On February 6, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the first Francophone-targeted Express Entry draw of the year for candidates with French-language proficiency.

Express Entry Draw #394 Results

In round #394, IRCC issued 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), making this the largest Express Entry draw ever held for Francophone candidates.

Key details of the draw include:

• Cut-off score: 400 points (the lowest of the year)
• Tie-breaking rule: February 03, 2026, at 11:11:44 UTC
• Number of ITAs issued: 8,500

Express Entry Pool and 2026 Invitations

As of February 2, 2026, there were 238,920 profiles registered in the Express Entry pool.
So far in 2026, Canada has issued 24,178 ITAs across six Express Entry draws.

Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

This draw follows recent developments in Francophone immigration pathways outside Quebec, reflecting the growing focus on French-speaking candidates across Canada.

For a deeper discussion on this topic, a dedicated course on Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec was recently offered:
👉 https://lpen.ca/immi-for-francophone-outside-quebec-2026/