On March 18, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through the Express Entry system to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in this round was 393, dropping below the 400-point threshold and marking a notable development in recent French-language category-based draws. This selection was not only the 17th Express Entry draw of 2026, but also the third consecutive day of invitations this week, and the third draw this year targeting candidates with French-language ability. Although only three French-language draws have been held in 2026 so far, the category has already received 18,000 ITAs, ranking second among all draw types after the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) officially opened its Employer-Driven and Francophone Streams on March 9, 2026. The Employer-Driven Stream has transitioned to an Expression of Interest (EOI) selection model, with its inaugural draw scheduled for March 25, when up to 65 eligible candidates will be invited to submit full applications. The Francophone Stream will continue accepting direct applications on a first-come, first-served basis. For the 2026 cycle, the federal government has allocated 197 nomination spaces to the Northwest Territories.

On March 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the 13th Express Entry draw of the year, issuing 5,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was set at 397, marking the lowest threshold for this category in more than a year. This was also only the second French-language category-based draw of 2026. Year-to-date, French-language category candidates have received a cumulative total of 14,000 invitations, ranking second among all programs and categories. Meanwhile, the overall trend in Express Entry draws throughout 2026 suggests that IRCC is prioritizing immigration candidates already residing in Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its latest Express Entry draw on February 6, 2026, specifically targeting candidates with strong French language proficiency. The department issued a total of 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), marking the largest category-based selection in the history of the Express Entry system. With a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 400, this draw—the sixth of the year—underscores a clear trend in 2026: the immigration department is heavily prioritizing applicants already within Canada, particularly those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience, alongside a significant push for Francophone talent.

On January 19, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially announced the reallocation of 5,000 permanent residence (PR) admissions spaces from the federal inventory to provinces and territories. This strategic move is designed to increase the intake of French-speaking newcomers through provincial pathways, expanding the focus beyond the federal Express Entry system. Concurrently, officials confirmed that Canada has exceeded its Francophone immigration target for the fourth consecutive year, achieving an admission rate of 8.9% outside of Quebec in 2025.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a new Express Entry draw on December 17, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score dropped to 399, marking one of the lowest thresholds seen this year. This was the second French-language draw in the past three weeks, further reinforcing the category’s leading role in overall Express Entry invitations in 2025.

On November 28, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another round of Express Entry invitations, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the French-language proficiency category. This round’s minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off was 408 — the second-lowest score recorded in 2025. It marks the eighth French-language draw of the year and the third-largest overall. With this round completed, French-speaking candidates have now received 42,000 ITAs in 2025, continuing to lead all categories. Year-to-date, IRCC has issued a total of 94,476 ITAs through the Express Entry system.

In mid-November 2025, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) issued a total of 1,125 provincial nominee invitations across two rounds, targeting candidates in the Healthcare Priority sector under Express Entry as well as the Alberta Opportunity Stream. The November 14 draw invited 80 healthcare candidates with a minimum score of 52, while the November 10 draw issued 1,045 invitations under the Opportunity Stream—a notably large round this year. With Alberta receiving over 1,500 additional nominations in September, bringing its 2025 total to 6,403, the province continues to strengthen efforts to retain local workers and attract healthcare professionals.

The Government of Alberta has officially announced significant updates to the Rural Renewal Stream (RRS) under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), marking one of the most substantial overhauls since the program's inception. Scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, these changes are a response to a surge in community endorsements that have far exceeded the province’s federal nomination allocations. To realign the program with provincial economic priorities and manage labor market pressures, Alberta will implement four core changes: establishing annual endorsement allocation limits for designated communities, setting a one-year validity period for candidate endorsement letters, introducing a TEER-based occupation assessment model, and enforcing a mandatory requirement for all in-Canada applicants to hold a valid work permit at both the time of application and assessment.

On November 12, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 330 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), marking the largest draw since July. With 220 invitations going to NLPNP candidates, the province continues to rely heavily on its provincial nomination channels. As the province reaches its 13th draw of the year and prepares for expanded federal PNP admission targets in 2026, nomination allocations may increase further.