Express Entry Draw #428: 2,000 ITAs at CRS 516 July 21

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Canada's immigration department ran Express Entry Draw #428 on July 21, 2026. This round was exclusively for candidates eligible under the Canadian Experience Class. A total of 2,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence were issued.

The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score was 516. If more than one candidate sat at exactly 516, IRCC used a tie-breaker: only those who had submitted their Express Entry profile on or before May 26, 2026 at 17:33:03 UTC received an invitation.

These Ministerial Instructions were signed by Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Lena Metlege Diab and took effect on July 21, 2026. The invitation period ran from July 21 to July 22, 2026.

What Happened, Explained Simply

The Canadian Experience Class is one of three federal programs managed through Express Entry. It is designed for people who already have skilled work experience inside Canada. You do not need a job offer. You do not need to have studied in Canada. What you need is at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation, along with a valid language test score that meets the minimum thresholds.

Draw #428 was a CEC-only draw, meaning IRCC pulled only from that subset of the pool. Candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program were not included in this round. IRCC has been running category-specific draws alongside all-program draws throughout 2026, so if your profile is eligible under FSW or FSTS, your score will still count in future rounds.

The cutoff of 516 is specific to this draw. It tells you the lowest CRS score of any candidate who received an invitation. If your score was 516 and your profile was submitted before May 26, 2026 at 17:33:03 UTC, you were invited. If your score was 516 but your profile was submitted after that timestamp, you were not. If your score was 517 or higher, the tie-breaker did not affect you at all, you were in regardless of when you submitted.

To put that in plain terms: if you are a CEC-eligible candidate with an active Express Entry profile and a score at or above 516, check your IRCC account now. Your invitation to apply (ITA) would have been issued on July 21, 2026, and the 60-day clock to submit a full permanent residence application starts from that date.

What Does a CRS Score of 516 Mean?

A score of 516 is on the higher end of what most CEC candidates can reach without a provincial nomination or a job offer. Here is a realistic breakdown of how a competitive CEC candidate might build a score near that cutoff.

As the table shows, reaching 516 without additional boosts is genuinely challenging. The profile above scores around 509 under ideal conditions for a single applicant. To close that gap, candidates often pick up extra points through a second language score, a Canadian sibling, or a spouse with strong English and Canadian credentials.

Spouses also add points. If your partner has CLB 5 or higher in English or French, that adds to your score. If your partner has a year of Canadian work experience, that adds more. Combined, a couple with strong profiles can add 40 or more points compared to a single applicant with the same core credentials.

The 516 cutoff is higher than some earlier 2026 CEC draws. This reflects the volume of competitive profiles currently sitting in the pool. If your score is below 516 today, do not delete your profile. Cutoffs shift from draw to draw based on how many candidates are in the pool and how many invitations IRCC decides to issue.

What This Means For You

If your CRS score is 516 or higher and you are CEC-eligible, log into your IRCC secure account immediately. You should see an ITA waiting. Do not ignore it. You have exactly 60 days from the date of issue to submit a complete permanent residence application. Missing that deadline means the invitation expires and you return to the pool.

If your score is close to 516, say between 490 and 515, this draw is an honest signal about where the pool sits right now. The gap between your score and the cutoff may feel discouraging, but CEC draws have varied considerably across 2026. A draw at 505 could come next month, or one at 525 could come instead. There is no guaranteed pattern. Your most reliable move is to strengthen your score wherever you can while keeping your profile active and up to date.

If your score is well below 516, this particular draw was not going to reach you regardless of timing. Focus your energy on pathways that can meaningfully change your situation: a provincial nomination adds 600 points automatically, a valid job offer from a Canadian employer can add 50 to 200 points depending on the offer type, and improving your language scores is often the fastest self-directed way to gain points.

✅ If You Got an ITA, What To Do Now

Congratulations. An invitation to apply is a major step. Now the real work begins. You have 60 days from July 21, 2026 to submit a complete permanent residence application through your IRCC secure account. Here is what to do in that window.

