New Express Entry Draw On February 6 Sent 8,500 PR Invitations

Canada Immigration Update on February 6, 2026

Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy for 2026 focuses on strengthening Francophone communities nationwide. The government aims to increase French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec, with targets set at 9% in 2026, 9.5% in 2027, and 10.5% in 2028, ultimately reaching 12% by 2029.

In January 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced that Canada had surpassed its 2025 Francophone immigration target for the fourth consecutive year. Measures such as the French-language proficiency category in Express Entry have contributed to this success.

Starting in 2026, the government will reserve 5,000 federal selection spaces for provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants, in addition to regular Provincial Nominee Program allocations.

Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply through the February 6, 2026, Express Entry draw must submit a complete application within 60 days. The application must include valid French language test results, identity documents, educational credentials, work experience documentation, police clearance certificates, and immigration medical examination results.

It is essential to ensure that French language test results remain valid throughout the application process. Applications are typically processed within six months of submission, with processing times varying based on volumes and complexity.

The February 6, 2026, Express Entry draw issued 8,500 Invitations to Apply at a CRS cut-off of 400 points, offering opportunities for French-speaking skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada. Candidates with French language proficiency have multiple pathways to secure permanent residence.

French-speaking candidates can prepare for success by achieving strong language test results and maintaining an active Express Entry profile. Settlement in a specific Francophone community is not required, as permanent residents have the freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada.

NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is used to measure French proficiency, while CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) measures English proficiency. Candidates must achieve NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities to qualify for French-language draws.

Multiple language tests cannot be combined, but candidates can retake tests for higher scores. Competitive French-language profiles typically receive invitations within 1-3 months of entering the Express Entry pool. Strong candidates with NCLC 7+ in French and CRS scores above the typical cut-off range have good chances of selection. Receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) with a CRS score of 429 in the current Express Entry draws for healthcare professionals is unlikely, as recent minimum scores have been higher, with the latest draw requiring a minimum CRS score of 475. However, candidates can improve their chances by retaking language tests, gaining more work experience, or exploring Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that may accept lower scores. The CRS score for healthcare candidates can vary based on the specific Express Entry draw and the competitiveness of the candidate pool, with recent minimum scores often exceeding 430 and hovering around 475. To enhance their CRS score, candidates should focus on improving their education, gaining relevant work experience, achieving higher language proficiency scores, and obtaining a valid job offer or provincial nomination. The tie-breaking rule in Express Entry draws is used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to prioritize candidates with the same CRS score based on their submission times. ITAs for the Express Entry program in Canada are typically issued every two weeks, with details of the draws, including the number of invitations and CRS scores, published by IRCC. In the latest Express Entry draw on February 6, 2026, Canada issued 8,500 ITAs specifically for candidates with French language proficiency, with the lowest CRS score among those invited being 400. This draw highlights the government’s focus on attracting French-speaking immigrants. More information about Express Entry rounds can be found on the official website.