Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, issuing a fresh round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates.
In the latest draw, a total of 4,000 ITAs were issued to candidates with French-language proficiency, continuing Canada’s focus on attracting bilingual talent.
To qualify for this round, candidates were required to meet the following criteria:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 393
- An active Express Entry profile submitted before December 29, 2025, at 12:47 p.m. (UTC)
Latest Draw Details
- Draw Date: March 18, 2026
- Draw Type: French Language Proficiency
- Number of Invitations: 4,000
- Minimum CRS Score Required: 393
Express Entry Draws List 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| March 18 | French Language Proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| 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 |
This marks the 17th Express Entry draw of 2026 and the third draw specifically targeting French-speaking candidates.
Interestingly, despite being only the third French-language draw this year, this category has already received 18,000 ITAs, making it the second-highest in total invitations just behind the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Focus on In-Canada Candidates
So far in 2026, IRCC has largely prioritized candidates already in Canada, especially those with:
- Provincial nominations
- Canadian work experience
Total Invitations Per Category in 2026
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 6 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 5 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 3 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
This continued focus highlights Canada’s strategy to address labor shortages while strengthening its French-speaking population outside Quebec.
