Canada has continued its active Express Entry invitation rounds with another major category-based draw aimed at French-speaking immigration candidates. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence under the French-language proficiency category, reinforcing the country’s long-term strategy to expand Francophone communities outside Quebec.
The latest selection round took place on August 6, 2026, and featured one of the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) requirements seen for this category in recent months, creating another strong opportunity for bilingual candidates hoping to immigrate to Canada.
Also Read Canada Invites 5,000 French-Speaking Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
August 6 Express Entry Draw Results
Candidates invited under this category-based selection needed to satisfy the following requirements:
| Selection Criteria | Requirement |
| Draw Category | French-Language Proficiency |
| Invitations Issued | 5,000 |
| Minimum CRS Score | 391 |
| Express Entry Profile Submitted Before | March 18, 2026 at 11:32 p.m. UTC |
Applicants meeting these conditions will now have the opportunity to submit their complete permanent residence application to IRCC.
Lowest CRS Score for French Draws in More Than a Year
The August 6 invitation round recorded a CRS cut-off of 391, making it the lowest score required in a French-language Express Entry draw since March 2025.
The declining CRS requirement demonstrates IRCC’s ongoing commitment to attracting more French-speaking skilled workers to provinces and territories outside Quebec. By holding regular category-based selections, Canada continues to support its national objective of increasing Francophone immigration across the country while helping employers address labour shortages.
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Three Consecutive Express Entry Draws Held This Week
The French-language draw follows two other Express Entry rounds conducted earlier in the same week, highlighting IRCC’s consistent invitation schedule.
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off | ITAs Issued |
| August 6 | French-Language Proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language Proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| 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 |
Express Entry Reaches 45 Draws in 2026
Following the latest invitation round, Canada has now conducted 45 Express Entry draws since the beginning of 2026.
Throughout the year, IRCC has maintained a balanced approach by alternating between Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), French-language, occupation-specific, and specialized category draws. However, a significant share of invitations has continued to go to candidates already living and working in Canada through CEC and provincial nominations.
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Distribution of Express Entry Draws in 2026
The following table shows how frequently each draw category has been used this year.
| Draw Category | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 15 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 13 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 9 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
More Than 113,000 Invitations Issued This Year
Canada has now issued 113,123 Invitations to Apply through Express Entry during 2026, making it another highly active year for economic immigration.
Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the largest share of invitations, while French-language applicants remain the second-largest group benefiting from category-based selections.
| Express Entry Category | ITAs Issued in 2026 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 48,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 45,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6,957 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 662 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
Why French-Speaking Candidates Continue to Benefit
French-language proficiency remains one of Canada’s priority immigration categories. Regular category-based draws provide bilingual applicants with an additional pathway to permanent residence, even if their CRS score is below the level typically required in general or Canadian Experience Class draws.
Candidates who demonstrate strong French language ability can improve their competitiveness through additional CRS points while also becoming eligible for dedicated French-language invitation rounds.
What Applicants Should Do Next
Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply in the August 6 draw should begin preparing their permanent residence application immediately. Supporting documents such as language test results, educational credential assessments, work experience records, police certificates, and medical examinations should be gathered as early as possible to ensure the application is submitted within IRCC’s deadline.
With IRCC continuing to conduct frequent Express Entry draws across multiple categories, skilled workers who have not yet received an invitation should keep their Express Entry profiles updated and monitor upcoming rounds for additional opportunities.
