From August to November 2025, Canadian Experience Class (CEC) cut-off scores remained stagnant around 533–534. However, as of January 1, 2026, these scores have significantly decreased to as low as 509.

The recent drop in cut-off scores has opened doors for thousands of CEC candidates who were previously ineligible for Canadian permanent residence due to lower language scores, lack of foreign work experience, and lower education levels.

If the cut-off scores for CEC draws continue to decline or stay at this level, more candidates could become eligible to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) despite scoring lower in specific areas under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

This article will showcase hypothetical profiles that now have the potential to qualify for a CEC ITA, thanks to the decreasing cut-off scores, even with lower qualifications in certain score factors.

For reference, here are the cut-off scores and number of ITAs issued for the five most recent CEC draws following the deviation from the 533–534 trend:

Date of draw	Cut-off score	ITAs issued
January 21, 2026	509	6,000
January 7, 2026	511	8,000
December 16, 2025	515	5,000
December 10, 2025	520	6,000
November 26, 2025	531	1,000

Example one: Candidates with lower language scores

A candidate named Micheal, a 27-year-old male from Czechia, possesses three years of foreign work experience as a web developer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in web design and development, with four years of Canadian work experience.

Having a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 for English and no knowledge of French, Micheal exemplifies how lower language scores may no longer be a barrier for CEC eligibility.