Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held six Express Entry draws between September 28 and October 16, 2026, issuing a total of 14,485 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The largest round targeted French-language proficiency candidates, with 5,000 invitations and a minimum CRS score of 435. Manitoba also issued 474 invitations in its 280th draw.
Federal Express Entry Draw Results
| Date | Program or Category | Invitations Issued | Minimum CRS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 28, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 733 | 725 |
| September 29, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 2,000 | 518 |
| October 1, 2026 | Trades Occupations | 3,500 | 476 |
| October 13, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 752 | 772 |
| October 15, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 2,500 | 519 |
| October 16, 2026 | French-Language Proficiency | 5,000 | 435 |
Analysis of These Rounds
- CEC remains stable. The two rounds had cut-off scores of 518 and 519; candidates in Canada with scores above 520 are in a strong position.
- PNP scores appear high because they include the 600 points awarded for a provincial nomination. Candidates’ underlying scores in these rounds were approximately 125–170.
- French-language proficiency is the least competitive pathway. The round issued 5,000 invitations with a minimum score of 435. If you have French proficiency at NCLC 7, this is currently the best opportunity.
- The trades round was the third-largest draw, with 3,500 invitations and a cut-off score of 476.
- Important: The scoring system will change on November 3, 2026, and Express Entry draws will pause for up to two weeks. See Express Entry CRS changes from November 3 for details.
Manitoba Provincial Draw No. 280
On September 24, 2026, Manitoba issued 474 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) in draw No. 280 of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP):
| Selection Group | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|
| Natural and applied sciences occupations (minimum score: 760) | 417 |
| Skilled workers under the Strategic Recruitment Initiative | 40 |
| Francophone selection | 16 |
| Family physicians (NOC 31102) | 1 |
Of these 474 candidates, 148 had a valid Express Entry profile and a Job Seeker Validation Code. Recipients have 60 days to submit their provincial nomination applications.
Were You Eligible but Did Not Receive an Invitation?
Three common reasons are:
- Your language test number was missing from your profile or was invalid.
- Your language test results had expired.
- Your Strategic Recruitment Initiative invitation number was missing or entered incorrectly.
If your information has changed or you have identified an error in your profile, update your Expression of Interest before the next draw.
Official Sources
To calculate your CRS score and identify a suitable immigration pathway, contact Hejazineia Immigration: +1 778 869 4566
