4000 ITAs issued in third Express Entry draw of the week

author avatar
Asheesh Moosapeta
Updated: Apr, 29, 2026
  • Published: April 29, 2026

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

The immigration department issued 4,000 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 8:13  p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on April 7, 2026.

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2026

DateDraw TypeCRS cut-off scoreITAs issued
May 28French-Language proficiency4094,500
May 27Canadian Experience Class5183,000
May 25Provincial Nominee Program805334
May 11Provincial Nominee Program798380
April 29French-Language proficiency4004,000
April 28Canadian Experience Class5142,000
April 27Provincial Nominee Program795473
April 15French-Language proficiency4194,000
April 14Canadian Experience Class5152,000
April 13Provincial Nominee Program786324
April 2Trades4773,000
March 31Canadian Experience Class5092,250
March 30Provincial Nominee Program802356
March 18French-Language proficiency3934,000
March 17Canadian Experience Class5074,000
March 16Provincial Nominee Program742362
March 5Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience429250
March 4French-Language proficiency3975,500
March 3Canadian Experience Class5084,000
March 2Provincial Nominee Program710264
February 20Healthcare and social services4674,000
February 19Physicians with Canadian work experience169391
February 17Canadian Experience Class5086,000
February 16Provincial Nominee Program789279
February 6French-Language proficiency4008,500
February 3Provincial Nominee Program749423
January 21Canadian Experience Class5096,000
January 20Provincial Nominee Program746 681
January 7Canadian Experience Class5118,000
January 5Provincial Nominee Program711574

Today's draw is the fifth under the French-language proficiency category, and the twenty-sixth Express Entry selection of 2026 overall.

Despite seeing a relatively low frequency of draws in 2026, larger draw sizes have meant that candidates in the French-language category have seen the second-highest number of ITAs of any program or category under the Express Entry system—beaten in number only by the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

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

Draw TypeNumber of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program11
Canadian Experience Class9
French-Language proficiency6
Physicians with Canadian work experience1
Healthcare and social services 1
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience1
Trades1

In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 71,627 ITAs across the following draw types:

Draw typeITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class37,250
French-Language proficiency30,500
Provincial Nominee Program4,450
Healthcare and social services 4,000
Trades3,000
Physicians with Canadian work experience391
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience250

See how competitive your Express Entry profile is

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