No Express Entry draw since October 28. IRCC paused rounds on November 3 to recalculate every CRS score under the new high-wage factor. Here's what that means and what to do now.
There hasn't been an Express Entry draw since October 28, 2026. That's not a glitch. On November 3, IRCC paused invitation rounds while it recalculates the CRS score of every profile in the pool under the new high-wage factor. IRCC has said the recalculation may take up to two weeks. It has not announced a restart date.
The last three rounds before the pause:
| Date | Draw type | ITAs | CRS cutoff |
|---|
| October 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 792 | 761 |
| October 27 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 407 |
| October 28 | Transport occupations | 150 | 477 |
The most recent Canadian Experience Class round was October 15 at CRS 519.
From November 3, Express Entry gives extra CRS points for Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation, meaning one whose median wage is at least 1.3 times the national median. A qualifying job offer no longer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to earn those points. Full details are in our guide to what changed on November 3.
Every profile has to be rescored before IRCC can rank the pool fairly again, so no rounds run until that's done.
Nobody outside IRCC knows. If the two-week estimate holds, a restart in mid-November is plausible, and several draw-tracking sites point to the week of November 16. Treat that as a guess, not a date. IRCC doesn't announce rounds in advance, and the only reliable source is its rounds of invitations page.
Expect the first cutoffs to look different. Some candidates will gain up to 100 points from the new factor. That pushes some profiles up the ranking, and anyone who didn't gain points slides down relative to them. We'll know how far cutoffs moved only once the first rounds land.
Check your new score once the recalculation finishes. Your profile will show only the new total. If you noted your old CRS breakdown before November 3, compare it to see whether the high-wage factor applied to you.
Make sure your job offer details are right. If you have a job offer in a high-wage occupation, the points depend on the details in your profile. Check that the occupation code (NOC), wage and employer details are accurate. Our NOC codes guide helps you confirm the right code.
Don't misrepresent anything to chase points. An inflated job title or wage is misrepresentation, which carries a five-year ban. It's not worth any number of points.
Keep your documents current. Language tests are valid for two years and credential assessments for five. If either expires during the pause, your profile can drop out of eligibility right when draws restart.
Hold off on expensive score-chasing moves. Until you see where cutoffs land, it's hard to know whether a language retest is worth it. Your CRS breakdown will tell you which factor gives the most points per effort once the dust settles.
If you have a provincial nomination: a nomination still adds 600 points. When draws restarted after the June pause, the first round was a PNP draw, but IRCC hasn't said what it will run first this time.
Tip
Profiles expire 12 months after you submit them, and the pause doesn't stop that clock. If yours expires in the next few weeks, check the date in your IRCC account and be ready to create a new profile straight away.
We'll publish an analysis as soon as the first post-pause round lands. In the meantime: CRS Calculator | Draw Tracker | Improve your CRS score
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.