Express Entry round-up, September 28 – October 1: Canadian Experience Class at 518

Between September 28 and October 1, 2026, IRCC held 3 Express Entry rounds and issued 6,233 invitations to apply.

This period's draws

Between September 28 and October 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held 3 Express Entry rounds and issued 6,233 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

Round #445 (September 28), Provincial Nominee Program: 733 invitations, minimum CRS 725.

Round #446 (September 29), Canadian Experience Class: 2,000 invitations, minimum CRS 518.

Round #447 (October 1), Trade occupations: 3,500 invitations, minimum CRS 476.

What it means

Provincial Nominee Program: cut-off 725, down 9 from the previous draw in this category (September 14, 734); 733 invitations versus 576.

Canadian Experience Class: cut-off 518, down 1 from the previous draw in this category (September 15, 519); invitations unchanged at 2,000.

Provincial Nominee Program scores include the 600 points awarded for a nomination, which is why that cut-off is much higher than the others.

Category-based rounds invite only candidates who meet the category's criteria, such as work experience in a listed occupation or strong French, so their cut-offs are usually lower than in rounds open to all programs.

What you can do

Estimate your score with our CRS calculator and compare it with recent cut-offs; the full list of rounds is on our Express Entry draws page. To find out whether you qualify for a category or how to raise your score, book an assessment.

Based on official information available at the time of the announcement. General information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often; IRCC and provincial websites prevail.