Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system in a French-language draw. The invitees needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 399 and must have created an Express Entry profile before 9:21 p.m. UTC on November 19, 2025.
This round continues IRCC’s pattern in 2026 of targeting French-language candidates, and it marks the lowest CRS cutoff for a French-language Express Entry draw since March 2026.
IRCC has now conducted 41 Express Entry draws this year. Across draw types, IRCC has issued a total of 104,612 ITAs in 2026, with the following breakdown reflected in the year-to-date figures: Canadian Experience Class 48,250; French-Language proficiency 45,500; Provincial Nominee Program 6,957; Healthcare and social services 8,000; Trades 3,000; Transport 300; Physicians with Canadian work experience 662; Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 750; and Skilled Military Recruits 4.
Observers note that the 2026 pattern remains anchored in rewarding Canadian work experience and provincial nominations, with French-language draws playing a strategic role in aligning Canada’s immigration intake with labor-market needs and demographic goals.
Looking ahead, February to December 2026 has shown a cadence of targeted draws designed to attract bilingual skilled workers and fill regional labor gaps, suggesting that the emphasis on Canadian work experience and provincial nominations will endure for the balance of the year.