Express Entry Draws Paused: No New Round Since May 28, 2026
Canada's Express Entry system has gone quiet. As of mid-June 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had not held a new Express Entry draw in June — one of the longest stretches without a round of invitations so far this year. The most recent confirmed draw was on May 28, 2026. If you are waiting in the pool, here is what has actually happened and what to do while invitations are paused. Draw timing and figures can change, so always confirm the latest on IRCC's official rounds of invitations page or our live Express Entry draw tracker.
Key takeaways
- IRCC held no Express Entry draw in the first half of June 2026 — the longest pause of the year to that point. Check the draw tracker for any round held since.
- The most recent draw was May 28, 2026: a category-based French-language round of about 4,500 invitations at a CRS cut-off near 409 (confirm exact figures on canada.ca).
- Days earlier, a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) round on May 27 issued roughly 3,000 invitations at a CRS cut-off around 518, alongside small, high-score Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) rounds.
- A pause does not mean Express Entry has stopped. IRCC sets draw timing and does not announce it in advance.
- Use the wait to raise your CRS score and keep your profile accurate, so an invitation never catches you unprepared.
Why there hasn't been a draw
IRCC runs Express Entry draws on its own schedule — often roughly every two weeks, but the timing varies and gaps happen. The system paused for stretches earlier in 2026 too, and a quiet period can line up with program reforms, processing capacity, or pacing toward the year's immigration targets. None of that means the program is closed; it means the next round simply has not been announced yet.
For perspective, IRCC held about 30 rounds between January and late May 2026, covering general all-program draws, program-specific rounds (CEC, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades), category-based rounds (French-language, healthcare, trades, STEM and others), and PNP rounds. To understand how those differ and which one you might be invited under, see Express Entry draw types explained.
The most recent rounds (May 2026)
According to immigration draw trackers, the latest Express Entry rounds before the June pause were:
| Date | Round type | Invitations (approx.) | CRS cut-off (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2026 | French-language proficiency (category-based) | 4,500 | 409 |
| May 27, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 3,000 | 518 |
| Late May 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | ~334 | ~805 |
| May 11, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | ~380 | ~798 |
Treat these as reported figures and confirm the exact numbers — and whether a newer draw has since been held — on the official rounds of invitations page.
Putting draw sizes in perspective
It is worth being clear about scale, because inflated figures circulate online. A normal Express Entry round in 2024–2026 invites anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand candidates — not tens of thousands. The largest single Express Entry draw in history remains 27,332 invitations, issued once on February 13, 2021, when IRCC cleared the Canadian Experience Class inventory at an unprecedented CRS of 75. That was a one-time, pandemic-era event and has never been repeated. If you ever see a claim that a single recent round issued far more than that, it is almost certainly mixing up a multi-week cumulative total with one draw.
What to do while draws are paused
A pause is the best time to strengthen your position:
- Keep your profile current and accurate. Update work experience, language results, and education as they change.
- Raise your CRS score. Better language test results, a second official language, more skilled experience, or a provincial nomination can move you up. See how to improve your CRS for the next draw and run the numbers in our CRS calculator and CLB converter.
- Know what a category-based round needs. You may qualify under a category (such as French-language ability or a named occupation) and be invited below the general cut-off — see category-based Express Entry draws.
- Be ready to act fast. If you are invited, you have a fixed window to submit a complete application. Get the documents ready now: what to do after an ITA.
Frequently asked questions
Why hasn't there been an Express Entry draw in June 2026? IRCC has not announced one. Draw timing is set by the department and not published in advance; gaps of two weeks or more happen. Confirm the latest on canada.ca.
When is the next Express Entry draw? No one can tell you the exact date — IRCC does not pre-announce draws. Watch the official rounds of invitations page and our draw tracker.
What was the most recent Express Entry draw? As reported, the last round before the June pause was on May 28, 2026 — a French-language category-based draw of about 4,500 invitations at a CRS cut-off near 409. Confirm on canada.ca.
Does a pause mean Express Entry is closed? No. A gap between rounds is normal and does not affect your standing in the pool. Your profile remains active and your CRS score continues to be ranked.
This is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often — confirm current details on canada.ca or with a CICC-licensed representative.