Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has carried out its largest category-based Express Entry draw to date, issuing 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French language proficiency. This significant draw, held on February 6, 2026, marks a historic milestone for the Express Entry system’s targeted draws.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 400 and had to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 11:11 a.m. UTC on February 3, 2026. The relatively modest CRS cut-off combined with a high volume of invitations highlights Canada’s continued commitment to welcoming French-speaking immigrants, in line with its aim to promote bilingualism and support Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
The February 6 draw represents the sixth Express Entry selection so far in 2026. The early months of the year have seen IRCC focus primarily on in-Canada candidates, particularly those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience—categories that align with both labour market needs and Canada’s immigration priorities.
A breakdown of 2026 Express Entry activity reveals two draws each for the Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), along with this latest French-language specific round. In total, IRCC has issued 27,978 ITAs across all draw types since January. Of these, 14,000 have gone to Canadian Experience Class candidates, and 1,255 to those under the PNP category.
Notably, the 8,500 ITAs issued in the February 6 draw significantly outpace previous category-based draws, underlining IRCC’s efforts to attract Francophone talent. Experts suggest this push not only supports language diversity but also helps ensure economic resilience across the country by filling skill gaps in underserved regions.
While category-based selections were introduced in 2023 as part of Canada’s new targeted Express Entry strategy, this year’s activity indicates the government’s increasing confidence in using them as tools to meet demographic and economic needs. French-speaking candidates interested in permanent residency are strongly positioned, especially with lower CRS thresholds and high selection volumes.
According to Maple News, IRCC’s strategy aims to strike a balance between immigration targets, employer demands, and long-term settlement success. Future draws in 2026 are expected to continue this trend of targeted invitations aligning with Canada’s evolving immigration goals.