On March 18, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the latest Express Entry draw targeting candidates under the French-language proficiency category. To be eligible for this round, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 393 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 12:47 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on December 29, 2025.
This was the third consecutive day of Express Entry invitations issued by the federal government this week, as well as the 17th Express Entry draw of 2026 and the third draw this year specifically targeting candidates with French-language proficiency. The cut-off dropping to 393 suggests that the French-language category continues to offer relatively lower score thresholds within the current Express Entry system.
Key details of the draw
According to information released by IRCC, the main details of this French-language draw are as follows:
- Draw date: March 18, 2026
- Draw category: French-language proficiency
- Number of invitations issued: 4,000
- Minimum CRS score: 393
- Tie-breaking rule: Profiles created before 12:47 p.m. UTC on December 29, 2025
Third draw in three days, with French-language candidates remaining a key focus
Notably, this round was the third Express Entry draw held on three consecutive days this week, reflecting IRCC’s continued high-frequency selection pace. Although only three French-language draws have taken place so far in 2026, the category has already received 18,000 ITAs, making it the second-largest category by total invitations issued this year, behind only the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
These figures indicate that candidates with French-language proficiency remain one of the key target groups in Canada’s current federal economic immigration selection system. In the broader context of category-based selection becoming increasingly important, French-language ability has become a major factor that can significantly improve a candidate’s chances of receiving an invitation.
Number of Express Entry draws by category in 2026
So far, the number of Express Entry draws held by IRCC in 2026 is distributed as follows:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 |
| French-language proficiency | 3 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian work experience | 1 |
By frequency, the Provincial Nominee Program and Canadian Experience Class remain the two most commonly used draw types in 2026, with French-language proficiency ranking third.
Total ITAs issued by category in 2026
As of now, IRCC has issued a total of 53,224 ITAs through Express Entry across different draw types in 2026. The breakdown is as follows:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 28,000 |
| French-language proficiency | 18,000 |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 2,583 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian work experience | 250 |
The data shows that the Canadian Experience Class remains the largest category by invitation volume this year. However, the French-language category is not far behind, highlighting its continued importance in 2026.
Overall trend in 2026: Greater focus on in-Canada candidates
Taken together, Express Entry draws in 2026 show that IRCC has been placing a stronger emphasis on candidates already in Canada, especially the following two groups:
- Candidates who have received a provincial nomination;
- Candidates with Canadian work experience.
At the same time, the continued large-scale invitations under the French-language category show that applicants with strong French ability are still benefiting from policy support at the federal level. For candidates hoping to obtain permanent residence through Express Entry, having strong French-language proficiency, or improving French test results enough to qualify under this category, may significantly strengthen their chances of being invited.
Overall, the minimum score in this French-language draw falling below 400 sends a positive signal to some lower-scoring candidates who have a French-language advantage. It also once again reflects how Canada’s current immigration selection system is using targeted invitations to support its labour market and language policy objectives.
For more details on Express Entry draws, visit: https://unaimmi.com/ee
