Canada has conducted its latest Express Entry draws, Draw Numbers 404 and 405, issuing a total of 8,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across two consecutive days.
On March 17, 2026, Draw 404 exclusively targeted candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), issuing 4,000 ITAs. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 507 points.
The following day, March 18, 2026, Draw 405 targeted candidates under the French-Language proficiency category, issuing another 4,000 ITAs. The minimum CRS score required for this draw was 393 points.
These targeted draws highlight the government’s continued strategy of aligning ITAs with specific economic goals—in this case, prioritizing applicants with established Canadian work experience and fostering economic growth through Francophone immigration outside of Quebec.
State of the Pool
The latest draws saw specific tie-breaking rules implemented. For the CEC draw, the tie-breaking rule was set for May 11, 2025 at 18:57:31 UTC. For the French-Language proficiency draw, it was implemented on December 29, 2025 at 12:47:31 UTC. If more than one candidate had the minimum CRS score in their respective draws, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before these dates and times received invitations.
Candidates have a 60-day window to submit their applications, which will usually be processed within the six-month standard.
Summary of Recent Draws
The back-to-back draws on March 17 and 18 demonstrate a balanced approach between program-specific rounds and category-based selection.
The CEC draw maintained a highly competitive CRS cut-off of 507, reflecting the strong pool of candidates already living and working in Canada. Conversely, the French-Language proficiency draw saw a significantly lower CRS requirement of 393, underscoring the massive advantage held by bilingual or Francophone candidates in the current Express Entry landscape.
What Should Candidates Do Next?
Securing an approved offer of employment is highly recommended as one of the best pathways to guaranteeing an ITA in the next round of invitations.
Find out whether you qualify for Canada by completing our free online evaluation. We will provide you with your evaluation results within 1-2 business days.
