Express Entry Update — June 22, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
The most recent Express Entry draw (#418) on May 28, 2026 issued 4,500 ITAs under the French-language proficiency category with a minimum CRS score of 409 — significantly lower than the CEC draw the day before, which required 518.
As of June 9, 2026, IRCC did not hold an expected CEC draw (typically every second Tuesday) nor a PNP draw (typically every second Monday), breaking a pattern that had been consistent throughout most of 2026.
Analysts predict the next draw around June 10, 2026, with CEC cutoffs estimated between 514–525, and another French-language draw also considered likely.
What You Should Do
- If you are a French-language proficiency candidate, check your CRS score now — the May 28 draw accepted scores as low as 409. Confirm your language profile at ircc.canada.ca or through your Express Entry profile.
- If you are a CEC candidate, monitor the IRCC website (canada.ca/express-entry) closely this week (around June 10, 2026) for a draw that was skipped on June 9 — it may occur a day or two later than usual.
- Use the free Express Entry evaluation tool at canadavisa.com to compare your profile against recent draw results and check if you would qualify under category-based draws, including French-language proficiency.
Sources
Topics Covered
Category-Based Selection System: IRCC continues to run parallel category-based draws (French-language, CEC, PNP) on near-weekly schedules in 2026, with the June 9 week being the first time both CEC and PNP draws were skipped simultaneously.
CRS Cutoff Trends: The May 28 French-language draw cleared at CRS 409 while the May 27 CEC draw required 518, illustrating a growing gap between category-based and general draw cutoffs in 2026.
How these topics connect
Candidates should not evaluate their CRS competitiveness against a single benchmark — a score of 420 is uncompetitive for CEC draws but highly viable for French-language draws, and a score of 169 was sufficient for the Physicians category, illustrating how category-based selection has fundamentally fragmented what it means to be 'competitive' in Express Entry.
The dramatic range in CRS cutoffs (169 for Physicians to 802 for PNP) is not random volatility but a structural outcome of the category-based system; candidates should assess their scores relative to their specific eligible category rather than the overall pool.
The wide variation in CRS cutoffs reflects Canada's strategic shift toward targeted selection, where occupation-specific needs drive dramatically different entry requirements.
More Express Entry Updates
Express Entry Update — August 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
Express Entry Update — August 10, 2026
Aug 10, 2026
Express Entry Update — August 3, 2026
Aug 3, 2026
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