Canada / Permanent Residence
In effectExpress Entry: 13 Rounds and 21,792 Invitations From August 17 to October 1, 2026
IRCC held 13 Express Entry rounds between August 17 and October 1, 2026. CEC cutoffs reached a 2026 high of 523, and French cutoffs fell to 382.
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Key facts
- 13 rounds and 21,792 invitations to apply (ITAs) from August 17 to October 1, 2026 (rounds #435 to #447).
- Canadian Experience Class cutoffs ranged from 518 to 523, the highest CEC cutoffs of 2026.
- French-language round on August 19 invited 5,000 candidates with a cutoff of 382.
- Category rounds: healthcare (3,500 at 475), trades (3,500 at 476), physicians (229 at 198), senior managers (250 at 389).
- 2026 so far: 59 rounds and 135,215 invitations.
Who it affects: Express Entry candidates in the pool, especially Canadian Experience Class, French-speaking, healthcare, trades and provincial nominee candidates.
Official source: IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations
What happened
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held 13 Express Entry rounds between August 17 and October 1, 2026, issuing 21,792 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The figures come from IRCC’s rounds of invitations page and its published rounds data. The most recent round was #447 on October 1, 2026.
| Date (2026) | Round | Type | ITAs | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | 447 | Trades | 3,500 | 476 |
| Sep 29 | 446 | CEC | 2,000 | 518 |
| Sep 28 | 445 | PNP | 733 | 725 |
| Sep 16 | 444 | Senior managers | 250 | 389 |
| Sep 15 | 443 | CEC | 2,000 | 519 |
| Sep 14 | 442 | PNP | 576 | 734 |
| Sep 4 | 441 | Healthcare and social services | 3,500 | 475 |
| Sep 3 | 440 | Physicians | 229 | 198 |
| Sep 1 | 439 | CEC | 2,000 | 521 |
| Aug 31 | 438 | PNP | 562 | 697 |
| Aug 19 | 437 | French | 5,000 | 382 |
| Aug 18 | 436 | CEC | 1,000 | 523 |
| Aug 17 | 435 | PNP | 442 | 760 |
Across 2026, IRCC has now held 59 rounds and issued 135,215 invitations.
Who is affected
Anyone with a profile in the Express Entry pool. The pattern favours candidates with Canadian work experience, French ability, a provincial nomination, or experience in one of the 2026 priority occupations. Candidates abroad without French or a category match have had no general all-program round in this period.
What it means for your move
CEC cutoffs of 518 to 523 are the highest of the year, so candidates relying only on Canadian experience need a very strong score. Category rounds are where scores drop sharply: French at 382, healthcare at 475, trades at 476, and the new physician and senior manager categories well below 400. A provincial nomination still adds 600 points, which explains PNP cutoffs of 697 to 760. No STEM round was held in this period.
What to do now
- Check your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and whether you meet a category’s 12-month experience rule. See our 2026 categories guide.
- Improve language scores, since language is the largest factor you control. French at NCLC 7 opens the French category.
- Look at provincial streams that select from the Express Entry pool. See the CRS trends guide.
- If your situation is complex, speak to a licensed consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.
What happens next
IRCC usually holds several rounds a month and does not announce them in advance. The proposed Express Entry reform, which would merge the three federal programs and re-weight the CRS, has no decision yet. The 2027-2029 Levels Plan, due by November 1, 2026, will set next year’s Express Entry admissions. Follow Canada updates and our updates page.
Sources
News report, not legal advice. Status reflects the position on the last updated date; check the official source before you act. Part of the weekly briefing and the Canada changes tracker .
Cite this page
StudyImmigration. (October 1, 2026). Express Entry: 13 Rounds and 21,792 Invitations From August 17 to October 1, 2026. https://studyimmigration.com/news/express-entry-draws-august-october-2026/
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