On October 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry round 452: 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence, all in the French-language proficiency category, with a lowest-ranked score of 407. The day before, a Provincial Nominee Program round invited 792 candidates at 761 points.
This page lists every round since July 21, 2026, taken from IRCC's official rounds page, then explains what the numbers mean for a profile in the pool: which rounds can reach you, why a PNP cut-off looks so high, what French is worth, why Express Entry does not lead to Quebec, and why the rules change on November 3.
- Latest round: no. 452, October 27, 2026, French-language proficiency, 5,000 invitations, lowest score 407.
- Latest Canadian Experience Class round: no. 449, October 15, 2,500 invitations, lowest score 519.
- Latest Provincial Nominee Program round: no. 451, October 26, 792 invitations, lowest score 761.
- Since July 21: 25 rounds, 51,647 invitations, 25,000 of them in French-language rounds.
Every Express Entry round since July 21, 2026
IRCC's rounds page says it invites the top candidates in the pool "about every 2 weeks". The published rounds follow that rhythm, in clusters. Since August, each cluster has opened with a Provincial Nominee Program round; in six of the seven clusters, a Canadian Experience Class round followed within two days, alongside one or two category rounds. That is a pattern read in past rounds, not a schedule: IRCC's pages give no dates for future rounds.
| Round | Date (2026) | Round type | Invitations | Lowest score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 452 | Oct 27 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 407 |
| 451 | Oct 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 792 | 761 |
| 450 | Oct 16 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 435 |
| 449 | Oct 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,500 | 519 |
| 448 | Oct 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 752 | 772 |
| 447 | Oct 1 | Trades occupations | 3,500 | 476 |
| 446 | Sep 29 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| 445 | Sep 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| 444 | Sep 16 | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 250 | 389 |
| 443 | Sep 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
| 442 | Sep 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 576 | 734 |
| 441 | Sep 4 | Healthcare and social services occupations | 3,500 | 475 |
| 440 | Sep 3 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 229 | 198 |
| 439 | Sep 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 521 |
| 438 | Aug 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 562 | 697 |
| 437 | Aug 19 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 382 |
| 436 | Aug 18 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 523 |
| 435 | Aug 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 442 | 760 |
| 434 | Aug 7 | Transport occupations | 300 | 470 |
| 433 | Aug 6 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 391 |
| 432 | Aug 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 516 |
| 431 | Aug 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 507 | 768 |
| 430 | Jul 23 | Skilled military recruits | 4 | 368 |
| 429 | Jul 22 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 399 |
| 428 | Jul 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 516 |
Source: IRCC, rounds of invitations under the Express Entry system. Round types are shortened: IRCC adds a version label to category rounds, for example "French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2". The lowest score is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited.
What the cut-offs say
Canadian Experience Class: a narrow band, 516 to 523
Seven CEC rounds since July 21, from 1,000 to 3,000 invitations each, 14,500 in all. The lowest score never left the 516 to 523 band. A CEC profile below 516 was not reached by these rounds in this period.
Provincial Nominee Program: high numbers, for a reason
PNP cut-offs ranged from 697 to 772. They look out of reach, but a PNP round invites candidates who hold a provincial or territorial nomination, and the nomination alone is worth 600 CRS points. A cut-off of 761, as on October 26, means 161 points from everything else. The seven PNP rounds invited 4,364 candidates.
French-language proficiency: almost half of all invitations
Five rounds of 5,000 invitations each, 25,000 in all: 48% of the 51,647 invitations issued since July 21. The cut-off went from 399 on July 22 to 391 on August 6 and 382 on August 19, then jumped to 435 on October 16 before falling back to 407 on October 27.
Other categories: small rounds, very different scores
Healthcare and social services occupations (3,500 invitations, lowest score 475) and trades occupations (3,500, 476) each had one round in this period, and transport occupations one round of 300 at 470. Three smaller categories invited small groups: senior managers with Canadian work experience (250 at 389), physicians with Canadian work experience (229 at 198) and skilled military recruits (4 at 368). IRCC also lists STEM, education and researchers among its current categories, but none of them had a round between July 21 and October 27.
No round open to all programs
None of the 25 rounds was open to every candidate. A Federal Skilled Worker candidate with no Canadian work experience, no provincial nomination, no French at NCLC 7 and no occupation in a category that held a round could not be invited in this period, whatever their score.
French: the 50-point lever, and the Quebec exception
To be eligible for a French-language round, IRCC requires French test results with a minimum of 7 in all 4 language abilities, on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). The same results also add CRS points: 25 points with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test), 50 points with CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. IRCC accepts two French tests for Express Entry: TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
"You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec."
IRCC, eligibility pages of the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class
Express Entry does not lead to Quebec. "The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers," the same pages add, and IRCC's Quebec page explains that Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with the Government of Canada: "This means you need to apply to Quebec before you apply for permanent residence." Since all three federal programs require you to plan to live outside Quebec, the French-language rounds bring French speakers to the other provinces and territories.
