Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 5,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry draw targeting candidates with French-language proficiency.
This draw is particularly notable because it recorded the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score in more than a year for this category.
Express Entry Draw- March 4, 2026
To qualify for this round of invitations, candidates needed to:
Have a minimum CRS score of 397
Create their Express Entry profile before 6:18 p.m. (UTC) on October 10, 2025
The CRS score of 397 is significantly lower than most recent draws, making this round especially beneficial for French-speaking applicants hoping to immigrate to Canada.
Key Highlights from the Latest Draw
The March 4 draw is:
The second French-language category-based draw of 2026
The 13th Express Entry draw conducted this year
The lowest CRS score for the French category in over a year
Among all Express Entry draws in the past year, only the recent draw for physicians with Canadian work experience, which had a CRS cut-off of 169, recorded a lower score.
Canada’s Immigration Focus in 2026
So far in 2026, IRCC has largely prioritized candidates already in Canada, particularly those with:
Provincial nominations
Canadian work experience
Number of Draws by Category in 2026
| 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 |
Invitations Issued in 2026 So Far
Despite only two draws this year, candidates in the French-language proficiency category have already received 14,000 invitations, making it the second most targeted category in 2026.
Total ITAs Issued 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 |
In total, 39,112 Invitations to Apply have been issued through Express Entry so far in 2026.