First Express Entry Draw of February 2026

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Written By Ann Arbour Consultants Inc.
Feb 04, 2026

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) kicked off February with its first Express Entry draw on February 3, 2026, issuing 423 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) — but this round was exclusive to candidates with a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 749, reflecting the 600-point bonus that comes with a provincial nomination.

This high cut-off highlights how PNP nominations remain one of the most reliable pathways to permanent residence under Express Entry — especially in a pool nearing 239,000 candidates.

Whether you’re aiming for Canadian PR yourself or advising others, this draw shows the ongoing importance of targeted pathways like provincial nominations and strategic profile planning. 🇨🇦

#ExpressEntry #CanadaPR #PNP #CRS #ExpressEntryDraw #ImmigrationCanada #PermanentResidence #ImmigrationNews #CanadaImmigration #CRSScore #PRJourney #WorkInCanada #ImmigrationUpdates

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French Speakers Shine in Canada’s Latest Express Entry Draw

Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a major Express Entry draw on February 6, 2026, issuing 8,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the French‑language proficiency category — one of the largest category‑based draws in history. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 400, making this draw more accessible for qualified French‑speaking candidates. This round reflects Canada’s ongoing strategy to attract and retain more bilingual skilled workers and strengthen Francophone communities outside Quebec. Earlier in February, IRCC also issued 423 ITAs to Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates in another draw, showing multiple pathways are active this month. 💬 As a licensed immigration officer, my opinion is that this February Express Entry activity is very encouraging for prospective immigrants. The French‑language proficiency draw with a CRS cut‑off of 400 presents a rare and significant opportunity, especially for candidates who may not score high enough in general draws but have strong French skills. It shows IRCC’s commitment to diversity and bilingualism — a strategic focus that can benefit both applicants and Canada’s labour market goals. At the same time, candidates with PNP nominations continue to have strong prospects due to the CRS boost, so combining provincial streams with language strengths can be a powerful strategy. In short: if you qualify in French or have a provincial nomination — now is a smart time to act and submit a complete, error‑free profile. 📌 Tips: • Ensure your French language test results (TEF/TCF Canada) are valid and above NCLC 7. • Update your Express Entry profile and monitor category‑based draws. • Explore PNP pathways to maximize chances of receiving an ITA. #CanadaImmigration #ExpressEntry #FrenchLanguageDRAW #PermanentResidence #ImmigrationCanada #CRS400 #PNP #FrancophoneImmigration #VisaOpportunities #PRPathway #SkilledWorkers

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First Express Entry Draw of February 2026 – 423 Invitations Issued!