Express Entry Update — May 11, 2026
Monday, May 11, 2026
In late April 2026, IRCC held three draws in one week: a French-language draw (400 CRS, 4,000 ITAs on April 29), a Canadian Experience Class draw (514 CRS, 2,000 ITAs on April 28), and a PNP draw (795 CRS, 473 ITAs on April 27).
CRS cutoffs for CEC draws have been rising slightly, from 507 in March to 514-515 in April, while French-language cutoffs have ranged between 393 and 419 in 2026.
Indicators suggest a possible temporary pause in Express Entry draws in the coming weeks, with the next draw week potentially starting around May 11, 2026.
What You Should Do
- Check your current CRS score and compare it against recent cutoffs at canada.ca/express-entry to see which draw type you are competitive for (CEC: ~514, French-language: ~400-419, PNP: ~795-802, Trades: ~477).
- If you are a French-language speaker, verify your TEF/TCF scores and ensure your Express Entry profile reflects your language ability — French-language draws have issued up to 5,500 ITAs at cutoffs as low as 393 in 2026.
- Monitor the IRCC rounds of invitations page at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html for the next draw, which may occur the week of May 11 or be paused temporarily.
Sources
Topics Covered
Category-Based Selection System: IRCC continued category-based draws in 2026 across French-language proficiency, CEC, PNP, Trades, Healthcare, and Senior Managers streams. A Trades draw issued 3,000 ITAs at CRS 477 on April 2.
CRS Cutoff Trends: CEC draw cutoffs rose from 507-508 in early March to 514-515 in April 2026. French-language cutoffs fluctuated between 393 and 419. PNP cutoffs varied widely from 710 to 802.
PNP Express Entry Draw Trends: PNP-specific Express Entry draws in 2026 have shown rising CRS cutoffs, moving from 710 in March to 795-802 in late March and April, with ITAs ranging from 264 to 473 per draw.
More Express Entry Updates
Express Entry Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Express Entry Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
Express Entry Update — May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
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