- Canadian Experience Class round (15 October)
- #449
- CEC invitations, CRS cut-off 519
- 2,500
- Provincial Nominee Program round (13 October)
- #448
- PNP invitations, CRS cut-off 772
- 752
IRCC held two Express Entry rounds two days apart. On 13 October 2026, round #448 invited 752 Provincial Nominee Program candidates with a minimum CRS score of 772. On 15 October 2026, round #449 invited 2,500 Canadian Experience Class candidates with a minimum CRS score of 519.
What changed
- CEC round size went up. The previous three CEC rounds (1 September, 15 September and 29 September 2026) each invited 2,000 candidates. Round #449 invited 2,500, the largest CEC round since 5 August 2026 (3,000). The cut-off, 519, was one point above the 29 September round (518).
- PNP cut-off rose. Round #448 had a cut-off of 772, up from 725 on 28 September 2026, with a similar number of invitations (752 against 733). PNP cut-offs include the 600 points a provincial nomination adds, so they are not comparable with other rounds.
- Tie-breaking rules: in round #449, candidates with exactly 519 points were invited if they submitted their profile before 21 September 2026 at 19:00:47 UTC. In round #448, the tie-break time was 15 July 2026 at 13:57:33.
- A French-language round followed on 16 October 2026 (#450): 5,000 invitations with a cut-off of 435. See our item on that round.
Recent rounds of all types
| Date | Round | Type | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 October 2026 | #449 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,500 | 519 |
| 13 October 2026 | #448 | Provincial Nominee Program | 752 | 772 |
| 1 October 2026 | #447 | Trades | 3,500 | 476 |
| 29 September 2026 | #446 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| 28 September 2026 | #445 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| 15 September 2026 | #443 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
In 2026, CEC cut-offs have stayed between 507 and 523 across 18 rounds. The full table is in our full draw history.
Changes from 3 November 2026
IRCC's Express Entry changes page says that as of 3 November 2026 it is changing how CRS points are awarded. The system will recalculate points in existing profiles, which could take up to two weeks, and IRCC will pause rounds of invitations during that time. The page does not give the date rounds will restart. What changes, point by point: Express Entry CRS changes from 3 November 2026.
Who it affects
- Round #449: candidates eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (at least 1 year of skilled Canadian work experience in the last 3 years) with 519 points or more, and profiles submitted before the tie-break time.
- Round #448: candidates in the pool with a provincial nomination and at least 772 points, including the 600 points the nomination adds.
- French speakers: if you have NCLC 7 in all four French abilities, French-language rounds are usually your best route. In 2026 their cut-offs have run from 382 to 435, well below CEC rounds.
What to do now
- If you were invited: the invitation is valid for 60 days. Your language test results must still be less than 2 years old on the day you submit your application.
- Check your score: use the CRS calculator and compare it with the rounds above, or estimate your odds with the Express Entry ITA chances tool. If you are in the pool, keep your profile up to date before the 3 November 2026 change; our guide to every CRS factor shows where your points come from today.
- If French is part of your plan: see how it adds points and opens French rounds in French for Express Entry, and read how many CRS points French is worth.
Previous round in this series: the 1 October 2026 trades draw.