November 3, 2026: new points, and a pause in rounds
IRCC has announced a change that will move scores across the pool. As of November 3, 2026, it is changing how points are awarded for Canadian work experience and valid job offers, and removing Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements for all job offers.
The new Labour Market Integration factor is worth up to 150 points. It counts either Canadian work experience, with up to 70 extra points for at least 12 months in high-wage occupations, or a job offer in a high-wage occupation, worth 50, 70 or 100 points depending on the occupation's median wage. In IRCC's words: "You can only receive points for Canadian work experience or an eligible job offer, not both." A high-wage occupation is one where the median wage of all people in Canada doing that job is at least 1.3 times the average median wage. Until November 3, IRCC's CRS tables give no points for a job offer.
"The system will recalculate points in existing profiles when the changes take effect, which could take up to two weeks. During this time we'll pause invitation rounds and will start again when it's complete."
IRCC, 2026 changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offers
Two consequences for anyone watching the draws. Expect no round while profiles are recalculated, possibly for up to two weeks after November 3. And the cut-offs in the table were set under the old points: once the new factor applies, they will be a weaker guide to the next rounds.
What to do with your score
List the rounds that can reach you
Your program (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades), a provincial nomination, French at NCLC 7 and an occupation in a category each open a different kind of round. In a category round, IRCC ranks only the candidates who meet the category requirements, by CRS score.
Compare your score with the right cut-offs
Look at the last cut-offs of your rounds, not at an average. A CEC candidate at 505 looks at 516 to 523; a French speaker at 400 looks at 382 to 435. Our guide to how CRS points are calculated details each factor, and our free CRS calculator (in French) gives an estimate.
Weigh the levers honestly
A provincial nomination adds 600 points, but it means a separate application to a province or territory. French at NCLC 7 adds up to 50 points and opened the largest rounds of this period, but reaching that level takes time if French is new to you. A better English test result can also add points. From November 3, at least 12 months of Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation will add up to 70 extra points.
Keep your profile accurate, and be ready
When several candidates share the lowest score, IRCC uses the date and time they submitted their profile. If you are invited, you have 60 days to submit your application for permanent residence: gather your documents before the invitation, with our Express Entry document checklist.
Preparing for TEF Canada or TCF Canada
Practice books for the two French tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry.
See on Amazon.caFrequently asked questions
When was the latest Express Entry draw?
On October 27, 2026: round 452, a French-language proficiency round, invited 5,000 candidates. The lowest-ranked candidate invited had a CRS score of 407. Check IRCC's rounds page for any round held after this date.
What was the CRS cut-off in the last Canadian Experience Class draw?
519, in round 449 on October 15, 2026, with 2,500 invitations. Since July 21, Canadian Experience Class cut-offs have stayed between 516 and 523.
What CRS score do I need for a French-language draw?
Since July 2026, French-language rounds have had cut-offs between 382 and 435, and 407 on October 27. You also need French test results of at least NCLC 7 in all four language abilities.
How many CRS points does French add?
Up to 50 additional points. With NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills: 25 points if your English is at CLB 4 or lower or you have no English test, 50 points if your English is at CLB 5 or higher in all four skills.
Why are Provincial Nominee Program cut-offs above 700?
Because a PNP round invites candidates who hold a provincial or territorial nomination, worth 600 CRS points. A cut-off of 761 means 161 points from age, education, language, experience and the other factors.
Will there be Express Entry draws after November 3, 2026?
IRCC says it will recalculate points in existing profiles when the new rules take effect on November 3, 2026, which could take up to two weeks, and that it will pause invitation rounds during this time and start again when it is complete.
Can I use Express Entry to immigrate to Quebec?
No. The three federal programs managed through Express Entry require you to plan to live outside the province of Quebec. Quebec selects its own skilled workers: you apply to Quebec first, then to IRCC for permanent residence.
How long do I have after an invitation to apply?
60 days to submit your application for permanent residence, according to IRCC.
Sources
- IRCC, "Ministerial instructions respecting invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system": rounds 428 to 452, invitations and lowest scores, read on October 27, 2026
- IRCC, "2026 changes to points for Canadian work experience and job offers", modified October 16, 2026: Labour Market Integration factor, point values, high-wage occupations, pause in rounds
- IRCC, "Express Entry: Category-based selection", modified October 16, 2026: current categories, French-language eligibility, 60 days to apply
- IRCC, Comprehensive Ranking System criteria, modified October 16, 2026: 600 points for a nomination, 25 or 50 points for French
- IRCC, how rounds of invitations work, modified October 16, 2026: ranking and tie-breaking rule
- IRCC, Federal Skilled Worker Program eligibility, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class, modified October 16, 2026: living outside Quebec
- IRCC, "Quebec-selected skilled workers: About the process", modified March 11, 2026
- IRCC, Express Entry language tests, modified October 16, 2026: TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French
Note. Rounds and quotes come from IRCC's pages as read on October 27, 2026, after round 452. Totals and percentages are our own calculations from IRCC's figures. Immigration Canada Documents is not affiliated with IRCC or the Government of Canada.