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More Than 5,000 Express Entry Candidates Invited at Lowest CRS Cut-Off in a Year
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has conducted another draw under the Express Entry system, inviting 5,500 candidates with French-language proficiency to apply for permanent residence.
The draw took place on March 4, 2026, with candidates required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 397. Applicants also needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 6:18 p.m. (UTC) on October 10, 2025.
Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | 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 |
This latest round marks the second French-language category-based draw of 2026 and the 13th Express Entry draw held this year. The CRS cut-off score of 397 is the lowest recorded for this category in more than a year. Among Express Entry draws conducted in the past 12 months, only the recent draw targeting physicians with Canadian work experience recorded a lower CRS threshold.
Express Entry Draw Trends in 2026
So far in 2026, IRCC has mainly focused on inviting candidates who are already residing in Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience.
Express Entry Draws in 2026 (So Far)
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 4 |
| French-language Proficiency | 2 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 1 |
Although only two draws have targeted French-speaking candidates this year, 14,000 invitations have already been issued to this group, making it the second-largest category of invitations in 2026 so far.
ITAs Issued in 2026 by Category
| 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 |
Overall, 39,112 Invitations to Apply have been issued through Express Entry in 2026 across several targeted and program-specific draws.
Canada continues to rely on category-based selections to attract candidates with skills and language abilities that align with the country’s economic priorities and labour market needs.