Canada holds largest category-based draw in Express Entry history

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.

The immigration department issued 8,500 ITAs in a draw for candidates with French language proficiency.

To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have

• A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 400; and
• Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 11:11 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on February 3, 2026.

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2026

Draw date	Draw Type	CRS cut-off score	ITAs issued
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

Today's draw marks the sixth Express Entry selection of the year.

Express Entry draws in 2026 have seen Canada's immigration department focus exclusively on immigration candidates within the country, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.

Draw Type	Number of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program	4
Canadian Experience Class	3
French-Language proficiency	1
Physicians with Canadian work experience	1
Healthcare and social services	1

In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 24,178 ITAs across the following draw types:

Draw type	ITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class	20,000
French-Language proficiency	8,500
Healthcare and social services	4,000
Provincial Nominee Program	1,534
Physicians with Canadian work experience	391

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is