Canada invites 5,000 francophones to apply for permanent residence
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence through the Express Entry system.
The immigration department issued 5,000 ITAs in a draw for candidates with French-language abilities.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have:
- A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 407; and
- Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 7:22 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on July 13, 2026.
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation
In-Canada Express Entry candidates who have applied for permanent residence may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
Work permit holders who apply for a BOWP before their current permit expires may benefit from maintained status, allowing them to continue working under their previous permit conditions while awaiting a decision, provided they remain in Canada.
Eligible family members may also qualify for open work permits.
Summary of Express Entry draws
| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 27 | French-Language proficiency | 407 | 5,000 |
| October 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 761 | 792 |
| October 16 | French-Language proficiency | 435 | 5,000 |
| October 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 519 | 2,500 |
| October 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 772 | 752 |
| October 1 | Trades | 476 | 3,500 |
| September 29 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 2,000 |
| September 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 733 |
| September 16 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 389 | 250 |
| September 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 519 | 2,000 |
| September 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 734 | 576 |
| September 4 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 3,500 |
| September 3 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 198 | 229 |
| September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 2,000 |
| August 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 697 | 562 |
| August 19 | French-Language proficiency | 382 | 5,000 |
| August 18 | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| August 7 | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| August 6 | French-Language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| 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 |
The CRS cutoff score for this draw was 28 points lower than that of the previous French-language proficiency draw held on Oct. 16.
Following its latest selection round, Canada has conducted a total of 64 Express Entry draws this year.
Candidates with ties to Canada have featured prominently in 2026 selections, particularly provincial nominees and those with work experience gained in Canada.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 21 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 18 |
| French-Language proficiency | 12 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 3 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 3 |
| Trades | 2 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
Over the course of 2026, IRCC has issued 149,259 ITAs through the following Express Entry draw types:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 57,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 60,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 10,814 |
| Healthcare and social services | 11,500 |
| Trades | 6,500 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1,000 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
Recent Express Entry changes
Starting Nov. 3, 2026, Express Entry candidates will be eligible for additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for Canadian work experience or qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations.
IRCC defines a high-wage occupation as one with a national median wage at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the Canadian workforce, and has identified 186 eligible occupations across three wage levels: at least 1.3, 1.5 and two times the average median wage.
The points will fall under the new Labour Market Integration Factor (LMIF), which awards candidates the higher of two possible scores: up to 100 points for a qualifying job offer, or up to 150 points for Canadian work experience (up to 140 for candidates with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner).
Canadian work experience scores will consist of existing points for length of employment, plus up to 70 additional points for at least one year of experience in a high-wage occupation.
Qualifying job offers will be worth 50, 70 or 100 points, depending on the occupation’s wage level, marking the return of CRS job offer points after their removal in March 2025.
Candidates will also no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for a qualifying job offer to earn CRS points, or to meet job offer requirements under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
To implement the revised scoring system, IRCC will temporarily pause Express Entry invitation rounds while it recalculates candidate scores, a process the department says could take up to two weeks.
