2,000 CEC Candidates Invited in September 29 Express Entry Draw

Key Takeaways

Type of draw: Canadian Experience Class

Invitations issued: 2,000

Minimum CRS score: 518

Tie-breaking rule: February 13, 2026 at 20:48:08 UTC

Prediction for next draw: Category-based draw on October 1, 2026. Check our dedicated page for more information on when we expect the next Express Entry draw.

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw

IRCC invited 2,000 CEC candidates to apply for permanent residence in today’s draw, with a minimum CRS score of 518.

This is the third CEC draw in September. The September 1 draw had a CRS cut-off of 521, while the September 15 cut-off dropped two points to 519. Today’s cut-off is one point lower than the previous CEC draw.

The decline comes even as the number of candidates with CRS scores between 501 and 600 continues to grow. There were 21,070 candidates in this range as of September 27, up from 20,784 on September 13.

Today’s draw continues a remarkably consistent pattern. IRCC has now issued exactly 2,000 invitations in three consecutive CEC draws, bring the September total to 6,000.

With today’s draw, CEC candidates have now received 55,250 ITAs in 2026. For comparison, IRCC has issued 67,195 ITAs through category-based draws so far this year.

CEC Invitation Numbers Have Slowed Since the Start of 2026

Today’s draw is the 17th CEC round of 2026, but the number of invitations being issued has changed considerably since the beginning of the year. The CRS score cut-off has crept up each quarter too.

IRCC was particularly aggressive with CEC draws at the beginning of 2026. In the first quarter, the department issued 30,250 CEC invitations across six draws, with CRS cut-offs ranging from 507 to 511.

Activity slowed significantly in the second quarter. IRCC issued 11,000 invitations across four CEC draws, while cut-offs increased to between 514 and 518.

The third quarter has brought more frequent draws, but generally smaller invitation numbers than at the beginning of the year — but still more than Q2. With today’s draw included, IRCC has issued 14,000 CEC invitations across seven draws in Q3, with CRS cut-offs ranging from 516 to 523.

The ITA slowdown and increase in cut-offs is not necessarily surprising. IRCC issued a large number of ITAs early in 2026, against a target of 109,000 PR admissions under the Federal High Skilled immigration category. That target includes CEC and other federal Express Entry admissions, including category-based selection, but excludes Express Entry PNP admissions.

At this point in the year, IRCC is looking ahead to 2027. With CEC applications currently taking around five months to process, candidates invited now likely won’t become permanent residents until next year. Canada’s notional Federal High Skilled admissions target for 2027 is 111,000, only slightly higher than the 2026 target.

Moreover, as of September 3, 2026, IRCC already had 58,900 CEC applications under processing. This helps explain why IRCC may be issuing fewer CEC invitations than it did at the beginning of 2026.

What Does This Mean for CEC Candidates?

CEC draws have taken place regularly, but competition remains high. If you’re in the Express Entry pool, your CRS score will still determine whether you rank highly enough to receive an invitation in a CEC draw.

If your score is below recent CEC cut-offs, look for opportunities to improve your CRS score. Retaking a language test, adding French-language results, gaining additional eligible work experience, or improving your spouse or common-law partner’s profile could potentially add points.

Our in-house immigration consultant, Rebecca, has explained what she recommends to clients with CRS scores around 500 and whether learning French could be worthwhile for Express Entry.

You should also check whether you qualify for one of Canada’s category-based Express Entry draws. Depending on your profile, you may have a chance of receiving an ITA through a category even if your CRS score is below recent CEC cut-offs.

Another option is to explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). An Express Entry-linked provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points.

If you are unable to raise your CRS score into a competitive range and do not qualify for category-based selection or a provincial nomination, consider other alternatives to Express Entry.

What’s Next for CEC?

It’s difficult to predict exactly what will happen with CEC draws over the final months of 2026. That said, we expect CEC draws to continue. As we’ve seen this quarter, the overall number of ITAs will likely continue to remain small, even if draws remain frequent.

With current CEC processing times of around five months, candidates receiving ITAs now are increasingly likely to become permanent residents in 2027. This means IRCC will be balancing future invitation rounds against next year’s Federal High Skilled admissions target.

If you’re getting ready to enter the Express Entry pool, keep in mind that IRCC has also announced plans for a major overhaul of the Express Entry system. If implemented, the changes would replace CEC, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program with a single federal high skilled immigration program.

It’s possible that Express Entry draws could be temporarily affected while IRCC implements the new system, although we do not yet know when the changes will take effect.

Based on the information released so far, Canadian work experience will continue to play a role under the new program. However, we won’t know exactly how candidates with Canadian experience will be selected until IRCC releases more details.

The Moving2Canada team is closely monitoring the proposed reforms and will publish new information as it becomes available.

Further Resources for CEC Candidates

• Use our Express Entry CRS calculator to see where you stand.
• Follow the latest Express Entry draws.
• Check the current state of the Express Entry pool.