In a significant move underscoring Canada’s ongoing commitment to promoting Francophone immigration, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its 394th Express Entry draw on February 6, 2026, issuing 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the French-language proficiency category.
According to Maple News, this was one of the largest category-based draws to date, and featured a remarkably low Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 400. The draw specifically targeted candidates with strong French language skills as part of IRCC’s strategy to strengthen Francophone communities outside of Quebec.
The latest draw follows the 2026 version of the French-language proficiency category, reflecting IRCC’s focused approach in meeting Canada’s labor and demographic goals by supporting linguistic diversity—a key priority in the current immigration policy landscape.
The tie-breaking rule for this round was set on February 3, 2026, at 11:11:44 UTC. In instances where multiple candidates share the minimum CRS score, only those who submitted their profiles before this timestamp received invitations. Successful candidates now have 60 days to submit their complete permanent residence applications, which IRCC aims to process within the standard six-month timeframe.
This draw continues the trend of high-volume, category-based selections seen in early 2026, with IRCC increasingly leveraging targeted invitations to fill key gaps in the Canadian workforce. These focused draws also pave the way for smoother settlement outcomes and improved integration, as immigration is aligned more closely with community needs and labor market demands.
The low CRS threshold in this draw reflects the reduced competition within category-based selections, signaling an opportunity for French-speaking candidates who may fall below broader, all-program cut-offs. Canada’s immigration targets for 2026 remain ambitious, and the frequency and scale of these draws suggest a proactive effort to meet them through strategic category prioritization.
As IRCC continues to emphasize language-specific and occupation-specific draws, candidates with niche eligibility—such as French-language proficiency—are increasingly advantaged. For aspiring immigrants, this also highlights the value of optimizing Express Entry profiles to align with evolving immigration priorities.
IRCC is expected to hold more large draws across various categories throughout the year as it works toward fulfilling goals outlined in the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. French-speaking newcomers are particularly encouraged to apply, especially given the government’s ongoing efforts to increase Francophone representation across Canada’s provinces and territories.