a new strategy.

All 2026 Express Entry draw results

As of April 29, 2026, IRCC has held 26 draws issuing 71,627 ITAs. CEC draws held at CRS 507–511 throughout Q1. French draws ran as low as 393. The first Trades category draw of 2026 ran on April 2 at CRS 477.

Express Entry Rounds of Invitation January 2026 to date

#	Date	Round type	Invitations issued	CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited
414	April 29, 2026	French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2	4,000	400
413	April 28, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	2,000	514
412	April 27, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	473	795
411	April 15, 2026	French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2	4,000	419
410	April 14, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	2,000	515
409	April 13, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	324	786
408	April 2, 2026	Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3	3,000	477
407	March 31, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	2,250	509
406	March 30, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	356	802
405	March 18, 2026	French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2	4,000	393
404	March 17, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	4,000	507
403	March 16, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	362	742
402	March 5, 2026	Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1	250	429
401	March 4, 2026	French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2	5,500	397
400	March 3, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	4,000	508
399	March 2, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	264	710
398	February 20, 2026	Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3	4,000	467
397	February 19, 2026	Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1	391	169
396	February 17, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	6,000	508
395	February 16, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	279	789
394	February 6, 2026	French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2	8,500	400
393	February 3, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	423	749
392	January 21, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	6,000	509
391	January 20, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	681	746
390	January 7, 2026	Canadian Experience Class	8,000	511
389	January 5, 2026	Provincial Nominee Program	574	711

The CRS has changed over time. You can check which version of the Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system was in force on the day a given round was held to see on what basis candidates were ranked for invitation.

Source: IRCC official immigration and citizenship page. Cumulative total: 71,627 ITAs across 26 draws (January 5 to April 29, 2026). Updated April 29, 2026.

What CRS score do you need for Express Entry in 2026?

There is no single CRS number. It depends entirely on your draw type. Here is where each pathway sat in Q1 2026, and what to expect in Q2.

Draw Type	Q1 2026 CRS Range	Q2 2026 Outlook	Best For
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	507–511	505–515 (no drop below 500 expected)	Candidates with Canadian work experience and CRS 500+
French Language Proficiency	393–400	390–405	Candidates with strong French (CLB 7+) regardless of CRS
Healthcare & Social Services	467 (one draw)	460–475	NOC-eligible healthcare workers with 12 months Canadian experience
Senior Managers	429 (one draw)	420–440	NOC 00 code executives with 12 months Canadian experience
Physicians	169 (record low)	Pool-dependent	Physicians with 12 months Canadian clinical experience
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)	710–802 (incl. +600 bonus)	Consistent monthly draws	Candidates with a valid provincial nomination
Trades	First Draw – 477	470-490	Skilled trades workers with qualifying NOC and 12 months Canadian experience
Transport (no draw yet)	First draw expected 2026	Likely Q2/Q3 2026	Transport occupations with 12 months Canadian experience
STEM (dormant)	Last draw: Apr 11, 2024	No confirmed draw	STEM workers — explore CEC or PNP instead

If your CRS is between 400 and 507, your fastest route to an ITA in 2026 is a category-based draw, a provincial nomination, or French language proficiency. General CEC draws are not likely to reach below 500 until Q3 or Q4 at the earliest.

Calculate your current CRS score to see exactly where you stand.

The Senior Manager Express Entry category — who qualifies

On March 5, 2026, IRCC held the first-ever Senior Manager draw (#402), issuing 250 ITAs at CRS 429. For years, executives were disadvantaged by Express Entry. Job offers no longer carry the same weight they did before 2024. Age penalties hit senior candidates harder. The Senior Manager category changes that.

Which NOC Codes Qualify for the Senior Manager Category?

NOC CODE	Typical Job Titles
00012	financial, communications and other business services | CEOs, CFOs, banking executives, financial institution presidents, communications company leaders
00013	health, education, social and community services | Hospital administrators, university presidents, social services directors, public health executives
00014	trade, broadcasting and other services | Retail chain executives, media company leaders, hospitality conglomerate directors
00015	construction, transportation, production and utilities | General contractors, logistics firm directors, utilities executives, manufacturing company presidents

Title inflation warning: A job title of “Manager” or “Director” does not automatically qualify you for NOC 00 codes. IRCC officers look for evidence that you establish overall organizational policy and direct other managers below you who in turn direct staff. Operational managers who report to a VP typically do not meet the threshold.

Do you qualify for the Senior Manager category?

You likely qualify if:

• You hold a C-suite title (CEO, CFO, COO, VP) at a Canadian organization
• You set organizational strategy, not just operational policy
• You have 12 months in Canada in one of the four NOC 00 codes within the past 3 years
• You directed other managers who in turn directed staff

You may face challenges if:

• Your title is “Manager” or “Senior Manager” but you report to a VP or Director
• Your 12 months of experience includes self-employment or founder equity
• You managed a team directly without subordinate managers between you and frontline staff

Consult an RCIC before applying if:

• You are a founder or major shareholder — self-employment creates a significant grey area
• Your qualifying experience spans two separate companies or two different NOC codes
• Any portion of your 12 months was as an independent contractor

Executives applying under NOC 00 categories face the most intensive reference letter scrutiny of any Express Entry category. The documentation package needs to be airtight. Book Your Strategy Assessment to review your NOC eligibility before applying

The Physician Express Entry category — who qualifies

The Physicians category (added December 8, 2025) held its first draw on February 19, 2026, issuing 391 ITAs at a record-low CRS of 169. No other Express Entry draw in the program’s history has run at a lower cut-off.

When Draw #397 came out at CRS 169, it reflected one thing: the pool of eligible physicians in Canada with 12 months of Canadian clinical experience was small enough that IRCC could clear it entirely at a very low score threshold.

