On March 15, 2026, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a huge Express Entry draw and sent out 5,500 invitations to apply for permanent residence.
This was a category-based draw for people who were very good at speaking French.
You only needed 397 points to pass the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
March is going to be a great month for people who are applying for Express Entry. In the last three days, IRCC has sent out 9,764 invitations.
| Number of the draw | Date | Category | Invitations | CRS Score | Tie-breaking rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | March 15, 2026 | French-Language proficiency 2026 is the category. | 5,500 invitations were sent out. | The lowest-ranked candidate invited had a CRS score of 397. | October 10, 2025, at 18:18:20 UTC. |
How the Tie-Breaking Rule Works
IRCC uses a tie-breaking rule when more than one candidate has the same CRS score. This decides who gets the first invitation.
The timestamp of the profile submission is used to break ties. People who sent in their profiles first get first choice.
The tie-breaking date for the March 15 draw was October 10, 2025, at 18:18:20 UTC. Only candidates who submitted before this time would get an ITA if they had exactly 397 points.
Why the CRS Score Is So Low
Compared to other draws the 397 CRS cutoff is very low. This is because draws based on categories look for certain types of candidates.
French-speaking proficiency draws always get lower CRS scores and a lot of invitations.
IRCC gives French speakers priority to help Canada reach its bilingualism goals.
Candidates who can show that they are good at French have a big edge.
Even if their overall CRS scores are lower, they can still get ITAs.
Who Can Get the French-Language Proficiency Category
To be considered for this category candidates must fulfil certain language criteria.
You need to have French-language test results that show you got at least a 7 in all four language skills.
These skills are listening speaking writing, and reading.
You also need to meet the requirements for one of the three Express Entry programs. The Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class are all examples of these.
Just because you meet the French language requirement doesn’t mean you’ll get an invitation. You still need to be one of the top candidates in the pool.
Summary of the March 2026 Express Entry Draws
In the first week of March, IRCC has been very busy. There have already been three Express Entry draws.
Draw 401 on March 15, with a focus on French language skills. It sent out 5,500 invitations, with a CRS cutoff of 397.
The Canadian Experience Class was the target of Draw 400 on March 15. It sent out 4,000 invitations, with a CRS cut off of 508.
The Provincial Nominee Program was the target of Draw 399 on March 15. It sent out 264 invitations, with a CRS cut off of 710.
The fact that there were 9,764 ITAs in just three draws shows that immigration goals for 2026 are very high.
This speed shows that the IRCC is serious about meeting its yearly intake goals.
What is the draw for the Canadian Experience Class?
The Canadian Experience Class draw on March 15 invited 4,000 people. This group is for people who are already working in Canada.
Candidates for the CEC must have at least one year of skilled work experience (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) in Canada. You must have this experience within the last three years before you can apply.
For CEC-specific draws a CRS cut off of 508 is normal. These draws usually have higher cutoffs because candidates with Canadian experience usually have better profiles.
Learn about the Provincial Nominee Program Draw
The PNP draw on March 15 had the highest CRS requirement, which was 710. This happens all the time with provincial nominee draws.
A candidate who gets a provincial nomination automatically gets 600 extra points. In most cases, this raises their scores to well over 700.
There were only 264 invitations sent out in this draw. PNP draws are usually smaller because there aren’t as many candidates to choose from.
What Happens After You Get an ITA
Candidates who get an invitation have 60 days to send in their application. There is no way to get around this deadline.
You must send in all the necessary paperwork during this time. These are police certificates, medical exams, and proof of funds.
The time it takes to process varies by program. It usually takes six months to process most Express Entry applications.
You will get a Confirmation of Permanent Residence once your application is approved. After that, you can finish your landing and become a permanent resident of Canada.
What to Look Forward to in the Next Few Weeks
If things keep going the way they are, there will probably be more Express Entry draws around March 16-18.
IRCC has been holding several draws each week, mostly every other week.
French-language proficiency draws may still happen with the same CRS cut offs. There is still a lot of need for people who speak French.
The CEC and PNP draws will probably keep going as well. These give candidates with Canadian experience or provincial nominations a chance.
Candidates should keep their profiles up to date and their documents ready. You might get invitations with very little notice.
The Express Entry draw on March 15, 2026, invited 5,500 people who spoke French well.
With a CRS cut off of 397, this is a great chance for French speakers.
There have been three draws so far this month, and 9,764 invitations have been sent out. IRCC seems determined to reach Canada’s immigration goals for 2026.
Now is a great time to apply for Express Entry if you can speak French.
Category-based selection gives eligible candidates a big edge.
Keep an eye on IRCC announcements for upcoming draws. You could get an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada any day now.
Questions and Answers (FAQs)
How many points did the CRS get in the March 15, 2026 Express Entry draw?
The Express Entry draw on March 15, 2026 had a CRS cut off of 397 points. This was a draw based on French-language skills that sent out 5,500 invitations to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
How many people got invitations in the Express Entry draw on March 15?
The Express Entry draw on March 15, 2026, gave out 5,500 invitations to apply. This was a category-based draw for people who could speak French well enough to be in the 2026-Version 2 category.
How many Express Entry invitations have been sent out so far in March 2026?
The first four days of March 2026 saw IRCC send out 9,764 Express Entry invitations. There are 5,500 people in the French-language draw, 4,000 people in the Canadian Experience Class draw, and 264 people in the Provincial Nominee Program draw.
