Two federal rounds in two days
IRCC held Express Entry round 436 on August 18, 2026 for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It issued 1,000 invitations to apply, and the lowest-ranked candidate invited had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 523.
On August 19, round 437 targeted candidates in the 2026 French-language proficiency category (version 2). IRCC issued 5,000 invitations with a CRS cut-off of 382. The category draw was open to candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
| Round | Date | Category | ITAs | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 436 | August 18, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 | 523 |
| 437 | August 19, 2026 | French-language proficiency (2026, version 2) | 5,000 | 382 |
The two cut-offs are not one pool
The August 18 round was limited to CEC candidates. The August 19 round required eligibility for the federal French-language proficiency category, which requires French test results at NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities, together with eligibility for one of the federal Express Entry programs. The lower French-round cut-off does not apply to candidates who do not meet the category's language requirement.
What candidates should take from the results
Together the two rounds issued 6,000 invitations, but each result is a completed selection and not a forecast. Future invitation counts, categories and cut-offs can change independently. Keep language results, work history and profile details current. Reaching a past cut-off does not guarantee an invitation in a later round.