September 1, 2026 Express Entry Draw: 2,000 CEC Invitations, CRS 521
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held a new Express Entry draw on September 1, 2026. The department issued 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence.
This was a program-specific round for the Canadian Experience Class. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score was 521.
The CRS score distribution of candidates in the pool is current as of August 30, 2026.
Latest round details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Date and time | September 1, 2026 at 10:19:50 UTC |
| Round type | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Invitations issued | 2,000 |
| Lowest-ranked CRS score | 521 |
| Rank required | 2,000 or above |
| Tie-breaking rule | August 18, 2026 at 03:24:13 UTC |
What the Canadian Experience Class is
The Canadian Experience Class is a program within Express Entry. It is for candidates with at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience.
This experience must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. You must have gained it in the three years before applying.
Many CEC candidates are already living and working in Canada on a work permit. Express Entry runs three round types (general, program-specific, category-based).
This draw was a program-specific round limited to CEC-eligible candidates.
Why the CRS cut-off is 521
The CRS cut-off for this round was 521. This is far lower than a Provincial Nominee Program round.
CEC candidates are ranked on their base CRS score. They do not get the 600-point provincial nomination score addition.
Because of this, CEC cut-offs typically sit in the 500s. In contrast, PNP cut-offs run much higher.
What the tie-breaking rule means
The tie-breaking rule for this draw was August 18, 2026 at 03:24:13 UTC.
This applies if more than one candidate has the lowest CRS score of 521. The cut-off is applied by profile submission date and time.
Anyone at 521 who submitted before that exact time was invited. Those who submitted after were not.
What happens next for invited candidates
The department reported invitations issued: 2,000 for this round. These candidates received an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
They now have a limited window to submit a complete permanent residence application.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Readers should consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer about their own specific situation.