On April 2, 2026, IRCC ran round #408 of Express Entry, a round in the skilled trades category. It issued 3,000 invitations to apply (ITAs), and the lowest-ranked candidate invited held a CRS score of 477.
The numbers
| Date | April 2, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Round number | #408 |
| Round type | Skilled trades |
| IRCC label | Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3 |
| Invitations to apply (ITAs) | 3,000 |
| CRS cut-off | 477 |
| Change vs. previous round of the same type | −28 points |
| Days since the previous round of the same type | 196 days |
How it compares
Against round #368 (September 18, 2025) and its cut-off of 505, the minimum score dropped by 28 points. The gap between the two was 196 days. It was a larger round by 1,750 invitations — the previous one issued 1,250.
Across the last 10 rounds of any kind, the cut-offs sat between 393 and 802.
What it means for your profile
Getting an invitation in this round took a CRS score of 477 or above, in the pool and inside the skilled trades category on April 2, 2026. Scoring under the cut-off changes nothing about a profile — it remains in the pool for twelve months and enters every round it is eligible for. We do not use these numbers to predict the next round. What a round closes at depends on the pool on that date and on the instructions in force, so this figure describes what happened and nothing more.
- Immigration evaluation — we work out your CRS score, check which programs and categories you are eligible for, and tell you what is missing. If your profile does not qualify, we say so before you pay.
- All Express Entry draws — the live history with charts and filters, updated as each new round is published.
What this round selects
A category-based round selects from a slice of the pool. A profile has to qualify for a federal program and meet the extra requirements IRCC sets for that category to be eligible for it. This category covers skilled trades occupations.
Source: the rounds of invitations IRCC publishes, read automatically through our data service. GerCanada is a private consultancy and is not part of the Government of Canada.