Express Entry draw #444 on 16 September 2026 invited 250 candidates to apply for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 389.
IRCC ran the round for senior managers with Canadian work experience. Candidates at exactly 389 were separated by the tie-breaking rule: the cut-off was the profile submitted before September 01, 2026 at 23:05:13 UTC.
Draw #444 at a glance
| Round number | 444 |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Round type | Senior managers with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 |
| Programs covered | Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program |
| Invitations issued | 250 |
| Lowest CRS score invited | 389 |
| Tie-breaking rule | Profile submitted before September 01, 2026 at 23:05:13 UTC |
A narrow category, and a low cut-off
This category is restricted to senior managers with Canadian work experience and covers four occupations: senior managers in financial, communications and other business services (00012); in health, education, social and community services and membership organisations (00013); in trade, broadcasting and other services (00014); and in construction, transportation, production and utilities (00015).
At least 12 months of full-time experience in one of those roles, within the past three years, must have been earned in Canada. A senior manager who has never worked in Canada does not qualify, even with an identical job title abroad.
Because the eligible population is so small, the cut-off sits well below the general rounds: 389. That does not make the round easier to enter — it makes it easier to win if you are inside the category.
Against the previous senior managers with Canadian work experience round
| Round | Date | CRS cut-off | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| #426 | 10 July 2026 | 392 | 500 |
| #444 | 16 September 2026 | 389 | 250 |
The cut-off is 3 points lower than #426. Invitations fell by 250.
A smaller round with a lower cut-off suggests the pool itself shifted between the two dates. Round size alone does not explain it.
What the cut-off does not tell you
A cut-off is the lowest score invited in one round. It is not a threshold for the program, a forecast, or a target. It moves with round size, the category being invited and the composition of the pool on the day. A score that was sufficient in this round may not be sufficient in the next one, even of the same type.
Before the next round
- Check that your profile is still active and has not expired — an expired profile cannot be invited, whatever your score.
- Confirm your language test and educational credential assessment are still valid on the date of the round.
- Update your profile if you have new language results or additional qualifying work experience; the score used is the one in the profile when the round runs.
- Read the ministerial instruction for the round you are hoping to be reached by — it sets the eligibility, and it can change between rounds.
Frequently asked questions
How many invitations were issued in draw #444?
250.
What was the CRS cut-off in draw #444?
389. Candidates at exactly 389 needed a profile submitted before September 01, 2026 at 23:05:13 UTC to be invited.
Does this round change the rules?
No. A round applies the instructions already in force when it is published. It does not create new eligibility criteria or change the CRS grid.
Official sources
- Ministerial instruction for round #444 — the official record for this round.
- Express Entry rounds of invitations — the full historical database.
- IRCC: category-based selection — current eligibility requirements.
Figures are taken from IRCC’s published record for round #444 and checked against that record. CRSPoint is independent of IRCC and the Government of Canada, and this article is general information, not advice on any individual file.