What do physicians need to qualify?

• At least 12 months of full-time work experience as a physician in Canada within the past 3 years
• A NOC code aligned with your medical specialty (confirm your specific code before applying)
• All standard Express Entry eligibility requirements: valid language test, education credentials if applicable
• The 12 months does not need to be continuous — multiple contracts across provinces can count

Physician Express Entry applications frequently face delays where provincial medical licensing boards have not yet updated their records to reflect completed contracts. Confirm that your licensing status and employment records are aligned before submitting.

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What happened to STEM in Express Entry?

No STEM Express Entry draw has occurred since April 11, 2024 — over 23 months of dormancy. The STEM category remains technically active but has not been used in nearly two full years.

In that same period, the eligible STEM occupation list has been progressively narrowed, removing some occupations that previously qualified. If you assumed a STEM draw was coming, it is time to build a parallel plan.

What STEM professionals should do in 2026:

• If you have 12 months of Canadian work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, you qualify for CEC draws at current cut-offs of 507–511
• If your French is at CLB 5 or above, investing a few months in improving it to CLB 7 opens access to French language draws where cut-offs ran as low as 393 in Q1 2026
• Ontario, BC, and Alberta all have tech-focused PNP streams. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points and bypasses the general CEC cut-off entirely
• A STEM category draw could be announced at any time. Keeping an active, complete Express Entry profile in the pool costs nothing and preserves your position

Several STEM clients who were waiting for a category draw in 2024 and 2025 have since pivoted to CEC or provincial nominations and have received their PR. Waiting for a specific category draw is not a strategy when there are active alternatives. Book Your Strategy Assessment to map your options.

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How to prepare for your Express Entry category draw

Preparation before a draw matters more than speed after one. Most candidates receive no advance notice of a draw. When IRCC runs a category draw, only candidates who are already in the pool with a complete, eligible profile receive an ITA.

Six things to do now:

1. Confirm your NOC code matches the category you expect to be drawn under. Use the Government of Canada NOC tool and verify based on duties, not job title.
2. Verify you meet the 12-month work experience threshold within the past 3 years. This is a hard requirement for all 2026 category draws.
3. Check your language test expiry. IRCC requires tests dated within the past two years. An expired test removes you from consideration.
4. Submit or update your Express Entry profile. A profile with outdated information risks being screened out.
5. Know your CRS score before the draw. A wrong self-assessment leads to misaligned strategy.
6. Have your documents ready for the 60-day submission window. If you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to file a complete PR application. Medical exams, police certificates, and reference letters take time.

Learn how to prepare for Express Entry category-based draws at amirismail.com.

Check your Express Entry eligibility before your next draw.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the new Express Entry categories for 2026?

IRCC added five new categories on February 18, 2026: Senior Managers with Canadian work experience, Researchers with Canadian work experience, Transport workers, Skilled Military Recruits, and Physicians (added December 8, 2025). Combined with the retained 2025 categories — French language, Healthcare and social services, Trades, STEM, and Education — there are now 10 active categories.

What is the lowest CRS score in Express Entry history?

CRS 169, issued on February 19, 2026 in Draw #397, exclusively for Physicians with at least 12 months of Canadian clinical work experience.

What CRS score do I need for Express Entry in 2026?

It depends on the draw type. In Q1 2026: CEC draws ran at 507–511; French draws at 393–400; Healthcare at 467; Senior Managers at 429; Physicians at 169 (record low); PNP draws at 710–802 (including the 600-point nomination bonus). If your CRS is between 400 and 507, category draws or a provincial nomination are your fastest route.

Do I need a job offer for 2026 Express Entry category draws?

No. Category draws are based on past Canadian work experience in a qualifying NOC code, not a future job offer. You must have at least 12 months of qualifying experience within the past three years.

How often does IRCC hold Express Entry draws in 2026?

In Q1 2026, IRCC averaged 1–2 draws per week, sometimes on consecutive days. By April 2, 2026, 20 draws had been held issuing 58,830 ITAs. Draw dates are not announced in advance.

Which NOC codes qualify for the 2026 Senior Manager category?

Four TEER 0 double-zero NOC codes: NOC 00012, 00013, 00014, and 00015. These cover senior executives in financial services, health and education, trade and broadcasting, and construction and transportation. Title alone is not sufficient — the role must involve setting overall organizational policy and directing other managers.

Are STEM workers still invited in Express Entry draws in 2026?

No active STEM category draws have occurred since April 11, 2024. STEM professionals with Canadian work experience can still receive ITAs through CEC draws. Those without Canadian experience should explore French language draws, provincial nominations, or wait for a STEM category draw announcement.

What is the difference between category-based and general Express Entry draws?

General draws (CEC, PNP) invite candidates based purely on CRS score ranking across the full pool. Category draws pull only candidates who meet a specific occupation or language criterion, which allows IRCC to invite them at much lower cut-offs. A candidate with CRS 450 who qualifies for a trades category may receive an ITA before a general CEC draw ever reaches that score.

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Is your Express Entry profile optimized for 2026?

Amir Ismail has reviewed over 25,000 immigration cases since 1991 from offices in Toronto, Karachi, and Dubai. The 2026 Express Entry landscape rewards preparation and penalizes generic strategy.

Book Your Strategy Assessment and we will review your NOC code, CRS score, category eligibility, and the fastest route to your ITA.

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About the author

Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC #R412319) and founder of Amir Ismail & Associates, with offices in Toronto, Karachi, and Dubai. He has handled over 25,000 immigration cases across Express Entry, provincial nominations, and citizenship pathways since 1991.

Sources: IRCC official immigration and citizenship page; IRCC Category-Based Selection Announcement, February 18, 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice.

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