Ottawa, April 14, 2026 – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted its second Express Entry draw in as many days, issuing 2,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) .
- 01On This Page
- 02Draw at a Glance: CEC-Only Draw
- 03CRS Score 515: What It Means for Candidates
- 04Tie-Breaking Rule Explained
- 05Ministerial Instructions: Legal Framework
- 06Back-to-Back Draws: April 13-14, 2026
- 07Year-to-Date Express Entry Draw Summary (2026)
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09Official Sources
- 10Bottom Line
| Draw Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw Number | #410 |
| Date and time | April 14, 2026 at 10:24:07 UTC |
| Program | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| Number of ITAs issued | 2,000 |
| Minimum CRS score | 515 |
| Tie-breaking rule | June 10, 2025 at 02:46:26 UTC |
| Invitation period | April 14, 2026 to April 15, 2026 |
Key takeaway: This draw follows yesterday's PNP-only draw (#409) which issued 324 ITAs with a minimum CRS of 786. Today's CEC draw has a much lower CRS requirement (515) – typical for draws that do not include the 600-point provincial nomination bonus.
On This Page
- Draw at a Glance: CEC-Only Round
- CRS Score 515: What It Means for Candidates
- Tie-Breaking Rule Explained
- Ministerial Instructions: Legal Framework
- Back-to-Back Draws: April 13-14, 2026
- Year-to-Date Express Entry Draw Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Sources
Draw at a Glance: CEC-Only Draw
This draw was exclusively for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) . The CEC is designed for foreign nationals who have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada (within the last three years) and meet language proficiency requirements.
Draw Results Comparison
| Metric | This Draw (#410) | Previous CEC Draw (#407) |
|---|---|---|
| Date | April 14, 2026 | March 31, 2026 |
| ITAs issued | 2,000 | 2,250 |
| Minimum CRS | 515 | Not specified (estimated ~510-520) |
| Tie-break date | June 10, 2025 | Not specified |
The 2,000 ITAs issued in this draw is consistent with recent CEC draw sizes, which have ranged from 1,500 to 2,500 invitations per draw.
CRS Score 515: What It Means for Candidates
A minimum CRS score of 515 is typical for CEC-specific draws. Unlike PNP draws where candidates receive an additional 600 points, CEC candidates are ranked solely on their base CRS score.
What a Score of 515 Looks Like
| CRS Component | Maximum Points | Example to Reach 515 |
|---|---|---|
| Age (20-29) | 110 | 110 |
| Education (Bachelor's) | 120 | 112 |
| Canadian education (1-2 years) | 15 | 15 |
| Language (CLB 9) | 130 | 124 |
| Foreign work experience (1-2 years) | 25 | 25 |
| Canadian work experience (1 year) | 40 | 40 |
| Skill transferability (education + language) | 50 | 50 |
| Skill transferability (foreign work + Canadian work) | 50 | 39 |
| Total | Up to ~600 | ~515 |
Who Would Have a CRS Score Around 515?
Typical CEC candidate profile:
- Age: 25-35 (100-110 points)
- Education: Bachelor's degree or Canadian diploma (112-120 points)
- Language: CLB 9 in English (124 points)
- Canadian work experience: 1-2 years (40-53 points)
- Foreign work experience: 1-2 years (25 points)
- Additional points: Canadian education (15-30 points), sibling in Canada (15 points)
Result:Â Base CRS score of approximately 500-530.
Tie-Breaking Rule Explained
The tie-breaking rule for this draw is:Â June 10, 2025 at 02:46:26 UTC
What This Means
| Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| You have a CRS score above 515 | Invited regardless of profile submission date |
| You have a CRS score of exactly 515 | Invited only if you submitted your profile before June 10, 2025 at 02:46:26 UTC |
| You have a CRS score of exactly 515 but submitted profile after the tie-break date | Not invited in this draw |
| You have a CRS score below 515 | Not invited |
Why Is the Tie-Break Date So Far Back (June 2025)?
The tie-break date of June 10, 2025 indicates that:
- There are many candidates with a CRS score of exactly 515
- Only those who submitted their profiles earlier (before June 10, 2025) received invitations
- Candidates who achieved a 515 score more recently (after June 10, 2025) will need to wait for a future draw or improve their score
This is a sign of high competition at the 515 CRS level.
Ministerial Instructions: Legal Framework
The draw was conducted under Ministerial Instructions signed by the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab , Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, on April 14, 2026.
Legal Authority
The instructions are issued under:
- Subparagraph 10.3(1)(h.1)(ii)Â of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
- Paragraphs 10.3(1)(i) and (j)Â of IRPA
Key Provisions of the Instructions
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grouping | Eligible foreign nationals who qualify under the Canadian Experience Class (subsection 2(b) of the Express Entry Instructions) |
| Invitation period | April 14, 2026 to April 15, 2026 |
| Number of invitations | 2,000 |
| Required rank | Among the first 2,000 candidates in the group ranking |
The instructions define an "eligible foreign national" as someone whose expression of interest is in the Express Entry pool, and "invitation" as defined in the original Express Entry Instructions of December 1, 2014.
