Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held its second express entry CEC draw #420 invitation round of the month on June 23, 2026. This time, the spotlight was on the Canadian Experience Class. IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply, and the minimum CRS score landed at 516 points. Anyone tied at that exact score was ranked by profile submission date, with the tie-break cutoff set at April 14, 2026, 00:03:10 UTC. Every invited candidate now has 60 days to file a complete PR application, or the invitation lapses for good.
If your profile wasn’t pulled this round, there’s no need to panic, and no need to withdraw. Express Entry profiles stay active in the pool for a full 12 months from submission, and draws happen roughly every two weeks. Another chance is likely just around the corner.
Quick Snapshot: Express Entry CEC Draw #420
Draw Type: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Draw Number: #420
Invitations Issued: 4,000 ITAs
Minimum CRS Score: 516
Tie-breaking Rule: April 14, 2026, at 00:03:10 UTC
Who Was Invited?
Candidates with Canadian work experience who met the CRS cut-off and submitted their Express Entry profile before the tie-breaking date.
Next Express Entry Draw: Based on recent invitation trends, the next Express Entry draw is expected to be a category-based selection draw on June 24, 2026.
Source: Express Entry Draw #420 Update
How Does This Draw Compare to Earlier 2026 Rounds?
This year has been an active one for CEC candidates. CRS cutoffs have stayed within a fairly tight band all year, ranging between 507 and 518 points across ten separate rounds so far.
| Draw Date | Invitations Issued | Minimum CRS |
| June 23, 2026 | 4,000 | 516 |
| May 27, 2026 | 3,000 | 518 |
| April 28, 2026 | 2,000 | 514 |
| April 14, 2026 | 2,000 | 515 |
| March 31, 2026 | 2250 | 509 |
January opened strong with 8,000 invitations in a single draw. Spring slowed things down, and May produced the smallest round of the year so far. June’s 4,000 invitations mark a clear rebound, and they keep 2026 well ahead of 2025’s pace, when only 15,850 CEC invitations had gone out by the same point in the year.
Why Does the Canadian Experience Class Still Lead the Pack?
The Canadian Experience Class rewards exactly what its name suggests: experience earned on Canadian soil. Time spent working in a skilled occupation here adds meaningful weight to a CRS score, often more than comparable experience earned abroad. Candidates with a valid job offer and current work authorization also skip the proof of funds requirement entirely, a real advantage for newcomers already building a life in Canada. For temporary workers eyeing permanent status, CEC remains one of the fastest, most direct doors available.
A Case in Point
One ImmigCanada client, a mechanical engineer working in Alberta on a closed work permit, came to us in early 2026 with a CRS score of 503, short of every cutoff that quarter. Working with our RCIC, Eviy Joy Quito, the client retook the IELTS, raised their English score from CLB 9 to CLB 10, and added their spouse’s French test results to the profile. Within eleven weeks, the combined changes pushed the score to 521, comfortably above June’s 516 cutoff. The client received an ITA in the very draw discussed above.
What Should You Do Next?
If your score sits close to the 507 to 518 range that has defined 2026 so far, there’s real reason for optimism. If you’re below it, a language retest, added Canadian work experience, or a provincial nomination, worth 600 points on its own, can close the gap quickly. A spouse’s credentials can help too, since their language results, education, and Canadian work history all count toward the household score.
IRCC has also signalled a broader overhaul on the horizon, one that could eventually fold the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, and Federal Skilled Trades programs into a single federal high skilled stream. Nothing is confirmed yet, and no timeline has been set, but it’s worth tracking closely if Express Entry is part of your plan. Canada continues to prioritize candidates who already have a foothold here, and that’s good news for anyone building a career and a life in this country.
Wondering where your CRS score stacks up against the next draw? Book a consultation with ImmigCanada’s regulated consultant Eivy Joy Quito, and get a clear, personalized plan for your Express Entry profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 516 or higher to receive an invitation in this round.
You have 60 days from the date of invitation to submit a complete permanent residence application before it expires.
No, not if you currently hold valid Canadian work authorization and a job offer that supports your application.
Your profile remains active in the Express Entry pool for 12 months from submission. Avoid withdrawing it, since another draw could include you within weeks.
Retaking a language test, adding a second official language, gaining more Canadian work experience, or securing a provincial nomination are the most common, effective options.
6. Will Express Entry change later in 2026?
IRCC has proposed combining the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, and Federal Skilled Trades programs into one federal high skilled stream, though no confirmed date has been announced.
Draws are typically held every two weeks, though the federal government can adjust the schedule and pool sizes depending on its yearly targets.
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