Express Entry French Draw March 4, 2026: 5,500 ITAs, CRS 397
- March 4, 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held an Express Entry draw today for French Language proficiency. The round issued 5,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a minimum CRS of 397.
This is the lowest CRS for any French draw in 2026 so far. It is also the lowest French cut-off since March 21, 2025. If you have strong French, it is still one of the clearest ways to get invited faster.
Draw Highlights
- Program/category: French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2
- Invitations issued: 5,500
- Minimum CRS: 397
- Rank required: 5,500 or above
- Date and time (UTC): March 4, 2026 at 11:55:47 UTC
- Tie-breaking rule (UTC): October 10, 2025 at 18:18:20 UTC
Who was invited in this draw?
This round targeted candidates in the Express Entry pool under the French-language proficiency category.
IRCC invited the highest-ranked profiles first, based on CRS score. If more than one candidate had the lowest CRS score, IRCC used the tie-break time. That time is when candidates submitted their Express Entry profile.
If you are aiming for this category, your French test results must be valid and correctly entered in your profile. Keep your profile updated so IRCC can assess you accurately. For the basics, see express entry guide.
What this draw means for candidates
- A CRS of 397 shows French draws can stay near the 400 mark.
- This draw issued 3,000 fewer ITAs than the last French draw on February 6.
- The CRS cut-off is 3 points lower than the February 6 French draw (400).
- French draws have a far lower CRS than recent CEC draws (508 to 511).
- If you missed this draw, improve your profile before the next round.
- If CRS is still far, explore a nomination path through PNP Canada.
2026 Express Entry Draw Results: Complete ITA Tracker
IRCC has issued 44,612 invitations across 13 Express Entry draws so far in 2026. Track every invitation round below. This breakdown shows ITAs by draw category, CRS trends, and progress toward IRCC’s annual targets.
All Express Entry Draws in 2026
The table below lists every Express Entry round in 2026 so far. It shows the draw date, program stream, ITAs issued, and the minimum CRS cut-off score required.
| Date | Round type | ITAs | Min CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 4, 2026 | French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2 | 5,500 | 397 |
| March 3, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 508 |
| March 2, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 264 | 710 |
| February 20, 2026 | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3 | 4,000 | 467 |
| February 19, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 | 391 | 169 |
| February 17, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 508 |
| February 16, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 279 | 789 |
| February 6, 2026 | French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2 | 8,500 | 400 |
| February 3, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 423 | 749 |
| January 21, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 509 |
| January 20, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 681 | 746 |
| January 7, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 8,000 | 511 |
| January 5, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 574 | 711 |
2026 Express Entry Draws by Program Category
This breakdown groups invitation rounds by stream. It shows draw frequency, total ITAs per category, and the CRS score range for each program type.
| Round type | Rounds | ITAs so far | CRS range (min–max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Language Proficiency | 2 | 14,000 | 397–400 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 4 | 24,000 | 508–511 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5 | 2,221 | 710–789 |
| Healthcare and Social Services Occupations | 1 | 4,000 | 467–467 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 1 | 391 | 169–169 |
IRCC 2026 Targets and Express Entry ITAs Issued to Date
The table below compares Express Entry ITAs against IRCC’s 2026 admissions targets. ITAs and admissions are not the same. IRCC may issue multiple ITAs to reach each target.
| Bucket | IRCC 2026 target (admissions) | ITAs issued so far (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal High Skilled (Express Entry) | 109,000 | 42,391 | Includes General/CEC/FSWP/FSTP/French |
| PNP | 91,500 | 2,221 | Admissions target |
| French-speaking outside Quebec | 9% (30,267) | 14,000 | Target is across programs; not 1:1 with ITAs |
Important: ITAs and admissions are not equivalent. Multiple ITAs may be issued to reach each admissions target, and not all ITA recipients become permanent residents.
If you received an ITA: what to do next
- Check your ITA deadline and plan your document timeline.
- Gather key documents early to avoid last-minute problems.
- Review your work history, dates, and duties for consistency.
- Prepare language results, police checks, and proof of funds if needed.
- If you are unsure, ask UmberApp Free AI Chat any Canada immigration question.
Document checklist to start:
- Passports and travel history
- Language test results
- Work reference letters and pay proof
- Education records and ECA (if required)
- Police certificates (as requested)
If you did not receive an ITA: next steps
- Recheck your Express Entry profile details for errors or missing items.
- Update French results if you can improve your score.
- Add Canadian work experience and keep your profile active.
- Consider PNP routes, since a nomination can boost your ranking strongly.
Use our free tool PNP Finder for quick eligibility check for all PNP streams across Canada.
Have any Canada immigration question? Ask free on UmberApp AI Chat at following link.