1. Accept your ITA immediately: Log into your IRCC account and accept the invitation. This locks in your 60-day window and gives you access to the application forms.
2. Gather your identity documents: You need a valid passport, travel history documents, and civil status records such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, and any legal name change documents.
3. Get a police certificate: You need a police clearance from every country where you have lived for six months or more since the age of 18. Canadian police certificates are obtained through the RCMP. Foreign certificates must be requested directly from that country's authorities. Start this immediately, it can take weeks.
4. Book your immigration medical exam: You must use a designated IRCC panel physician. Results are valid for 12 months. Book early, availability varies by city.
5. Prepare employment and settlement funds proof: Gather reference letters from all Canadian employers proving your work experience meets CEC requirements. Include job titles, duties, hours per week, and dates of employment.
6. Submit your language test results: Your IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada results must be uploaded. Confirm your test scores are still valid, most expire after two years.
7. Pay the application fees: The right of permanent residence fee is $515 per adult applicant. Processing fees apply on top of that. Pay through your IRCC account using an accepted payment method.
8. Submit before the deadline: The 60-day deadline is firm. An incomplete application submitted on time is better than a complete one submitted one day late. Upload what you have, but aim for a complete package.

Keep your current job if you are still working in Canada. If your employment situation changes before you receive a decision, you may need to update IRCC. A significant change in employment could affect your CEC eligibility if IRCC reviews your application closely.

📈 If You Didn't Get Invited

Not receiving an invitation in this round is not the end of your Express Entry path. Draw #428 was CEC-only and set a cutoff of 516. That is a specific moment in time, not a permanent verdict on your candidacy.

The most powerful single move available to many candidates is a provincial nomination. Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut operates a Provincial Nominee Program with streams that align with Express Entry. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score automatically, which means a candidate sitting at 450 instantly jumps to 1,050, well above any realistic cutoff. Research which province fits your occupation, language skills, and Canadian connections. Some streams require a job offer. Others do not. Check each province's immigration website directly for current intake status, since streams open and close throughout the year.

French language ability is another route worth serious consideration. IRCC has run dedicated Francophone draws in 2026 targeting candidates with strong French skills. If you speak French and have not yet taken a recognized French language test (TEF Canada or TCF Canada), doing so could open a separate category of draws with different, sometimes lower, cutoffs. Even a secondary French score can add skill transferability points to your core CRS total.

If you are already near 516, look carefully at where your profile loses points. Age is fixed, but language scores are not. Moving from CLB 8 to CLB 9 in all four skills can add meaningful points. If you have a spouse, make sure their credentials are fully documented in your profile. Many couples underreport spousal factors and leave legitimate points on the table.

Finally, keep your profile active and accurate. An expired language test or outdated job entry can lower your score or make you ineligible for a draw you would otherwise qualify for. Review your profile every few months and update anything that has changed. You can check IRCC processing times and draw information anytime on the official government website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Draw #428 open to Federal Skilled Worker candidates?

No. Draw #428 was a Canadian Experience Class-only draw. Only candidates who were eligible for the CEC were ranked and considered. FSW and FSTS candidates remain in the pool and will be considered in future all-program or category-specific draws.

My score is exactly 516. Did I get an invitation?

Only if your Express Entry profile was submitted on or before May 26, 2026 at 17:33:03 UTC. That is the tie-breaking timestamp IRCC used. If you submitted your profile after that date and time, and your score was exactly 516, you were not invited in this draw.

How long do I have to submit my permanent residence application after receiving an ITA?

You have 60 days from the date the ITA was issued, July 21, 2026. That means your deadline is September 19, 2026. Missing this deadline cancels the invitation. IRCC does not generally grant extensions.

Can I improve my CRS score while waiting for the next draw?

Yes. You can retake a language test, add a spouse's information to your profile, gain more Canadian work experience, or pursue a provincial nomination. Any of these changes can be updated in your existing Express Entry profile without restarting the process. Learn more through the IRCC Help Centre.

Who signed the Ministerial Instructions for Draw #428?

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Lena Metlege Diab signed the Ministerial Instructions for Draw #428 in Ottawa on July 21, 2026, under the authority of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Sources: Government of Canada (canada.ca), IRCC Help Centre. Last verified: July 21, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult IRCC or a qualified legal aid service for guidance on your specific situation.

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