Canada has continued its active immigration selection process by conducting another Express Entry draw focused on French-speaking candidates. The latest invitation round reflects the country’s ongoing effort to attract bilingual talent while supporting workforce needs across provinces outside Quebec.
In this round, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited thousands of eligible candidates with strong French-language skills to apply for Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry system.
Read more Canada Invites 5,000 French-Speaking Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
Draw Summary
- Draw Date: July 9, 2026
- Category: French-Language Proficiency
- Invitations Issued: 5,000
- Minimum CRS Score: 420
- Profile Submission Deadline (Tie-break): May 15, 2026, at 8:04 a.m. UTC
Candidates need to meet both the required Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and the tie-breaking rule to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
French-Language Draws Continue to Play a Key Role
Canada has increasingly prioritized French-speaking immigration outside Quebec to help strengthen bilingual communities and address labour shortages in different regions of the country.
The July 9 selection became one of the largest French-language draws conducted this year. It also represents the biggest number of invitations issued under this category since early March, showing that French proficiency remains one of the strongest advantages for Express Entry candidates in 2026.
Applicants with competitive French test results continue to benefit from category-based selection, even if they do not have exceptionally high CRS scores compared to general Express Entry rounds.
Express Entry Activity Remains Strong Throughout 2026
IRCC has maintained an aggressive invitation schedule this year by conducting draws across multiple immigration categories. Rather than relying only on general invitations, the department has continued selecting candidates based on specific labour market priorities.
These invitation rounds have included:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Skilled trades
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
The strategy allows Canada to invite candidates who possess skills and experience that match the country’s economic and demographic needs.
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Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off | ITAs Issued |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| 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 |
Which Express Entry Categories Have Been Drawn Most Often?
By early July, IRCC had conducted 37 Express Entry draws across seven different categories.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 13 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 11 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 7 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
Provincial nominees and candidates with Canadian work experience continue to receive the highest number of invitation rounds, while category-based draws have expanded opportunities for applicants with specialized qualifications.
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More Than 96,000 Invitations Issued This Year
Canada has already invited 96,601 Express Entry candidates to apply for permanent residence in 2026, highlighting the government’s continued commitment to economic immigration.
The distribution of invitations shows a strong focus on candidates who are already integrated into Canada’s labour market or possess in-demand skills.
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 43,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 35,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5,939 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
The latest draw reinforces the importance of category-based selection within Canada’s immigration system. Candidates who possess strong French-language abilities continue to enjoy significant advantages, even when CRS requirements fluctuate between draws.
At the same time, individuals with Canadian work experience, provincial nominations, or expertise in priority occupations remain well-positioned for future invitation rounds.
As IRCC continues holding regular Express Entry draws throughout 2026, maintaining an updated profile, improving language scores, and exploring provincial nomination opportunities can significantly increase an applicant’s chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.
