Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to run targeted category draws under the Express Entry system. On April 15, 2026, the department issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with strong French-language proficiency.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 419
- An Express Entry profile created before 7:14 a.m. UTC on November 14, 2025
This marks the second consecutive French-language proficiency draw with a reduced number of invitations and a higher CRS cutoff compared to earlier rounds in 2026. While IRCC is still prioritizing French speakers to help meet bilingualism targets outside Quebec, the volume of ITAs has noticeably declined in recent weeks.
2026 Express Entry Draws – Summary So Far
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off | ITAs Issued |
| Apr-15 | French-Language Proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| Apr-14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| Apr-13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| Apr-02 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| Mar-31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| Mar-30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| Mar-18 | French-Language Proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| Mar-17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| Mar-16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| Mar-05 | Senior Managers (Canadian Work Exp.) | 429 | 250 |
| Mar-04 | French-Language Proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| Mar-03 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| Mar-02 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| Feb-20 | Healthcare & Social Services | 467 | 4,000 |
| Feb-19 | Physicians (Canadian Work Exp.) | 169 | 391 |
| Feb-17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| Feb-16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| Feb-06 | French-Language Proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| Feb-03 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| Jan-21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| Jan-20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| Jan-07 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| Jan-05 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
This was the fourth French-category draw and the 23rd Express Entry draw of 2026.
Year-to-Date Trends and Totals
IRCC has issued a total of 65,154 ITAs across all Express Entry draws in 2026 so far. The department has clearly focused on candidates already living and working in Canada.
Breakdown by draw type:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 7 | 32,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 4 | 22,000 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 | 4,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 8 | 3,263 |
| Trades | 1 | 3,000 |
| Physicians (Canadian Work Exp.) | 1 | 391 |
| Senior Managers (Canadian Work Exp.) | 1 | 250 |
Total ITAs in 2026: 65,154
What This Means for Candidates
French-speaking applicants still benefit from significantly lower CRS cutoffs than general or CEC-only draws, making this one of the most accessible pathways to permanent residence. However, the recent back-to-back draws at 4,000 ITAs (and the jump to 419 in the latest round) show that competition within the French-proficient pool is tightening.
If you’re in the Express Entry pool with strong French skills (NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities), keep your profile up to date. Improving your CRS score through additional language tests, Canadian work experience, or education can still make a big difference.
Stay tuned — IRCC typically announces new draws every few days. We’ll continue tracking every round and what it means for your chances.
