Express Entry Draw #436: 1,000 ITAs at CRS 523

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Canada's 436th Express Entry draw ran today, August 18, 2026. IRCC targeted only Canadian Experience Class candidates and issued exactly 1,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence. The minimum CRS score required was 523.

This was a category-specific draw, not an all-programs draw. Only candidates eligible for the Canadian Experience Class were ranked and invited. If your Express Entry profile is set up under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program only, this round did not apply to you.

The tie-breaking timestamp was August 17, 2026 at 22:09:00 UTC. That means if you had a CRS score of exactly 523 and submitted your profile before that exact moment, you likely received an invitation. If you submitted after that time, you were not invited even with the same score.

What Happened. Explained Simply

Every Express Entry draw works on a ranking system. IRCC collects all eligible candidates in a pool, ranks them by their Comprehensive Ranking System score, and then invites the top-ranked candidates to apply. In draw #436, IRCC focused exclusively on the Canadian Experience Class. That program is for people who already have recent skilled work experience inside Canada, either as a temporary foreign worker or a former international student who transitioned into the workforce.

The cutoff landed at 523. That is a relatively high score, which tells you something about the CEC pool right now. Candidates in the CEC tend to score well because they already have Canadian work experience, which earns strong points in the core human capital and skill transferability factors. A score of 523 is not unusual for a CEC-specific draw.

IRCC issued the Ministerial Instructions under subparagraph 10.3(1)(h.1)(ii) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The instructions were signed by Minister Lena Metlege Diab. The invitation period ran from August 18 to August 19, 2026, a standard 24-hour window.

Here is a concrete example. Suppose you have been working in Canada on a post-graduation work permit since 2024. You have one year of skilled work experience, a Canadian bachelor's degree, and a CLB 9 in English. Your CRS score might sit around 520 to 530 depending on your age and other factors. If your score was 523 or above and your profile was active before the tie-breaking time, you received an ITA today. If your score was 522, you did not, but the gap is just one point and future draws remain possible.

You can verify draw results and check your own score anytime through the official IRCC Express Entry page.

What Does a CRS Score of 523 Mean?

A score of 523 sounds high if you are new to Express Entry. But for a Canadian Experience Class candidate, it is achievable with the right combination of factors. The table below shows how a typical successful candidate in this draw might have built their score. These are illustrative point ranges based on standard CRS rules, not invented figures.

The CRS is not a single number you either have or you do not. It is a formula with many moving parts. Your age is one of the biggest factors and you cannot change it. But you can improve your language score by retaking the IELTS or CELPIP, increase your Canadian work experience over time, or add a spouse's language and education scores to the calculation if applicable.

A score of 523 in a CEC-only draw does not mean you need 523 in an all-programs draw. All-programs draws typically have different cutoffs because the eligible pool is much larger and includes Federal Skilled Worker candidates from outside Canada. Watch IRCC's draw history to understand the trend for the specific category you are eligible under.

What This Means For You

If your CRS score is 523 or above and you had an active CEC-eligible profile in the pool before the tie-breaking time of August 17 at 22:09:00 UTC, check your IRCC account now. Your invitation to apply may already be there.

If your score is close to 523, say between 510 and 522, this draw was just out of reach. That is frustrating, but it is not a signal to give up. CEC draws happen regularly and cutoffs shift between rounds. A single additional month of Canadian work experience, a higher language score, or even updating your profile to reflect a recent promotion can push your score up. Check the IRCC processing times page to stay current on how quickly applications are moving once you do receive an ITA.

If your score is well below 523, this particular draw was not your moment, and that is fine. The CEC pool is competitive because candidates already in Canada tend to have strong profiles. Focus on what you can improve: retake your language test if you are below CLB 9, accumulate more Canadian experience months, or explore whether a Provincial Nominee Program nomination could add 600 points to your score and make an ITA a near-certainty in the next applicable draw.

✅ If You Got an ITA. What To Do Now

Congratulations. An invitation to apply is the hardest part. Now the clock starts. You have 60 days from the date of your ITA to submit a complete permanent residence application through your IRCC online account. Missing that deadline means your invitation expires and you go back into the pool, if you are still eligible.

