Canada Immigration News Update: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently conducted a draw through the Express Entry system, inviting 5,500 candidates with French-language proficiency to apply.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 397 and had to create an Express Entry profile before October 10, 2025, at 6:18 p.m. UTC.
Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Draw date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Today’s draw marks the second French category-based draw and the thirteenth Express Entry selection in 2026. It also has the lowest CRS score for this category in over a year, with only one previous draw having a lower cut-off score.
In 2026, IRCC has focused on candidates within Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience, in the Express Entry draws.
Number of Draws by Category in 2026
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- Canadian Experience Class: 4
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- French-Language proficiency: 2
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- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 1
-
- Healthcare and social services: 1
Despite having only two draws this year, candidates in the French language-proficiency category have received 14,000 invitations, the second highest across all programs and categories in 2026.
So far in 2026, IRCC has issued a total of 39,112 ITAs across different draw types:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 24,000 |
| French-Language proficiency | 14,000 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1,798 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
Stay updated on your competitive Express Entry profile.
