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Canada Express Entry: April 28 CEC round closed at CRS 547, 4,500 ITAs
IRCC's most recent Canadian Experience Class round drew the line at 547 with 4,500 invitations issued. Here's what it means for your CRS planning, and where the bar sits across category-based draws.
The April 28 round of invitations under Canadian Experience Class drew the line at CRS 547 with 4,500 ITAs issued.
Source: IRCC Express Entry rounds page.
What 547 actually means
IRCC's CEC-only draws have hovered in the 540s and 550s through 2026. The cutoff is not a target. It's the lowest score IRCC happened to invite given the 4,500-invitation budget that round.
Two weeks earlier, mid-April, the cutoff was 521. A month later, it could land anywhere in the 530 to 560 band depending on profile inflow and round size.
If your CRS is in the 540 to 560 range and you're already in Canada with eligible work experience, you're inside the realistic invitation window for the next 2 to 3 CEC rounds.
If you're below 530, your most efficient path is usually a Provincial Nominee Program. A PNP nomination adds 600 points and effectively guarantees an ITA.
Category-based draws are a different story
In 2026, IRCC has been running more category-based draws than general all-program draws. Particularly for healthcare, STEM, and French-speakers.
The cutoffs in those rounds are substantially lower because the eligible pool is smaller. Recent French-language draws have closed in the 470s.
If you've achieved CLB 7 or higher in French, work in a category-eligible occupation, or have a healthcare credential, your real draw odds depend more on category eligibility than your raw CRS.
What to do if you're below the cutoff
Three concrete moves, in order of leverage.
1. Provincial Nominee Programs. If your skill profile fits a province with active streams, a PNP nomination is the single highest-impact CRS bump available. See BC PNP Tech, Saskatchewan SINP, Alberta AAIP, and Ontario OINP Tech.
2. French-language testing. Reaching CLB 7 in French adds up to 50 points and qualifies you for the lower French-language draws. Realistic prep window: 9 to 12 months from B1 to TEF Canada targets.
3. Provincial work experience. Twelve months of Canadian work experience under an LMIA-exempt or open work permit shifts your profile from FSW to CEC and adds Canadian-experience points. Compare the two routes on our BC PNP Tech vs Express Entry CEC page.
Run your numbers
If you've changed jobs, completed a credential evaluation, or finished a language test recently, re-take the quiz. Your match score for Express Entry will reflect the new inputs.
Comparing Canada to other points-based destinations? See Canada Express Entry vs Australia 189 and Canada Express Entry vs UK Skilled Worker.