Canada holds a new French-language Express Entry draw, i.e., Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, inviting candidates with strong French-language skills to apply for permanent residence.
In the latest selection round, the department issued 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the French-language proficiency category.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 409; and
- An Express Entry profile created before 10:20 p.m. UTC on April 29, 2026.
This latest round reflects Canada’s continued focus on attracting French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec to support labour market needs and strengthen francophone communities across the country.
Summary Of Express Entry Draws In 2026
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off Score | ITAs Issued |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| 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 | 786 | 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 |
Today’s draw was the 30th Express Entry draw held in 2026 and the fourth selection round conducted in May.
The CRS requirement in this draw increased slightly compared to the previous French-language draw held on April 29, where the minimum score was 400.
Canada Continues To Focus On In-Canada Candidates
So far in 2026, Express Entry draws have mainly focused on candidates already connected to Canada through work experience or provincial nominations.
The immigration department has continued issuing invitations through category-based draws and targeted streams that match labour shortages and economic priorities.
| Draw Type | Number Of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 11 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 9 |
| French-Language proficiency | 6 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
French-language draws remain one of the most active categories this year, showing the government’s strong interest in attracting bilingual and French-speaking newcomers.
Total ITAs Issued In 2026
As of now, IRCC has issued 79,841 ITAs through Express Entry in 2026.
The majority of invitations have gone to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class and French-language proficiency categories.
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 37,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 30,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4,450 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
The latest draw continues Canada’s trend of targeting candidates who can contribute to the country’s workforce and long-term economic growth.
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