Express Entry Draw #407 Results – March 31, 2026

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry Draw #407 on March 31, 2026. This draw targeted only Canadian Experience Class candidates, issuing 2,250 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 509.

This draw represents a significant increase from the previous draw (#406) held on March 30, 2026, which issued just 356 ITAs. Today's draw shows IRCC's continued focus on candidates with Canadian work experience, prioritizing those already integrated into the Canadian labor market.

What Happened Today — Explained Simply

IRCC conducted a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw today, meaning only candidates in this specific program were eligible to receive invitations. The CEC is designed for temporary foreign workers and international students who have gained skilled work experience in Canada and want to become permanent residents.

To qualify for CEC, you must have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the past three years. This experience must be in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. The work must have been done legally while you held valid work authorization.

The cutoff score of 509 means every CEC candidate with a CRS score of 509 or higher received an ITA, provided their Express Entry profile was submitted before the tie-breaking timestamp. The tie-breaker rule applied to candidates with exactly 509 points — only those who submitted their profiles before March 18, 2026 at 09:25:36 UTC were invited.

This tie-breaking system ensures fairness when multiple candidates have identical CRS scores. IRCC uses the date and time of profile submission as the deciding factor, operating on a first-come, first-served basis among tied candidates.

What Does a CRS Score of 509 Mean?

A CRS score of 509 represents a competitive profile with strong fundamentals across multiple factors. Here's how a typical CEC candidate might achieve this score:

This score breakdown shows a well-rounded candidate in their late twenties with solid education, excellent English skills, some French ability, and meaningful Canadian work experience. The skill transferability factors provide additional points for combinations like Canadian work experience plus strong language skills.

Reaching 509 points typically requires excellence in multiple areas rather than perfection in one. Most successful candidates at this level have strong English test results (IELTS bands of 7.5-8.5 across all skills), post-secondary education, and at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience. The addition of French language skills or additional years of Canadian experience often pushes candidates over the 500-point threshold.

Age plays a crucial role in achieving this score. Candidates in their late twenties to early thirties have the advantage of maximum age points while still having time to accumulate Canadian work experience and improve language scores.

Who Is Canadian Experience Class? Do You Qualify?

The Canadian Experience Class serves temporary foreign workers and international students who have successfully integrated into Canadian society through work experience. You qualify for CEC if you have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the past three years.

Your work experience must be in NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3. TEER 0 includes management occupations like restaurant managers and retail supervisors. TEER 1 covers professional jobs requiring university education, such as engineers, doctors, and accountants. TEER 2 includes technical jobs and skilled trades like electricians, computer technicians, and dental hygienists. TEER 3 covers intermediate jobs requiring high school or job-specific training, including administrative assistants, truck drivers, and food service supervisors.

Language requirements vary by occupation level. For NOC TEER 0 and 1 positions, you need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing). For NOC TEER 2 and 3 positions, CLB 5 is sufficient. These levels correspond to specific IELTS or CELPIP scores that you must achieve through official testing.

Unlike other Express Entry programs, CEC has no education requirement. This makes it accessible to skilled workers who may not have formal post-secondary credentials but have proven themselves in the Canadian workplace. However, having education credentials typically increases your CRS score significantly.

Examples of CEC-eligible candidates include international students who worked part-time during studies then full-time after graduation, temporary foreign workers brought in through programs like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and working holiday visa holders who gained skilled experience during their stay.

What This Means For You

If you have a CRS score above 509 and submitted your CEC profile before the tie-breaking date, you likely received an ITA in this draw. Check your Express Entry account and email for confirmation. You now have 60 days to submit your complete permanent residence application with all required documents.

Candidates with CRS scores between 480 and 508 who qualify for CEC are in a competitive position but need strategic improvements. Focus on retaking language tests to achieve higher CLB levels, as language points offer the quickest score increases. Consider gaining additional months of Canadian work experience, as this provides both direct points and skill transferability bonuses. If you're eligible, French language testing can add valuable second language points.

