Express Entry draw on September 29, 2026 issued 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada setting the CRS cut-off at 518.
Compared with the previous Canadian Experience Class round on September 15, 2026, the CRS cut-off fell from 519 to 518, while the number of invitations remained unchanged at 2,000.
IRCC applied a tie-breaking rule of 8:48 p.m. Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on February 13, 2026 for candidates at the cut-off score.
This Express Entry Draw was the third consecutive CEC-specific round to issue 2,000 invitations.
The CRS threshold declined from 521 on September 1 to 519 on September 15 and then to 518 in the September 29 round.
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September 29 Express Entry Draw Results
Express Entry Draw 446 was restricted to candidates eligible under the Canadian Experience Class.
It was not a general round open to all candidates in the Express Entry pool.
| Draw detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Draw number | 446 |
| Date | September 29, 2026 |
| Round type | Canadian Experience Class |
| Invitations issued | 2,000 |
| Lowest CRS score invited | 518 |
| Tie-breaking profile cutoff | February 13, 2026 at 8:48 p.m. UTC |
The draw facts were verified through the approved factual monitoring source for this breaking Express Entry Draw result.
The tie-breaking date and time should be read together with the CRS cutoff: they identify the submission point used to rank candidates who had the lowest score reached in the round.
What A CRS Score Of 518 Means
A CRS cutoff of 518 means that the lowest-ranked invited candidates had a score of 518.
Candidates with scores above 518 would ordinarily rank ahead of candidates at the cutoff, provided they were eligible for the CEC round.
For candidates who had exactly 518 points, the tie-breaking rule could determine whether they were included among the 2,000 invitations.
Profiles submitted on or before February 13, 2026, at 8:48 p.m. UTC could rank within the invited group, subject to the candidate’s eligibility and the accuracy of the information in the profile.
The tie-breaking rule does not add CRS points and is not a separate eligibility requirement.
It is an ordering mechanism used when more candidates share the lowest score than there are invitations available.
IRCC describes the same process in its published Express Entry round instructions.
A candidate who had a CRS score of 518 but submitted the profile after the stated cutoff may not have been invited in this round.
The result also does not mean that every person with 518 points was eligible, because a CEC-specific round first applies the program’s eligibility requirements.
Recent CEC Rounds Show A Gradual Decline
The September 29 Express Entry Draw continued a sequence of large CEC rounds in which the invitation volume remained constant while the cutoff moved downward.
| Date | Round type | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| September 15, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
| September 1, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 521 |
| August 18, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 523 |
Compared with the immediately preceding CEC round, the number of invitations stayed at 2,000 while the cutoff fell by one point.
This Express Entry Draw threshold was three points below the September 1 result and five points below the August 18 result.
The pattern may be useful to candidates tracking recent CEC selections, but it does not establish a guaranteed cutoff for the next round.
Cutoffs depend on the number of invitations, the candidates eligible for the particular round and the CRS ranking of profiles in the pool at the time of selection.
No pool-size or score-distribution data were supplied with this result.
It is therefore not possible to calculate from these draw figures alone how many candidates remain at particular CRS levels or how quickly the threshold may change in a future round.
Other Recent Rounds Are Not Direct CEC Comparisons
Several other Express Entry Draw rounds took place during the same period, but their results should not be treated as direct benchmarks for CEC candidates.
| Date | Round type | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 28, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| September 16, 2026 | Senior Managers With Canadian Work Experience | 250 | 389 |
| September 4, 2026 | Healthcare And Social Services | 3,500 | 475 |
| September 3, 2026 | Physicians With Canadian Work Experience | 229 | 198 |
| August 19, 2026 | French-Language Proficiency | 5,000 | 382 |
PNP candidates receive additional CRS points through a provincial or territorial nomination, so PNP cutoffs are generally not comparable with CEC results.
Category-based rounds also use an additional eligibility filter.
A lower cutoff in a category round does not mean a CEC candidate with the same score would have been invited.
IRCC’s Express Entry system can conduct program-specific and category-based rounds in addition to other types of invitation rounds.
Candidates should therefore compare Express Entry Draw results by round type rather than relying on the latest headline cutoff in isolation.
Who May Qualify For The Canadian Experience Class
The CEC is intended for skilled workers with qualifying Canadian work experience who want to become permanent residents.
The minimum work-experience requirement is generally at least one year, or 1,560 hours, in the three years before the permanent residence application is received.
The qualifying work must be in a National Occupational Classification occupation in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3.
It must be paid work performed while the person was authorized to work in Canada, and the applicant must have carried out the lead statement and most of the main duties of the applicable NOC occupation.
IRCC allows the required hours to be accumulated through qualifying full-time or part-time work.
For example, part-time employment can count when it produces the equivalent of 1,560 hours, although the work must still meet the program’s other requirements.
Certain types of experience, including unauthorized work, unpaid work and most self-employment, do not count.
Applicants must also submit approved language-test results for reading, writing, listening and speaking.
The minimum level is CLB 7 or NCLC 7 for TEER 0 and TEER 1 occupations, and CLB 5 or NCLC 5 for TEER 2 and TEER 3 occupations.
There is no education requirement for the CEC.
However, Canadian education can add CRS points, while foreign education can contribute points when the applicant has the required educational credential assessment.
