In a continued push to attract skilled talent, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with strong French-language proficiency.
This latest round marks the third Express Entry draw of the week, highlighting Canada’s active immigration strategy and ongoing demand for bilingual professionals. Profile Submission Deadline: April 7, 2026, at 8:13 p.m. (UTC)
Latest Draw Details
- Draw Date: April 29, 2026
- Draw Type: French Language Proficiency
- Number of Invitations: 4,000
- Minimum CRS Score Required: 400
Express Entry Draws List 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| April 29 | French Language Proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French Language Proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| 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 |
Candidates needed to meet the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 400 and have submitted their Express Entry profile before the specified deadline to qualify.
Strong Focus on French-Speaking Candidates
This is the fifth French-language draw of 2026, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to increasing Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Despite fewer overall draws this year, larger invitation rounds have significantly boosted the number of candidates selected under this category.
So far, French-language candidates have received the second-highest number of ITAs in 2026, surpassed only by those in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Express Entry Trends in 2026
Canada’s immigration strategy this year has largely focused on candidates already in the country, especially those with:
- Canadian work experience (CEC)
- Provincial nominations (PNP)
At the same time, targeted category-based draws like French-language proficiency, healthcare, and trades continue to play a key role in addressing specific labor shortages.
Number of Draws by Category (2026)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 9 draws
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 8 draws
- French-language proficiency: 5 draws
- Other categories (Healthcare, Trades, Physicians, Senior Managers): Limited draws
Total ITAs Issued in 2026 (So Far)
A total of 71,627 ITAs have been issued across all categories this year:
| Draw Type | Total Number of Invitations |
| Canadian Experience Class | 34,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 26,000 |
| Healthcare & social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 3,736 |
| Physicians with Canadian experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian experience | 250 |
What This Means for Applicants
The latest draw reinforces Canada’s dual approach prioritizing candidates already contributing to the economy while also targeting specific skill sets and language abilities.
For applicants, especially French-speaking candidates, this trend presents a strong opportunity to secure permanent residency through Express Entry in 2026.
