Canada Conducts Major Express Entry Draw in 2026

In one of the largest Express Entry draws of 2026, Canada issued 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to French-speaking candidates. This special selection called Express Entry Draw #394 represents the federal government's ongoing effort to increase immigration of Francophones outside Quebec and to meet the demands of the labour market nationwide.

The competition was narrowed down to candidates who were well-versed in French. The immigration authorities prioritise bilingual and French-speaking applicants to strengthen Francophone communities in provinces and territories outside Quebec.

CRS Cut Off and Eligibility Details

The lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)score to get an invitation in this round was 400. This is a moderate score considering that many general Express Entry draws have much higher cut-offs.

A tie breaker was also used. Applicants were required to have completed their Express Entry profiles before 11:11 a.m. UTC on February 3, 2026, if they met the minimum score. This was to promote fairness among the applicants with the same CRS scores.

This draw was particularly significant to skilled workers who are not compared highly in general rounds but have good skills in the French language, since the relatively low-cost CRS threshold is rather open.

What Is Express Entry?

The Express Entry is the Canadian online immigration management system that is used to process applications within three key federal economic programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program

• Federal Skilled Trades Program

• Canadian Experience Class

Candidates build their profiles online and are ranked using the CRS, which allocates points based on age and work experience. The top-scoring candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws.

But over the recent years, Canada has come up with category-based draws. They enable immigration authorities to invite candidates based on specific skills or traits rather than relying solely on general CRS scores.

Why French Speakers Are Being Prioritised

The Canadian government has established specific goals of ensuring that there is an increase in the number of French-speaking immigrants who settle in other parts of the country, other than Quebec. The reinforcement of the Francophone communities in the other provinces promotes the cultural diversity, economic growth and bilingual services in the country.

The French language category helps Canada achieve these objectives by directly identifying applicants with excellent knowledge of French. This narrow focus will make immigration advantageous in economic and language terms.

Specialised selections are already present in the Express Entry rounds in 2026. In the Spanish-language round of applicants to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), authorities have also considered workers with Canadian work experience.

A Significant Invitation Round

Drawing #394 became the largest selection of French-language categories with 8,500 ITA issued. This round is large compared to other recent draws that only invited a small number of candidates.

The low CRS cut-off and the substantial number of invitations are evidence of the serious intentions of Canada towards attracting professionals speaking French. This was a unique chance for many applicants to obtain an ITA, even if their total CRS score was not competitive in the general draws.

The category-based selections aim at targeting particular policy objectives. In this case, increasing the population of Francophone immigrants outside Quebec is a priority.

What Happens After Receiving an ITA?

The Invitation to Apply usually gives candidates 60 days to complete their application for permanent residence. This involves submitting supporting evidence such as work experience, language tests, educational tests, and other necessary documents.

In case the application is accepted, the person becomes a permanent resident of Canada. Permanent residents can live and work across the country and eventually apply for Canadian citizenship once they meet the requirements.

What This Means for Applicants

For highly skilled people with a strong command of French,h this could be a negative aspect that underscores the need to keep up-to-date Express Entry profile and valid language test scores. Even those candidates who scored moderately on CRS can be invited, provided that he/she is eligible under one of the priority categories.

The 2026 Express Entry strategy demonstrates that Canada is adopting a more specific immigration policy. Instead of recruiting candidates based on the profile's seniority, the authorities are choosing candidates based on specific economic and demographic needs.

Greater amounts of category-based draws can be held as the year advances. The French-speaking professionals, particularly those wishing to settle in Canada but not in Quebec, could still enjoy favourable prospects under the dynamic immigration system in Canada.

For further information on the latest PR updates of Canada, contact Aptech Visa today!

Call our well-versed team of the best immigration experts at 750 383 2132 / 91310 59075, or you can also write us at info@aptechvisa.com.

Visit Our Clients Testimonials !

Also Read - Top high-paying jobs to improve your PR chances in Canada in 2026