IRCC issues 8,500 ITAs in First Cateogory-Based Draw of 2026

Key Takeaways 

Type of draw: French Language Proficiency 

Invitations issued: 8,500 

Minimum CRS score: 400 

Tie-breaking rule:  February 03, 2026 at 11:11:44 UTC 

Prediction for next draw: PNP February 17, 2026

Our Analysis of This Express Entry Draw 

IRCC invited 8,500 candidates in the first French-language proficiency draw of 2026. The minimum CRS score was 400. 

Last year, IRCC didn’t run its first French-language draw until February 19, 2025, when it invited 6,500 candidates with a CRS cut-off of 428. 

This massive draw follows a strong finish for French speakers in 2025. The last French draw of the year was on December 17, 2025, when IRCC invited 6,000 candidates with a CRS cut-off of 399 – one of the lowest scores of the year and one of the biggest French draws. 

Zooming out, French draws in 2025 were less frequent, but much bigger than the year before. In total, IRCC issued about 48,000 invitations to French-speaking candidates in 2025, compared to about 23,000 in 2024. 

Some candidates felt confused or frustrated by how many French-language invitations IRCC issued last year. But the federal government is clearly supporting this direction. In November 2025, IRCC committed about $3.6 million to support Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Canadian Heritage also added $640,000 for a project to help French-speaking newcomers settle and support Francophone communities. With those signals, it wouldn’t be surprising if strong French draws continue through 2026. 

What this could mean for 2026 French draw sizes 

This also lines up with Canada’s bigger plan. Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan includes a target to welcome 30,267 French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in 2026 – about 9% of total admissions. 

Canada has been moving toward that goal for a few years. In 2025, about 8.9% of permanent residents admitted outside Quebec were French-speaking, beating the federal target of 8.5%. 

It’s also worth remembering that an ITA (invitation) isn’t the same as an admission. Many people invited in 2025 won’t become permanent residents until 2026 or later, because it can take months to apply, get processed, and then land. So some of 2026’s French-speaking admissions will likely come from invitations issued last year or so. 

With Canada aiming for roughly 9% again in 2026, we may keep seeing French-language draws often – at least while IRCC works to stay on track. But as Canada gets closer to its goals, IRCC may not need to run French draws as frequently, or draws could become smaller. And if more candidates study French and pass the tests, competition in the French category could increase, which can make CRS cut-offs harder to predict. 

What This Means for Candidates 

If you’re in the Express Entry pool and you have strong French skills, this is a great time to make sure your profile is fully updated and accurate. French draws have been one of the most reliable ways to get invited in recent years. And if IRCC is starting them early in 2026, it suggests French-speaking candidates may stay a major focus throughout the year. 

Even if you’re not perfectly bilingual, it’s still worth checking whether you qualify. If your French test scores meet the requirements, you could earn extra CRS points and (in some cases) qualify for French-language draws.   

If you haven’t taken a French test yet or your results are close to expiring this could be a smart time to plan ahead. For many candidates, improving French is one of the clearest ways to boost their Express Entry chances. 

That said, if you’re thinking about learning French mainly for Express Entry, it’s worth stepping back and asking if it fits your timeline and plan. We break that down here: Should You Learn French for Express Entry? 

What to Watch for Next in French-Language Draws 

The next major thing to watch is early February, when IRCC usually announces updates to category-based draws. Those updates can affect: 

• how often French draws happen 

• how large they are 

• and which other categories get prioritized 

If 2025 is any clue, French-language draws could keep popping up regularly throughout 2026 and some of them may stay fairly large. The real tell will be whether IRCC keeps running these draws often and inviting big numbers of candidates. If that continues, it fits with Canada’s goal to bring in more French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in 2026.