IRCC held three Express Entry rounds from October 26 to 28, 2026, and invited 5,942 candidates before the November 3 recalculation. Provincial nominees went first at CRS 761. French speakers followed at 407, and transport workers closed the run at 477. IRCC says rounds will pause while it recalculates scores, which could take up to two weeks.
Round data comes from IRCC’s Express Entry rounds data, checked October 31, 2026. Eligibility rules come from IRCC’s category-based selection page and its CRS criteria page, both modified October 16, 2026. Our running totals come from our 2026 Express Entry draw tracker.
Key takeaways
- IRCC issued 5,942 invitations in three days: 792 plus 5,000 plus 150.
- The French cut-off fell 28 points, from 435 on October 16 to 407.
- French rounds have issued 60,500 invitations in 2026. The Canadian Experience Class has issued 57,750.
- The transport cut-off was 477, seven points above the August 7 round, with half as many invitations.
- On November 3, IRCC changes points for Canadian work experience and job offers, and pauses rounds while it recalculates, which could take up to two weeks.
Are you in the pool and unsure where you stand before November 3? Book Your Strategy Consultation with Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319.
What happened in the Express Entry draws from October 26 to 28, 2026?
IRCC invited 792 provincial nominees, 5,000 French speakers and 150 transport workers in three straight days. Rounds 451, 452 and 453 followed the October 13 to 16 run that we covered in our October roundup. IRCC shows 228,724 profiles in the pool as of October 25.
- Round 451, October 26: Provincial Nominee Program, 792 invitations, lowest CRS 761.
- Round 452, October 27: French-language proficiency, 5,000 invitations, lowest CRS 407.
- Round 453, October 28: Transport occupations, 150 invitations, lowest CRS 477.
Candidates at the lowest score were invited only if they entered the pool before the tie-breaking time. Those times were April 3, 2026 at 18:00:26 UTC for round 451, July 13, 2026 at 19:22:00 UTC for round 452, and June 4, 2026 at 21:48:22 UTC for round 453.
The PNP round invited 792 people at 761, which is 11 points below the 772 cut-off in round 448 on October 13. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to a CRS score, so nominees sit far above every other group.
Why did the French cut-off fall to 407?
The French cut-off fell from 435 on October 16 to 407 on October 27, a drop of 28 points. IRCC does not say why a cut-off moves. The gap between French rounds was only 11 days, compared with 58 days before October 16. Fewer high scorers had time to build up. That is our reading, not an IRCC statement.
French is now the biggest category of the year. Twelve French rounds have issued 60,500 invitations in 2026, ahead of 57,750 for the Canadian Experience Class across 18 rounds. Our tracker puts the 2026 total at 149,409 invitations across 65 rounds. That is 143,467 through October 16 plus 5,942.
To qualify for this category, you need a Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) score of 7 or higher in all four French abilities and eligibility for one of the three Express Entry programs. Our French Express Entry page explains the score. See our October 16 French draw report for how 435 compares.
Who qualified for the transport round?
The transport category needs 12 months of full-time work in one listed occupation within the past 3 years. The experience can be in Canada or abroad. Part-time work counts if it adds up to the same amount. You must also be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs.
- Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (NOC 72404)
- Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600)
- Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors (NOC 22313)
- Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers (NOC 72410)
Round 453 invited 150 candidates at 477. The last transport round, number 434 on August 7, invited 300 at 470. This round was half the size and seven points higher. Read more in our transport category guide and on our Transport Express Entry page.
What happens on November 3, 2026?
IRCC changes how points work for Canadian work experience and valid job offers on November 3, 2026, and rounds pause while it recalculates scores. The system recalculates existing profiles, which could take up to two weeks. IRCC also removes LMIA requirements for all job offers on that date.
If you have a valid job offer without an LMIA and have not added it to your profile, IRCC says you should update your profile. Job offers still matter where they are part of eligibility, including the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and some provincial streams.
Here is what we would do this weekend:
- Check that your profile is active and your language test is still valid.
- Add your job offer details if you have a valid offer.
- Recheck your score with our CRS calculator.
- Read our guide to the new high-wage points.
- Do not wait for a draw schedule. IRCC does not publish one, and nobody can say when rounds restart.
Being eligible is not the same as being invited. Our post on category draw chances explains why. If your score needs work, see how to improve your CRS score.
Want a plan for the first rounds after the pause? Book Your Strategy Consultation with Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319.
Frequently asked questions
How many invitations did IRCC issue from October 26 to 28, 2026?
IRCC issued 5,942 invitations in three rounds. That is 792 for the Provincial Nominee Program, 5,000 for French-language proficiency and 150 for transport occupations. The lowest CRS scores were 761, 407 and 477.
What was the CRS cut-off in the October 27 French draw?
The cut-off was 407. IRCC invited 5,000 candidates in round 452, which is 28 points below the 435 cut-off on October 16. Candidates at 407 needed to have entered the pool before July 13, 2026 at 19:22:00 UTC.
Who qualifies for the Express Entry transport category?
You need 12 months of full-time work in the past 3 years in one listed occupation. The list covers aircraft mechanics and inspectors, air pilots, avionics mechanics and technicians, and automotive service technicians. You must also be eligible for an Express Entry program.
Will Express Entry draws pause on November 3, 2026?
Yes, Express Entry draws will pause on November 3, 2026. IRCC says it will pause invitation rounds while the system recalculates profiles. The recalculation could take up to two weeks. Rounds start again when it is complete, and nobody has announced a restart date.
Has French passed the Canadian Experience Class in 2026?
Yes, French category draws have surpassed the Canadian Experience Class in 2026. French rounds have issued 60,500 invitations in 2026, against 57,750 for the Canadian Experience Class.
Want help reading your own score against these cut-offs? Book Your Strategy Consultation with Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Amir Ismail & Associates does not provide legal opinions. Rules change, so check the IRCC pages linked above before you act.