Applicants must also be admissible to Canada and must plan to live outside Quebec, which operates its own skilled-worker selection system.
What Invited Candidates Should Do
An invitation issued through an Express Entry Draw is not an approval of permanent residence.
It allows the invited candidate to submit a complete permanent residence application under the program identified in the invitation.
IRCC says an invitation is valid for 60 days.
Invited candidates should sign in to their account, confirm that the invitation identifies the CEC and begin collecting documents immediately.
The application must accurately reflect the information used to create the Express Entry profile, including work history, language results, education, family information and admissibility details.
Supporting documents may include employment reference letters, language-test results, identity and civil-status documents, police certificates where required and other evidence requested by the online application.
Applicants should review any change since profile submission before filing.
A change in employment, family composition, language-test validity or other material information can affect eligibility or CRS ranking.
IRCC warns that false information or omitted material details can lead to refusal, inadmissibility findings or a five-year bar from applying to come to Canada.
What Candidates Below The Cutoff Can Consider
A candidate who was not invited can remain in the pool while the profile is valid and the person continues to meet the applicable requirements.
Express Entry profiles normally expire 12 months after submission if the candidate has not received an invitation.
IRCC displays the relevant expiry date in the candidate’s account.
Before expiry, candidates can review whether their CRS score has changed or whether an update is required.
Possible changes may involve a new approved language result, additional eligible work experience, education, family circumstances or another factor recognized in the CRS calculation.
Updates must be truthful and supported by documents.
Candidates can also assess whether they qualify for another Express Entry program, a category-based round or a provincial nominee pathway.
Eligibility for another pathway does not guarantee an invitation, and candidates should not claim points or work experience they cannot document.
If a candidate receives an invitation but does not submit the permanent residence application within 60 days, the invitation expires and the profile is removed from the pool.
To be considered again, the person generally must submit a new profile and be accepted into the pool.
Why Draw 446 Matters
Express Entry Draw 446 is significant for CEC candidates because it maintained the 2,000-invitation volume used in the two previous CEC rounds while lowering the cutoff to 518.
It confirms that a one-point difference can matter for candidates near the selection line, particularly when the tie-breaking date is reached.
At the same time, the result should not be interpreted as a promise that future CEC rounds will continue at the same size or reach the same score.
Candidates must still meet the CEC’s underlying requirements, maintain accurate profiles and respond promptly if invited.
For candidates affected by the September 29 Express Entry Draw, the practical next step depends on the outcome: invited candidates should prepare a complete application before the 60-day deadline, while those not invited should verify their profile, review legitimate ways to improve their CRS score and consider other qualifying immigration pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
If my CRS score is 518 but my Express Entry profile was submitted after the tie-breaking cutoff, can I still receive an invitation?
A candidate with CRS 518 whose profile was submitted after February 13, 2026 at 8:48 p.m. UTC would generally rank below the final profile selected at that score in this round. The tie-breaking rule only orders candidates who have the same CRS score; it does not increase a candidate’s score or create an additional invitation. The profile can still remain in the pool if it is valid.
Does qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class automatically make a candidate eligible for every Express Entry draw?
Qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class does not make a candidate eligible for every Express Entry draw. A program-specific CEC round first filters for CEC eligibility, while category-based and other program rounds apply their own requirements. A candidate must also meet the conditions of the specific round and rank high enough under the CRS system to receive an invitation.
Can CRS results from Provincial Nominee Program and category-based draws be used to estimate a CEC candidate’s chances?
CRS results from Provincial Nominee Program and category-based draws are not direct benchmarks for Canadian Experience Class candidates. Provincial nominees receive additional CRS points from their nomination, and category-based rounds select candidates who meet a specified category requirement. Invitation numbers, eligible candidates and round type all affect the cutoff, so comparisons are most useful between similar CEC rounds.
What does an Express Entry invitation to apply change for a Canadian Experience Class candidate?
An Express Entry invitation to apply allows a candidate to submit a permanent residence application, but it does not guarantee approval. The candidate must submit the application through the IRCC account within 60 days and prove that the profile information remains accurate, including work experience, language results, education, family details and admissibility. IRCC can request further evidence during processing.
Can part-time Canadian work be combined to meet the Canadian Experience Class work requirement?
Part-time Canadian work can be combined to meet the Canadian Experience Class requirement if the qualifying work adds up to at least 1,560 hours, equivalent to one year of full-time work. The work must be paid, performed while authorized to work in Canada, completed within the three years before applying and performed in an eligible NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
Does the Canadian Experience Class require an educational credential?
The Canadian Experience Class has no minimum education requirement. However, Canadian education or foreign education can increase a candidate’s CRS score when the credential is properly recorded, and foreign education may require an educational credential assessment. A candidate without education points may still qualify for the CEC if the work experience, language, admissibility and other program requirements are satisfied.
Fact-Checked: Draw facts are based on the supplied September 29, 2026 structured evidence; program context was checked against current IRCC and Canada.ca guidance. Sources: Canadian Experience Class — Canada.ca, Express Entry: Who Can Apply — Canada.ca, Apply For Permanent Residence Through Express Entry — Canada.ca, Express Entry Category-Based Selection — Canada.ca, IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal or immigration advice.
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