Express Entry draw 444 issued 250 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence to senior managers with Canadian work experience on September 16, 2026. The round had a CRS cutoff of 389, making it a category-based invitation round focused on candidates who met the requirements for the senior managers category.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada recorded the round at 12:44:28 UTC. The tie-breaking date and time was September 1, 2026, at 23:05:13 UTC. Candidates who had a CRS score of 389 and submitted their Express Entry profiles before that cutoff were ranked ahead of otherwise identical profiles submitted later.
Table of Contents
Express Entry draw 444 results
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Draw number | 444 |
| Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Round type | Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 |
| Invitations issued | 250 |
| CRS cutoff | 389 |
| Round time | 12:44:28 UTC |
| Tie-breaking rule | September 1, 2026, at 23:05:13 UTC |
What the 389 CRS cutoff means
The CRS cutoff is the score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in the round. A score of 389 was sufficient only for candidates who were eligible for this specific round and who ranked high enough among other eligible candidates.
A CRS score at or above 389 did not, by itself, guarantee an invitation. Category-based rounds also require candidates to meet the eligibility requirements for the category and to qualify for at least one of the three Express Entry programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
IRCC ranks eligible candidates by their CRS scores. When multiple candidates have the lowest score, the tie-breaking rule uses the date and time their profiles were submitted. The rule does not change a candidate’s CRS score; it determines which profiles are selected when the number of candidates at the cutoff exceeds the number of available invitations.
Why this Express Entry draw was different
Express Entry draw 444 was not a general round inviting the highest-ranking candidates across the pool. It was a category-based round limited to candidates identified as senior managers with Canadian work experience under the instructions for the round.
IRCC uses category-based selection to invite candidates who meet a particular economic or labour-market objective. The category is applied in addition to the usual Express Entry requirements and CRS ranking process. This means a candidate with a CRS score above 389 may not have received an invitation if the candidate did not meet the category or program requirements.
The draw name uses the wording “Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1.” Candidates should check the official instructions for the round rather than relying only on a job title. The information in an Express Entry profile must accurately reflect a candidate’s education, language results, work history and other qualifying details.
How draw 444 compares with the previous rounds
The previous two rounds listed by IRCC used different selection methods. Draw 443, held on September 15, 2026, invited 2,000 candidates through the Canadian Experience Class at a CRS cutoff of 519. Draw 442, held on September 14, 2026, invited 576 candidates through a Provincial Nominee Program round at a CRS cutoff of 734.
Draw 444 had a lower cutoff than both rounds, but those results should not be treated as a direct trend because the round types and candidate groups were different. Category-based, program-specific and general rounds rank different populations of candidates, so their CRS cutoffs can vary substantially.
The latest result also followed two other category-based rounds earlier in September. IRCC issued 3,500 invitations in a healthcare and social services occupations round on September 4, with a CRS cutoff of 475, and 229 invitations in a physicians with Canadian work experience round on September 3, with a CRS cutoff of 198.
What invited candidates should do next
Receiving an invitation to apply is not the same as receiving permanent residence. Invited candidates must submit a complete permanent residence application through the Express Entry system and continue to meet the relevant program, category and admissibility requirements.
IRCC says an invitation to apply is valid for 60 days. Candidates should review the personalized document checklist in their account and prepare the required evidence before submitting the application.
Documents may include proof supporting the information in the Express Entry profile, such as identity documents, language test results, education records, work experience evidence, police certificates and medical examination information, where required. The exact requirements depend on the program and the applicant’s circumstances.
Applicants should also check every answer in the permanent residence application against the information used to create the profile. Incorrect or incomplete information can affect the application and may lead to a refusal or other immigration consequences. Candidates should not claim points or category eligibility unless they can support those claims with appropriate evidence.
What candidates who were not invited can do
Candidates who were not invited in Express Entry draw 444 may remain in the pool if their profiles are still valid and they continue to meet the applicable requirements. A future invitation is not guaranteed, and later rounds may use a different category, program or CRS cutoff.
Applicants can review whether their profile contains current information and whether new language results, Canadian work experience, education or other changes could affect their CRS score. Any update should be accurate and supported by documents. A candidate should not change information simply to reach a target score if the revised information is not factually correct.
IRCC may hold different types of rounds throughout the year. The department publishes the round type, number of invitations, CRS cutoff and tie-breaking rule for each round. Candidates should therefore assess their prospects against the requirements of the particular round rather than relying on the cutoff from another category.
Key takeaway from Express Entry draw 444
Express Entry draw 444 offered a targeted opportunity for 250 senior managers with Canadian work experience. The 389 CRS cutoff was the minimum score recorded for the invited group, subject to the category, program and tie-breaking requirements.
For invited candidates, the immediate priority is to submit a complete application within the 60-day validity period. For candidates who were not invited, the result confirms that category-based selection can produce very different cutoffs from general or program-specific rounds. Keeping an Express Entry profile accurate and monitoring official IRCC results remain essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many invitations were issued in Express Entry draw 444?
IRCC issued 250 invitations to apply for permanent residence in Express Entry draw 444 on September 16, 2026.
What was the CRS cutoff for Express Entry draw 444?
The CRS cutoff was 389 for the senior managers with Canadian work experience category-based round.
Who was targeted in Express Entry draw 444?
The round targeted senior managers with Canadian work experience who also met the applicable Express Entry program and category requirements.
What was the tie-breaking rule for draw 444?
The tie-breaking date and time was September 1, 2026, at 23:05:13 UTC. Candidates with a CRS score of 389 needed to have submitted their profiles before that time to be ranked ahead of later submissions.
How long do invited candidates have to submit an Express Entry application?
IRCC says an invitation to apply is valid for 60 days. Invited candidates must submit a complete application within that period.
Fact-Checked: Verified against IRCC’s official draw 444 record, IRCC’s Express Entry rounds data and current category-based selection guidance on September 20, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not replace the official IRCC instructions or personalized immigration advice.
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