IRCC has just invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates through a category-based Express Entry draw held on August 19, 2026. This round targeted candidates with strong French-language proficiency. To be considered, candidates needed valid results from an IRCC-approved French test at NCLC 7 or higher in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with test results less than two years old. They also had to be in the Express Entry pool and qualify under at least one federal progra