Express Entry Draw #446: Canada Invites 2,000 CEC Candidates with 518 CRS Cutoff
Draw Date: September 29, 2026 | Draw Type: Canadian Experience Class | Invitations Issued: 2,000 | CRS Cutoff: 518
What Happened in Draw #446
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted Express Entry Draw #446 on September 29, 2026, issuing 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) exclusively to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required to receive an invitation was 518, meaning every candidate at or above that threshold who had been in the pool long enough was invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
This was a targeted, program-specific draw, meaning only CEC-eligible candidates — those with qualifying skilled work experience gained inside Canada — were considered. General pool candidates eligible solely through the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) or Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs were not included in this round.
What a 518 CRS Cutoff Means for Applicants in the Pool
A cutoff of 518 is a notably high threshold. To put it in perspective, reaching a CRS score of 518 without a provincial nomination typically requires a strong combination of several key factors:
- Language proficiency: CLB 9 or CLB 10 scores across all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) in English or French — or both official languages
- Canadian work experience: At least one to three years of NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 work experience in Canada
- Education: A Canadian post-secondary credential or a foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) at the bachelor's degree level or higher
- Age: Candidates between 20 and 29 years old receive the maximum age points, making younger applicants more competitive at this cutoff
- Spouse or partner factors: Single applicants or those with a spouse who also has strong language scores and Canadian education benefit from additional CRS points
If you scored exactly 518, you were invited in this draw. If you scored 517 or below, you remained in the pool — but this round provides a clear benchmark for where you need to be to compete in upcoming CEC-specific draws.
How Draw #446 Compares to Recent CEC Rounds
CEC-specific draws have historically produced lower CRS cutoffs than all-program draws, reflecting the program's focus on candidates already living and working in Canada. A cutoff of 518 is on the higher end of recent CEC draw history, suggesting that either the CEC pool has grown in size and quality, or IRCC has been conservative with invitation volumes relative to the number of eligible, high-scoring candidates currently waiting.
For context, CEC draws in recent years have frequently landed in the 510–530 range, with occasional dips during periods of higher invitation volumes or targeted draws aimed at clearing the backlog. The 2,000-invitation volume in this round is moderate — not a large-scale clearing draw — which supports the higher cutoff. When IRCC issues fewer invitations relative to pool size, only the top-scoring candidates make the cut.
If this trend continues, candidates below 520 should not assume a dramatic drop in future CEC cutoffs without actively working to improve their score.
Who Benefits Most from This Draw
Draw #446 is a direct win for a specific profile of candidate. The 2,000 people invited in this round most likely share characteristics such as:
- Temporary foreign workers or international graduates currently employed in Canada in a skilled occupation
- Candidates with high IELTS or CELPIP scores, particularly those achieving CLB 10 across all four categories
- Applicants who have completed a Canadian degree, diploma, or certificate in addition to gaining work experience in Canada
- Younger candidates in the 20–29 age bracket who maximize age-related CRS points
- Those with a spouse or common-law partner who also holds strong language results or Canadian educational credentials
If you received an ITA in this draw, you have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. Ensure all documents — including police certificates, medical exams, and reference letters — are prepared promptly to avoid missing your deadline.
What to Do If Your Score Is Below 518
If your CRS score fell just short of the 518 cutoff, there are concrete steps you can take right now to improve your position before the next CEC draw:
- Retake your language test. Moving from CLB 9 to CLB 10 across all abilities can add 20–30+ points to your CRS score depending on your profile. This is often the fastest and most impactful improvement available.
- Pursue a provincial nomination. A provincial nominee certificate adds 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an ITA in a subsequent draw. Research Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) aligned with your occupation and province of residence.
- Accumulate more Canadian work experience. Moving from one year to two or three years of Canadian experience increases your CRS points under the skill transferability and core human capital factors.
- Add French language skills. Candidates who demonstrate strong proficiency in both English and French receive