Express Entry provincial draw #451: 792 ITAs at CRS 761

Updated 28 October 2026.

IRCC invited 792 Provincial Nominee Program candidates in Express Entry draw #451 on 26 October 2026. The cut-off was CRS 761.

This guide explains what that cut-off means and how it compares with recent rounds. It also covers what to do next, whether you already hold a provincial nomination or are still trying to get one. We built it only from the round results in our draw records and the published CRS rules. Where a detail hasn't been published, we say so.

The numbers from 26 October

Item	Result
Draw number	#451
Date	26 October 2026
Round type	Provincial Nominee Program
Invitations	792
Lowest score invited	CRS 761

Our records don't include the tie-breaking date and time for this round. Check the official rounds list on the Express Entry page on canada.ca for that detail.

We also don't hold an official breakdown of the 792 invitations by province, stream or occupation. Treat any article that lists a provincial split for this round with caution unless it links an official source.

How this round compares

The previous provincial round was draw #448 on 13 October 2026. It invited 752 candidates, with a cut-off of CRS 772.

A year earlier, draw #374 on 27 October 2025 invited 302 candidates. Its cut-off was also CRS 761.

Here are the ten most recent provincial rounds in our records.

Date	Draw	Invitations	Cut-off
26 October 2026	#451	792	CRS 761
13 October 2026	#448	752	CRS 772
28 September 2026	#445	733	CRS 725
14 September 2026	#442	576	CRS 734
31 August 2026	#438	562	CRS 697
17 August 2026	#435	442	CRS 760
4 August 2026	#431	507	CRS 768
20 July 2026	#427	511	CRS 744
6 July 2026	#423	534	CRS 708
22 June 2026	#419	955	CRS 730

Across 2026, provincial round cut-offs in our records ran from CRS 697 (draw #438, 31 August) to CRS 805 (draw #416, 25 May). The largest provincial round so far this year was draw #419 on 22 June, with 955 invitations.

So cut-offs in these rounds move within a band. That band matters less than you might think, for the reason below.

Why 761 means a nomination was required

The CRS has a maximum of 1,200 points. A provincial nomination adds 600 of them.

Core human capital, spouse factors and skill transferability are capped at 600 points together. For a candidate without a spouse, core factors max out at 500 and transferability at 100.

The extra points that don't come from a nomination are limited. A sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident adds 15. Canadian post-secondary education adds 15 or 30. Strong French adds 25 or 50. Together that's 95 at most.

So a profile without a nomination can't reach 761. Every candidate invited in draw #451 had the 600 nomination points on their profile.

The practical point: in provincial rounds, the cut-off mostly reflects how strong nominated candidates were on top of their 600 points. It isn't a target you can reach through test scores alone.

Two worked examples

These use the published point values for a candidate without a spouse.

For example, a candidate with these factors:

• Age 30: 105 points
• Bachelor's degree: 120 points
• CLB 9 in all four English abilities: 31 each, so 124 points
• One year of Canadian work experience: 40 points

Core human capital comes to 389. Skill transferability adds 25 for a degree with CLB 9, and 13 for a degree with one year of Canadian work. That's 38 more, for a total of 427.

That score is well below 761. With a provincial nomination, it becomes 1,027, which clears this round's cut-off.

For example, a candidate with a different profile:

• Age 40: 50 points
• Master's degree: 135 points
• CLB 7 in all four English abilities: 17 each, so 68 points
• No Canadian work experience
• Three or more years of foreign work experience

Core human capital comes to 253. Foreign work isn't a core factor, so it only counts through transferability. A master's with CLB 7 adds 25. Three years of foreign work with CLB 7 adds 25. The total is 303.

With a nomination, that rises to 903. It also clears 761.

Both candidates end up above the cut-off once nominated, despite very different base scores. For most people, the hard step is getting the nomination, not adding a few points.

Getting into the Express Entry pool first

A province can only nominate you through Express Entry if you have an active profile. To create one, you need to qualify for a federal program.

The Canadian Experience Class requires at least one year of skilled Canadian work in the three years before you apply. Skilled means NOC 2021 TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. You need CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, or CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs. No proof of funds is required.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires one year of continuous skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) in the last 10 years. You need CLB 7 in all four abilities and at least 67 points on the selection grid. Foreign education needs an Educational Credential Assessment. Proof of funds applies unless you're authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.

We haven't listed fund amounts here because they change. Check the current figure on canada.ca before you build your profile.

Who issues the nomination

IRCC runs the Express Entry round. The nomination itself comes from a province.

Each province runs its own nominee program. Alberta's is the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Saskatchewan's is the SINP. Ontario's is the OINP. Quebec selects its own skilled workers through the PSTQ, and Nunavut has no nominee program.

Each province sets its own streams, occupation priorities and scoring. We haven't verified current provincial thresholds or occupation lists, so we don't quote them. Read the eligibility page on the province's own government site before you apply.

When you match your work to a stream, use the NOC 2021 five-digit code. For example, software engineers and designers are 21231, and registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses are 31301. Older four-digit codes no longer apply.

A job offer won't raise your score

Arranged employment points were removed on 25 March 2025. A job offer now adds no CRS points.

If a guide tells you a job offer is worth 50 or 200 points, it's out of date. A job offer can still matter for some provincial streams and for the proof-of-funds exemption described above. It just doesn't move your CRS number.

If you got an ITA in draw #451

You have 60 days from the invitation to submit your permanent residence application. Your online account shows the exact deadline.

Use the first two weeks to collect anything that takes time to obtain. That usually means employer reference letters, police certificates and medical exam bookings. Check that your language results and education assessment match what you entered in your profile.

Your application should reflect the facts as they stood when you were invited. If something changed after you received the ITA, check the instructions on canada.ca before you submit.

We don't quote fees or processing times here. Both are set and updated by IRCC, so check the current figures on the official Express Entry page.

If you're in the pool without a nomination

Provincial rounds won't reach you until a province nominates you. In the meantime, two tracks are worth working on.

The first is your base score, which some provinces may consider when they pick candidates from the pool. Using the published values for a candidate without a spouse, moving from CLB 8 to CLB 9 in one ability adds 8 points. A second year of Canadian work raises that factor from 40 to 53. Second-language results add up to 24 points. French at NCLC 7 or higher, with English at CLB 5 or higher, adds 50.

The second track is other round types. Our records show IRCC ran three other rounds in the same week as draw #451:

• 27 October 2026, draw #452, French-language proficiency: 5,000 invitations, CRS 407
• 28 October 2026, draw #453, Transport Occupations: 150 invitations, CRS 477
• 15 October 2026, draw #449, Canadian Experience Class: 2,500 invitations, CRS 519

These cut-offs are far lower than in provincial rounds because they don't depend on the 600 nomination points. If you qualify for a category, it may be a faster route than waiting for a nomination.

If you're in Canada on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, watch its expiry date. A PGWP generally can't be extended or renewed. That makes the timing of your nomination or category invitation a real constraint.

What hasn't been published

These details aren't in the official data we hold:

• Which provinces nominated the 792 invited candidates, and through which streams
• Which occupations, if any, the nominations focused on
• The tie-breaking rule date and time for draw #451
• When the next provincial round will happen

IRCC hasn't said when the next provincial round will be. Recent ones in our records came roughly every two weeks, but that pattern isn't a commitment. Check the official rounds list for each new result.

Check where your score stands, with and without a nomination, using the free Ikovia CRS calculator.

---

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your situation.