Express Entry Draw #420: 4,000 ITAs at CRS 516 June 23

Canada ran Express Entry draw #420 on June 23, 2026, targeting candidates in the Canadian Experience Class. IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in this round. The minimum CRS score required was 516.

This was a CEC-only draw, meaning only candidates who are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class were considered. If you hold an active Express Entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program only, this draw did not apply to you.

The tie-breaking rule was set at April 14, 2026 at 00:03:10 UTC. If multiple candidates sat at exactly 516, only those who submitted their Express Entry profile before that date and time received an invitation. Profiles created after that timestamp were not included in this round, even with a score of 516.

What Happened, Explained Simply

The Canadian Experience Class is one of three programs managed through the Express Entry system. It is designed for people who already have skilled work experience inside Canada. You need at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years to qualify. Your job must fall under NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Because this draw was CEC-only, IRCC ranked all eligible CEC candidates in the pool by their Comprehensive Ranking System score. The top 4,000 candidates received ITAs. The lowest score in that group of 4,000 was 516.

Here is a concrete example. If your CRS score is 516 or higher, and you had an active Express Entry profile before April 14, 2026 at 00:03:10 UTC, you likely received an invitation today. If your score is 516 but you created your profile after that date and time, you were just outside the cutoff for this round.

A score of 516 is fairly competitive for a CEC draw. It reflects a candidate with strong Canadian work experience, good language scores, and possibly post-secondary education completed in Canada or abroad. Candidates who entered the pool more recently and are building their score should not be discouraged. CEC draws run regularly throughout the year, and the cutoff shifts with each round depending on pool size and IRCC targets.

You can review the official results and all past draws directly on the IRCC website. The ministerial instructions for this draw were signed by Minister Lena Metlege Diab and are legally binding under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

What Does a CRS Score of 516 Mean?

A score of 516 sounds high if you are new to Express Entry. In reality, it is reachable for many candidates with Canadian experience. Here is how a typical CEC candidate might build a competitive score.

The example above lands close to 496 without any additional factors. Add a second language score or a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and you can close the gap to 516 quickly. A second language (French) at CLB 7 in all four abilities adds up to 50 additional points through skill transferability and the bilingualism bonus.

If you are in your early 30s with one year of Canadian experience and CLB 8 language scores, you are likely in the 470 to 500 range right now. That puts you below today's cutoff, but not by a wide margin. Improving your language scores by even one CLB band in writing or speaking can add 15 to 30 points depending on your profile. That kind of gain is achievable with focused test preparation.

The CRS calculator is available on the IRCC website. Use it to check your exact score before the next draw and identify which factors you can realistically improve.

What This Means For You

If your score is at or above 516 and you had an active CEC-eligible profile in the pool before April 14, 2026, check your IRCC account now. Invitations are delivered directly to your online account. You will also receive an email notification from IRCC. Do not delay, the clock on your 60-day deadline starts the moment the ITA is issued, not when you open it.

If your score is between 490 and 515, you were close to this cutoff. That is actually a meaningful position. CEC draws have historically fluctuated by 5 to 20 points from round to round. A single point improvement in your language test results, or waiting for your profile to age slightly (which increases your score as you move into younger age brackets or gain more Canadian work experience), could bring you over the line in the next draw.

If your score is well below 516, for example in the 450 to 480 range, focus on the factors you can control. Retaking your IELTS or CELPIP to push from CLB 8 to CLB 9 in all four abilities is the single most effective score boost for most candidates. You should also confirm you are enrolled correctly under the CEC stream and that all your work experience is properly documented. A profile error can cost you points without you realising it.

✅ If You Got an ITA, What To Do Now

Congratulations. Receiving an ITA is the biggest milestone in the Express Entry process. Now the real work begins. You have exactly 60 days from the date of your ITA to submit a complete permanent residence application. For this draw, that deadline falls around August 22, 2026. Do not miss it, a late or incomplete application is refused, and your ITA cannot be extended.

1. Log in to your IRCC secure account immediately: Confirm you can see your ITA and verify that your personal information matches your identity documents exactly. Any mismatch between your profile and your passport must be corrected before you submit.
2. Order your police certificates right away: Most countries take 2 to 8 weeks to produce police clearance certificates. You need one from Canada (RCMP) and from every country where you have lived for 6 months or more since age 18. Start these requests on day one.
3. Book your medical exam: You must see an IRCC-designated physician. Find the list of panel physicians on the IRCC website. Medical results are valid for 12 months, so if you completed one recently and it has not expired, you may not need a new one.
4. Gather your employment documents: You need reference letters from each employer listed under your CEC work experience. Each letter must be on company letterhead and include your job title, duties, hours per week, salary, and the signature and contact details of your supervisor or HR representative.
5. Do not leave your current job: Your Canadian work experience must remain valid at the time IRCC processes your application. If you leave your job between now and when your PR is approved, it could affect your eligibility. Notify your employer that you may need to provide updated employment confirmation.
6. Pay the application fee and submit through your IRCC account: The processing fee for a principal applicant is $1,525, plus $500 for the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF). You can pay the RPRF after approval if you prefer, but many applicants pay it upfront to avoid delays.

Keep copies of everything you submit. IRCC may request additional documents after your initial submission. Respond to any IRCC requests within the stated deadline or your application could be abandoned.

📈 If You Didn't Get Invited

Not getting an invitation in this round is not a setback, it is just part of the process. CEC draws happen multiple times each year, and the cutoff score moves up and down based on how many candidates are in the pool and IRCC's targets for each category. A score that falls short today may be enough in the next round.

Your most direct path to a higher CRS score is improving your language results. If you are currently at CLB 8 in one or more abilities, pushing to CLB 9 can add 15 to 30 points. If you have not yet taken a French language test, consider doing so. Even a moderate French score (NCLC 7 in all four abilities) can add up to 50 points through the bilingualism bonus and French-language skill transferability, without requiring you to be fluent.

You should also look at the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Several provinces actively target candidates through their own streams, including enhanced PNP streams that feed back into Express Entry. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score, which is enough to guarantee an invitation in almost any draw. Check the specific streams available in the province where you currently live or work.

If you have a sibling who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you have not claimed that additional 15 CRS points, verify your profile includes this information. Small adjustments across multiple factors can add up faster than you expect. Stay active, keep your profile updated, and check the IRCC immigration page after every draw to track where cutoffs are moving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was draw #420 open to Federal Skilled Worker Program candidates?
No. Draw #420 was a CEC-only draw. Only candidates who are eligible for the Canadian Experience Class were included. FSWP and FSTP candidates were not considered in this round.

What happens if I have a CRS score of exactly 516 but I created my profile after April 14, 2026?
You did not receive an ITA in this draw. The tie-breaking rule means that profiles submitted after April 14, 2026 at 00:03:10 UTC were ranked below profiles with the same score submitted before that time. You remain in the pool and will be considered in future draws.

How long do I have to submit my PR application after receiving an ITA?
You have 60 days from the date your ITA was issued. For this draw, that deadline is approximately August 22, 2026. The deadline is firm. IRCC does not grant extensions.

Can I still apply if I received an ITA but my language test expires before I submit?
Your language test results must be valid at the time you submit your application. IELTS and CELPIP results are valid for two years. Check your test date and confirm your results are still within the validity window before you submit.

Will IRCC run another CEC draw soon?
IRCC has not announced a specific date for the next draw. Historically, CEC draws have run every two to four weeks. Keep your profile active and up to date so you are included in the pool when the next round happens.

Sources: Government of Canada (canada.ca), IRCC Help Centre. Last verified: June 23, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult IRCC or a qualified legal aid service for guidance on your specific situation.