Here is what you need to do inside those 60 days:

1. Gather your identity documents: You need valid passports for yourself and any family members included in your application. If your passport expires soon, renew it before submitting. IRCC needs it valid for the duration of processing.
2. Get police certificates: You need a police certificate from every country where you have lived for six months or more since age 18. Some countries take weeks to process these. Start immediately.
3. Book your medical exam: You must use an IRCC-designated physician. Find one through the IRCC website, book early, and bring all required documents to the appointment. Medical results are valid for 12 months.
4. Collect employment records: You need reference letters or employment confirmation letters covering your Canadian work experience. These must include your job title, duties, hours per week, and dates of employment on company letterhead and signed by your employer.
5. Keep your current job: IRCC may verify your employment status during processing. If you leave your job or your status changes significantly after applying, report it. Do not let your work permit expire while your PR application is in progress without taking steps to maintain your legal status in Canada.
6. Pay the application fees: The principal applicant processing fee is $1,525 CAD. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee is an additional $575 CAD. Include fees for any accompanying family members. These fees are paid online through your IRCC account when you submit.
7. Submit before day 60: Do not wait until the last day. Technical issues happen. Aim to submit at least five business days early so you have time to fix any upload errors or missing documents.

The IRCC form you will use to submit your application is the e-APR (electronic Application for Permanent Residence). You complete it entirely online through your IRCC secure account, the same one where you received your ITA. Keep copies of everything you upload.

📈 If You Didn't Get Invited

Not receiving an invitation in draw #436 does not mean your path to permanent residence is closed. It means the cutoff today was 523 and your score was below that. That is a specific, solvable problem in most cases.

The most immediate option to explore is French language ability. IRCC runs separate draws for candidates who meet a minimum French-language threshold, and the cutoff scores in those draws are historically lower than in general CEC draws. If you have any French and have never taken the TEF Canada or TCF Canada test, it is worth investigating. Even a modest French score added to your CEC eligibility could open a different draw pathway.

Another strong option is the Provincial Nominee Program. Most provinces run streams aligned with the federal Express Entry system. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score, which effectively guarantees an ITA in the next draw. Research the province where you live or work first, since most provincial streams give preference to candidates already residing or employed there.

You can also raise your score organically. If your current language scores are CLB 8, pushing to CLB 9 adds meaningful points. If you are approaching your third year of Canadian work experience, that additional time also increases your score. Small gains compound. A candidate sitting at 515 today who retakes their language test and scores higher could close that gap within a few months.

Finally, patience is a legitimate strategy. IRCC holds CEC draws regularly. Cutoffs move up and down based on how many candidates are in the pool and how many invitations are issued per round. Staying in the pool with a strong, up-to-date profile keeps you in position for the next draw. Visit the IRCC immigration homepage to track future draw announcements as they are published.

Frequently Asked Questions About Draw #436

Was this draw open to Federal Skilled Worker candidates?

No. Draw #436 was a Canadian Experience Class-only draw. Only candidates who are eligible for the CEC were ranked and invited. Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades candidates were not included in this round.

What does the tie-breaking rule mean for me?

If multiple candidates tied at exactly 523, IRCC used the date and time the profile was submitted as the tiebreaker. Candidates who submitted their profiles before August 17, 2026 at 22:09:00 UTC were invited first. Those who submitted after that timestamp were not invited, even with the same score of 523.

How long do I have to accept my ITA and submit my application?

You have 60 days from the date your invitation was issued to submit a complete permanent residence application. For invitations issued on August 18, 2026, your deadline falls around October 17, 2026. Submit early. Incomplete or late applications are refused.

Who signed the Ministerial Instructions for this draw?

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Lena Metlege Diab signed the Ministerial Instructions for draw #436 in Ottawa on August 18, 2026.

My score is 520, how close was I, and what should I do next?

You were three points below the cutoff. That is a very small gap. Consider retaking your language test if your current score is CLB 8 in any category, moving to CLB 9 adds points. You can also look into whether a Provincial Nominee Program stream in your province is currently accepting applications, since a nomination adds 600 CRS points and makes your next ITA nearly certain.

Sources: Government of Canada (canada.ca), IRCC Help Centre. Last verified: August 18, 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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