How Long Will Express Entry Draws Be Paused For?

The CRS score changes took effect on November 3, 2026. And, IRCC warned that they could take up to two weeks to go through the system and update the scores of existing Express Entry profiles. This means that Express Entry draws likely won’t resume until mid-to-late November, possibly even later.

Notably, IRCC has not yet announced a date for the next Express Entry draw.

Why Are Express Entry Draws Paused?

On November 3, IRCC introduced new CRS score points for candidates with job offers in high-wage occupations, as well as those with Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations. The CRS scoring system doesn’t change often and a relatively big change, like this one, requires the system to be updated.

(Pssst! Want to know if your CRS score will be impacted? Use our CRS score calculator – it’s updated with the changes!)

During the update period, IRCC will recalculate the CRS scores of candidates already in the Express Entry pool. And, according to IRCC’s official announcement, it could take up to two weeks to make the updates.

IRCC states: “During this time we’ll pause invitation rounds and will start again when it’s complete.”

The last Express Entry draws took place during the week of October 26, with the final round on October 29.

Typically, Express Entry draws take place every second week, which would mean another round of invitations would take place… well, right now! But, the recalculation process has caused a pause in the schedule.

When Will Express Entry Draws Restart?

It’s possible that draws could resume as early as next week (as in November 16, 2026). But, we think it’s much more likely that draws will be only restart the week of November 23.

If IRCC takes the full two weeks to implement the changes, the recalculation process could be completed by November 16. However, a resumption that week would be a little out of sync with IRCC’s recent pattern of conducting draws every two weeks.

If IRCC returns to its every-two-weeks pattern, the week beginning November 23 would be a logical time for draws to resume.

That being said, Express Entry draws don’t follow a fixed schedule, and IRCC is notoriously unpredictable. They might blindside us with a longer pause, or resume on a seemingly random day of the week. There is also the possibility that implementing such significant changes to the Express Entry system could take longer than they expected.

Beyond this, IRCC has already issued a huge number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in 2026. The department has a massive inventory of invited candidates and may be able to withstand a longer pause, if needed.

For these reasons, candidates should treat November 16 and November 23 as dates to watch, rather than confirmed dates for the next draw.

PNP Draws Will Likely Be First to Resume

One reason to expect the pause to be pretty short is the importance of regular Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. Unlike other Express Entry candidates, provincial nominees must apply while their provincial nomination certificates are valid. This creates additional pressure on IRCC to ensure PNP candidates are invited regularly and are able to receive invitations before their deadlines.

Historically, IRCC prioritizes invitations for provincial nominees even when other Express Entry draws were suspended.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, IRCC continued conducting PNP-specific draws throughout a long pause of invitations for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.

So, IRCC is unlikely so pause PNP invitations for an extended period of time. And, throughout 2026, PNP draws have usually taken place on Mondays. As a result, the return of a PNP draw on a Monday will likely be the sign that draws are back.

What Should Express Entry Candidates Do Now?

There’s not too much for candidates to do at this point. You can keep an eye on your Express Entry profile to see if any changes to your CRS score take place, though this is only relevant to those expecting new points under the new high-wage occupation rules.

Otherwise, hold tight. Sit back and remain patient as IRCC updates the system. While the pause is temporary, there is no guarantee that draws will resume on a particular date or that the next round will target a specific category.

Moving2Canada will continue monitoring IRCC announcements and Express Entry draw results as more information becomes available.