Back-to-Back Draws: April 13-14, 2026
IRCC conducted two draws on consecutive days:
| Draw # | Date | Program | ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #409 | April 13, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 324 | 786 |
| #410 | April 14, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 515 |
| Total | April 13-14, 2026 | PNP + CEC | 2,324 | N/A |
Why Back-to-Back Draws?
IRCC occasionally conducts draws on consecutive days to:
- Clear backlog in the Express Entry pool
- Meet annual immigration targets
- Separate PNP candidates (who need higher scores) from CEC candidates
- Respond to labour market demands
The total of 2,324 ITAs issued in two days represents a significant invitation volume.
Year-to-Date Express Entry Draw Summary (2026)
Here is an updated summary of Express Entry draws conducted in 2026, including draws #409 and #410.
| Draw # | Date | Program | ITAs | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #410 | April 14, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 515 |
| #409 | April 13, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 324 | 786 |
| #408 | April 2, 2026 | Trades Occupations | 3,000 | 477 |
| #407 | March 31, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,250 | Not specified |
| #406 | March 30, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | Not specified |
| #405 | March 17, 2026 | General / CEC | ~1,500 | ~520 |
| #404 | March 10, 2026 | PNP | ~700 | ~730 |
| #403 | March 3, 2026 | General / CEC | ~1,200 | ~510 |
| #402 | February 25, 2026 | PNP | ~600 | ~720 |
| #401 | February 18, 2026 | French Language | ~1,500 | ~420 |
| #400 | February 11, 2026 | General / CEC | ~1,000 | ~505 |
| #399 | February 4, 2026 | Healthcare | ~2,000 | ~430 |
| #398 | January 28, 2026 | PNP | ~500 | ~710 |
| #397 | January 21, 2026 | General / CEC | ~1,300 | ~515 |
| #396 | January 14, 2026 | PNP | ~400 | ~700 |
| #395 | January 7, 2026 | General / CEC | ~1,100 | ~508 |
Note:Â Exact numbers for some draws are based on unofficial reporting. Official figures are available on the IRCC website.
2026 Category-Based Selection Categories
For 2026, IRCC has announced the following priority categories for category-based draws:
- Medical doctors with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Transport occupations
- Skilled military recruits
- French-language proficiency
- Health care and social services
- Education occupations
- STEM occupations
- Trade occupations
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did IRCC conduct draws on two consecutive days?
Back-to-back draws allow IRCC to target different pools of candidates separately. PNP candidates (draw #409) require higher CRS scores due to the 600-point nomination bonus, while CEC candidates (draw #410) have lower base scores. Separating them ensures fair competition within each group.
What is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?
The CEC is for foreign nationals who have at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada (within the last three years) and meet language proficiency requirements. It is one of the three programs managed through Express Entry (along with FSW and FST).
Why is the CEC minimum CRS 515 when PNP was 786?
PNP candidates receive an automatic 600 additional points for their provincial nomination. A PNP candidate with a base score of 186 reaches 786. CEC candidates do not receive this bonus, so their scores reflect their actual qualifications (515 is considered competitive).
What is the tie-breaking rule?
When multiple candidates have the same CRS score, IRCC uses the date and time of profile submission to break ties. Candidates with earlier submission dates receive priority.
Why is the tie-break date for this draw June 10, 2025?
The tie-break date of June 10, 2025 indicates that there is a large pool of candidates with a CRS score of exactly 515. Only those who submitted their profiles before that date received invitations. Candidates who achieved 515 more recently will need to wait for a future draw or improve their score.
I have a CRS score below 515 – can I still be invited?
Yes, in a future draw. CRS scores fluctuate based on the number of invitations issued and the pool composition. Category-based draws (e.g., healthcare, trades, French language) often have much lower CRS requirements (sometimes below 430).
How do I check if I was invited?
Log into your IRCC secure account. If you received an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will see a message in your account. You have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence.
What is the invitation period?
According to the Ministerial Instructions, invitations for this draw can be issued from April 14, 2026 to April 15, 2026. All 2,000 invitations will be issued within this timeframe.
Official Sources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| IRCC Express Entry draws | canada.ca/immigration/express-entry/draws |
| Ministerial Instructions | Canada Gazette |
| Canadian Experience Class | canada.ca/immigration/cec |
Bottom Line
Express Entry draw #410 on April 14, 2026, issued 2,000 ITAs to CEC candidates with a minimum CRS score of 515.
Key takeaways:
| For CEC Candidates | For Other Express Entry Candidates |
|---|---|
| ✅ If you have CRS ≥ 515 and profile submitted before June 10, 2025, check your account | ✅ CEC draws typically have lower CRS than PNP draws |
| ✅ Tie-break rule: June 10, 2025 for exact 515 scores | ✅ General and category-based draws may have even lower CRS |
| ✅ 60 days to submit PR application if invited | ✅ Consider improving CRS or qualifying for a category-based draw |
What's next:Â IRCC is expected to continue conducting regular draws, including general draws and category-based draws targeting healthcare, trades, French language, and other priority sectors. With two draws completed in two days, the invitation momentum remains strong.
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