Canada ran its second Express Entry draw of the week on March 4, 2026, inviting 5,500 candidates who demonstrate high French-language proficiency to apply for permanent residence. The category-based round—Draw #401—set a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of just 397 points, the lowest for any French-language draw since targeted rounds began in 2025.
The results underscore Ottawa’s aggressive push to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec in line with the 2023-2028 Official Languages Action Plan, which earmarks C$137 million to rebuild French-speaking communities across the country. IRCC has now issued 9,764 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across three draws in the first week of March alone, signalling that 2026 intake targets remain on track despite public debate over rising population growth.
For applicants unsure how to pull together language test reports, police certificates or Bridging Open Work Permit forms, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The platform’s Canada hub (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides step-by-step checklists, document reviews and courier support so both employers and candidates can submit error-free applications on the first try—saving valuable time before IRCC’s strict deadlines.
![IRCC Issues 5,500 Invitations in French-Language Express Entry Draw, CRS Drops to 397]()
For employers, the lower cut-off widens the talent pool of bilingual professionals eligible for fast-track permanent residence—particularly valuable in fields such as customer success, sales and public administration where federal contracts require bilingual capacity. Candidates invited on March 4 have 60 days to lodge full applications; most complete cases are processed within six months, enabling hires to convert from temporary to permanent status before year-end.
The draw also gives temporary residents racing against the March permit-expiry wave a lifeline: those who receive an ITA can immediately request a Bridging Open Work Permit, extending work authorisation for 18 months while PR is finalised. Global-mobility leads should audit French-speaking staff for Express Entry eligibility and prepare documentation—language tests, educational credential assessments—so they can capitalise on upcoming draws.
Looking ahead, immigration lawyers expect IRCC to alternate between occupation-specific and language-specific rounds every two weeks, with further French-language draws likely before the end of March.
The results underscore Ottawa’s aggressive push to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec in line with the 2023-2028 Official Languages Action Plan, which earmarks C$137 million to rebuild French-speaking communities across the country. IRCC has now issued 9,764 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across three draws in the first week of March alone, signalling that 2026 intake targets remain on track despite public debate over rising population growth.
For applicants unsure how to pull together language test reports, police certificates or Bridging Open Work Permit forms, VisaHQ can simplify the process. The platform’s Canada hub (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides step-by-step checklists, document reviews and courier support so both employers and candidates can submit error-free applications on the first try—saving valuable time before IRCC’s strict deadlines.
For employers, the lower cut-off widens the talent pool of bilingual professionals eligible for fast-track permanent residence—particularly valuable in fields such as customer success, sales and public administration where federal contracts require bilingual capacity. Candidates invited on March 4 have 60 days to lodge full applications; most complete cases are processed within six months, enabling hires to convert from temporary to permanent status before year-end.
The draw also gives temporary residents racing against the March permit-expiry wave a lifeline: those who receive an ITA can immediately request a Bridging Open Work Permit, extending work authorisation for 18 months while PR is finalised. Global-mobility leads should audit French-speaking staff for Express Entry eligibility and prepare documentation—language tests, educational credential assessments—so they can capitalise on upcoming draws.
Looking ahead, immigration lawyers expect IRCC to alternate between occupation-specific and language-specific rounds every two weeks, with further French-language draws likely before the end of March.