If you don't qualify for CEC yet, focus on gaining eligible Canadian work experience while monitoring other Express Entry draws. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws offer alternative pathways, and some provinces actively recruit candidates with lower CRS scores. Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programs may also conduct draws targeting different candidate pools.

✅ If You Got an ITA — What To Do Now

Here are the essential steps to complete your permanent residence application:

1. Verify your invitation details — Log into your Express Entry account to confirm you received an ITA and review the specific requirements and document list provided by IRCC.
2. Gather police certificates — Obtain police clearances from every country where you've lived for six months or more since age 18. Start this process immediately as some countries take months to issue certificates.
3. Schedule your medical examination — Book an appointment with an IRCC-approved panel physician. The medical exam must be completed by an authorized doctor, and results are submitted directly to IRCC.
4. Collect employment reference letters — Get detailed reference letters from all employers included in your work history. Letters must include job title, duties, employment dates, salary, and supervisor contact information on company letterhead.
5. Maintain your job and status — Don't quit your job or let your work permit expire before receiving your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). IRCC may verify your employment during processing.
6. Submit before the deadline — Upload all documents and submit your complete application within 60 days of receiving the ITA. Incomplete applications will be rejected without refund of fees.

📈 If You Didn't Get Invited

Gaining additional Canadian work experience remains the most direct path to CEC eligibility and higher CRS scores. Each additional year of Canadian work experience provides more points and strengthens your skill transferability factors. Focus on securing skilled employment in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories while maintaining legal work authorization.

Language score improvements offer the fastest route to higher CRS points for existing CEC candidates. Retaking IELTS or CELPIP to achieve CLB 9 or 10 levels can add 30+ points to your score. Consider professional test preparation courses or tutoring to maximize your results. Each half-band improvement in IELTS can translate to meaningful CRS point increases.

Provincial Nominee Programs provide an alternative pathway with 600 additional CRS points for successful nominees. Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan regularly conduct PNP draws targeting Express Entry candidates. Research which provinces align with your occupation and experience, as requirements vary significantly between programs.

French language proficiency creates substantial advantages in Express Entry. Strong French scores (CLB 7+) provide second language points and make you eligible for additional points under Francophone immigration initiatives. Even basic French ability (CLB 5-6) adds valuable points to your overall score. Consider enrolling in French courses while building other aspects of your profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Canadian Experience Class and who qualifies?
CEC is an Express Entry program for temporary foreign workers and international students with Canadian work experience. You need at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) within the past three years, plus language proficiency of CLB 7 for TEER 0/1 jobs or CLB 5 for TEER 2/3 jobs. No education requirement exists, but having credentials improves your CRS score.

Why was the cutoff 509 for this draw?
The cutoff reflects the CRS score of the 2,250th highest-ranked CEC candidate in the Express Entry pool. With 2,250 ITAs available, IRCC invited all CEC candidates scoring 509 or higher. The specific cutoff depends on the number of invitations issued and the score distribution of eligible candidates in the pool.

What is the tie-breaking rule and how did it work on March 18?
When multiple candidates have identical CRS scores, IRCC uses profile submission date and time as the tie-breaker. For this draw, among candidates with exactly 509 points, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before March 18, 2026 at 09:25:36 UTC received ITAs. This ensures fairness on a first-come, first-served basis.

I have a CRS score of 505 — what should I do to reach 509?
Focus on improving your language test scores first, as this offers the quickest point increase. Retaking IELTS to improve from CLB 8 to CLB 9 can add 6+ points per skill. If eligible, take French language tests for second language points. Additional months of Canadian work experience also provide points through both direct scoring and skill transferability factors.

Can I apply to CEC if I worked in Canada on a work permit for only 8 months?
No, you need at least 12 months (1 year) of skilled Canadian work experience to qualify for CEC. The work must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories and completed within the past three years. Continue working until you reach the one-year threshold, then create or update your Express Entry profile to indicate CEC eligibility.