Draw #396

Express Entry draw #396 was held on February 17, 2026, issuing 6,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class category with a minimum CRS score of 508.

The CRS cutoff dropped 1 points compared to the previous Canadian Experience Class draw, suggesting increased competition relief or larger pool capacity.

A cutoff of 508 is on the higher end for Canadian Experience Class draws, meaning candidates needed strong profiles across age, education, language, and work experience to qualify.

Canadian Experience Class draws target candidates with at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience within the past three years.

Candidates below this cutoff should consider strategies like improving language scores, obtaining a provincial nomination, or gaining Canadian work experience to close the gap.