IRCC Issues 2,000 in April 28 Express Entry Draw
IRCC issued 2,000 invitations to Canadian Experience Class candidates in an express entry draw on April 28, 2026, setting the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score at 514. The draw was the eighth CEC selection of 2026 and the 25th Express Entry selection overall.
For candidates with Canadian work experience, the result kept the year’s CEC pace steady: the latest round matched the previous one on invitation count while the cutoff fell by one point. By April 28, Canada had issued 34,250 invitations to apply through the CEC program across eight draws.
April 28 CEC draw
The April 28 draw targeted candidates already working in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class, a stream for skilled workers with Canadian work experience. Candidates in that class are ranked by the CRS, and those with competitive scores can receive an invitation to apply in a CEC-specific draw.
That ranking system is the gatekeeper for the result. The 514 cutoff meant only profiles at or above that score received invitations in this round, while the total number of ITAs stayed at 2,000.
CEC eligibility rules
The CEC program requires at least one year of full-time or part-time work experience in Canada within the last three years. The work must fall under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations, and applicants must meet minimum language requirements in English or French depending on the job level.
Applicants also need a valid Express Entry profile and should plan to live outside Quebec. Proof of settlement funds is not required for Canadian Experience Class candidates, which separates the stream from other parts of Express Entry and keeps the focus on Canadian work history rather than savings.
2026 Express Entry total
The April 28 round brought the CEC program to 34,250 ITAs in 2026 across eight draws, a concentration that keeps Canadian work experience at the center of the year’s selection pattern. The draw was also the 25th Express Entry selection of 2026, adding another batch of invitations without changing the size of the latest round.
For candidates already in the pool, the practical step is straightforward: a profile at 514 or higher placed them in range for this draw, while lower scores did not. The next change for anyone still waiting will come from the next selection round, where the cutoff and invitation count can shift again.
