The two rounds
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,792 invitations to apply (ITAs) in two Express Entry rounds on October 26 and 27, 2026. The CRS score is the Comprehensive Ranking System score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited.
| Round | Date | Type | ITAs | Lowest CRS score invited | Tie-breaking rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #451 | October 26, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 792 | 761 | April 3, 2026, 18:00:26 UTC |
| #452 | October 27, 2026 | French-language proficiency (2026, version 2) | 5,000 | 407 | July 13, 2026, 19:22:00 UTC |
If more than one eligible candidate had exactly the lowest score, the profile submitted earlier ranked ahead of the later one, using the tie-breaking date and time IRCC published for the round.
Round #451: Provincial Nominee Program
Round #451 was limited to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program, that is, candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination linked to their Express Entry profile. A nomination adds 600 points to the CRS score, which explains the high minimum. The minimum score was 761, compared with 772 in round #448 on October 13 (752 invitations).
Round #452: French-language proficiency
Round #452 was a category-based round for French-language proficiency, for candidates with French language ability at NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills who are otherwise eligible for an Express Entry program. The minimum score of 407 is lower than the 435 in round #450 on October 16, which also issued 5,000 invitations.
IRCC announced Express Entry changes that take effect on November 3, 2026, and said that invitation rounds are expected to pause for up to two weeks while profiles are recalculated. The changes are covered in our article on the October 16 announcement.
What an invitation means
An invitation to apply allows a candidate to submit a permanent residence application. It is not an approval. The candidate must still meet the requirements of the program, provide the required documents within the deadline in the invitation, and be admissible to Canada. A score at or above a past cut-off does not guarantee an invitation in a later round.