Updated July 2026. Express Entry held a draw on March 31, 2026, sending 2,250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to candidates with Canadian work experience, with a CRS cutoff of 509.
Draw Details
This was a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) round, meaning invitations went to candidates in the pool who qualify based on skilled work experience gained in Canada. The CRS cutoff of 509 was a one-point increase from the previous CEC draw on March 17, 2026, which had a cutoff of 508.
Why the Cutoff Went Up
The increase is tied directly to the smaller number of invitations issued in this round. The March 17 CEC draw sent 4,000 ITAs, nearly double the 2,250 sent on March 31 — fewer invitations in a round generally pushes the minimum qualifying score higher, since IRCC is drawing from the same pool of ranked candidates.
The Tie-Break Rule
When multiple candidates share the exact cutoff score, IRCC uses profile submission timestamps to decide who gets invited. For this draw, candidates sitting at exactly 509 points only received an invitation if they had submitted their Express Entry profile before March 18, 2026 at 08:27:11 UTC. If your profile was submitted after that timestamp and your score was exactly at the cutoff, you would not have been invited in this particular round.
What This Means If You’re in the Pool
If your CRS score is close to the 505-510 range, expect some month-to-month volatility in whether you’re invited — it depends heavily on how many ITAs IRCC decides to issue in each specific round, not just your raw score. Keeping your profile updated (language test renewals, additional work experience, education credential assessments) can help push you further above any given cutoff rather than sitting right at the margin.
For the complete, up-to-date record of every Express Entry round, see IRCC’s official Rounds of Invitations page.
Related Reading
- LMIA Explained for 2026: What It’s Worth, What It Costs, and How to Spot the Scams
- New CEC Express Entry Draw On November 26 Sent 1,000 ITAs
- Proof of Funds for Express Entry: What Counts, What Doesn’t, and the 6-Month Trap
If you'd rather have this mapped out for your exact situation instead of piecing it together yourself, our personalized report covers eligibility, CRS score, and next steps.
