Express Entry draw #453 on 28 October 2026 invited 150 candidates to apply for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 477.
IRCC ran the round for transport occupations. Candidates at exactly 477 were separated by the tie-breaking rule: the cut-off was the profile submitted before June 4, 2026 at 21:48:22 UTC.
Draw #453 at a glance
| Round number | 453 |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 October 2026 |
| Round type | Transport Occupations, 2026-Version 2 |
| Programs covered | Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program |
| Invitations issued | 150 |
| Lowest CRS score invited | 477 |
| Tie-breaking rule | Profile submitted before June 4, 2026 at 21:48:22 UTC |
Which occupations this round reached
The transport category covers a short, fixed list of occupations. To be eligible a candidate needs, within the past three years, at least 12 months of full-time experience — continuous or not — in a single occupation on that list:
| Occupation | 2021 NOC |
|---|---|
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 72410 |
Notably, long-haul truck driving is not on that list, despite trucking being the occupation most people associate with a transport draw. A candidate whose experience sits outside these four occupations is not reached by this category, whatever their CRS score.
The size of the round is the other constraint: 150 invitations in a category that draws from a narrow occupational base is a small window. A cut-off of 477 applies only to candidates who already qualify for one of the four occupations.
Against the previous transport occupations round
| Round | Date | CRS cut-off | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| #434 | 7 August 2026 | 470 | 300 |
| #453 | 28 October 2026 | 477 | 150 |
The cut-off is 7 points higher than #434. Invitations fell by 150.
A smaller round and a higher cut-off move in the expected direction: fewer invitations taken from the top of the same pool raises the floor.
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 #453?
150.
What was the CRS cut-off in draw #453?
477. Candidates at exactly 477 needed a profile submitted before June 4, 2026 at 21:48:22 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 #453 — 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 #453 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.
