Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, continuing the recent trend of issuing fewer invitations to French-speaking candidates.
In the latest round, IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the French-language proficiency category.
Draw requirements
To qualify for this draw, candidates were required to:
- Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 419 and
- Have created their Express Entry profile before 7:14 a.m. UTC on November 14, 2025
Latest Draw Details
- Draw Date: April 15, 2026
- Draw Type: French Language Proficiency
- Number of Invitations: 4,000
- Minimum CRS Score Required: 419
Express Entry Draws List 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| 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 |
This marks the second consecutive French-language draw with a relatively lower number of invitations, compared to earlier rounds in 2026.
Key trends in 2026
So far this year, IRCC has conducted 23 Express Entry draws, including:
- 8 Provincial Nominee Program draws
- 7 Canadian Experience Class draws
- 4 French-language proficiency draws
- 4 category-based or specialized draws
The data indicates that Canada is prioritizing candidates with Canadian work experience and provincial nominations, while category-based draws such as French-language proficiency continue but with fluctuating invitation numbers.
Total ITAs issued in 2026
IRCC has issued 65,154 ITAs so far this year across different categories:
| Draw Type | Total Number of Invitations |
| Canadian Experience Class | 32,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 22,000 |
| Healthcare & social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 3,263 |
| Physicians with Canadian experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian experience | 250 |
What this means for applicants
While French-speaking candidates continue to benefit from targeted draws, the number of invitations has declined compared to earlier in the year, signaling increased competition. Candidates are encouraged to improve CRS scores and maintain updated profiles to stay competitive in upcoming rounds.
