Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held Express Entry round 394 today, February 6, 2026. This was a category-based draw for the French-language proficiency category, inviting 8,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 400. It is the first French-language proficiency Express Entry draw of 2026 and signals continued priority for strong French speakers outside Quebec.

• Express Entry round 394 (February 6, 2026) invited 8,500 candidates in a French-language proficiency category-based draw with a CRS cut-off of 400.
• To benefit from these French-language proficiency rounds, candidates generally need NCLC 7 or. higher in all four French abilities and to meet normal Express Entry program rules.
• If you were invited, you typically have 60 days to submit your. permanent residence application, so you should start gathering documents and organizing your strategy immediately.

Express Entry French-language proficiency draw on February 6, 2026 (Round 394)

Today’s Express Entry round 394 is a category-based selection draw targeting candidates with strong French-language proficiency. According to publicly reported draw details, IRCC issued 8,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) with a.

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of 400, under the “French-language proficiency 2026 – Version 2” category.

This is the first French-language proficiency Express Entry draw of 2026 and follows. a series of 2025 category-based rounds that already focused heavily on French-speaking candidates.

One possible interpretation is that IRCC is using these rounds to support its multi-year targets for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec.

Key figures for Express Entry round 394

Based on draw summaries aligned with IRCC’s Express Entry rounds format, the parameters for round 394 are understood to be as follows.

Field	Round 394 result
Round number	394
Date of round	February 6, 2026
Round type	Category-based selection – French-language proficiency
Number of ITAs issued	8,500 invitations to apply
CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited	400
Tie-breaking rule	February 3, 2026 at 11:11:44 UTC (profiles created after this time at exactly 400 were not invited)

Who is directly affected by Express Entry round 394?

Round 394 has very different implications depending on whether you were invited, whether. you meet the French-language criteria, and whether you are inside or outside Canada.

If you were invited in round 394

If your Express Entry profile shows an ITA from today’s draw, it should clearly state that you were selected under a French-language proficiency category-based round.

From the moment the ITA is issued, you generally have 60 days to submit a complete online permanent residence application.

Immediate steps you should take include:

1. Sign in to your IRCC account: Confirm the program, category, and deadline listed in the ITA.
2. Download or print your personalized document checklist: This will guide your. evidence gathering (police certificates, proof of funds, language test reports, work experience letters, etc.).
3. Check that your French and English language results are valid: Ensure they will. still be valid at the time you submit your electronic application for permanent residence (eAPR).
4. Organize proof of funds, if required: Many Express Entry applicants must show settlement funds, and IRCC updates the minimum amounts periodically.

If you are in Canada on a work or study permit, your ability. to maintain temporary status while your PR application is processed may also be important. In many cases, work permit options (such as bridging open work permits) may become available after you. submit your eAPR and receive an acknowledgement of receipt, depending on the specific program and rules in force.

If you have strong French but were not invited

Some candidates who meet the French-language category threshold (NCLC 7 in all four abilities) may still not have been invited in this round if:

• their CRS score was below 400, or
• their score was exactly 400 but their profile was created after the tie-breaking timestamp of February 3, 2026 at 11:11:44 UTC.

In that case, your strategy should focus on:

• maintaining or improving your French test results (for example, re-taking TEF or TCF if you believe you can score higher),
• maximizing English scores, which can significantly boost CRS when combined with strong French, and
• gaining additional work experience, Canadian experience, or education that could increase your core CRS score.

If you do not speak French (or only a little)

For candidates with little or no French, round 394 is a signal rather than an opportunity: IRCC. is continuing to run large category-based rounds where French-language proficiency is the key filter before CRS ranking.

One possible interpretation is that non-French-speaking candidates may see fewer general rounds or higher CRS cut-offs in those rounds, because. a significant share of the annual admissions space is being used for category-based draws, including French-language proficiency and specific occupation categories.

How the French-language proficiency category in Express Entry works

French-language proficiency is one of the official category-based selection streams in Express Entry. IRCC’s category-based selection rules allow the Minister to invite candidates who meet specific economic or linguistic goals, such.

as strong French skills or work experience in key occupations, and then rank them by CRS within that category.

Eligibility for the French-language proficiency category

IRCC’s guidance on the French-language proficiency category explains that, to be eligible for these rounds, a candidate must:

• have valid French-language test results showing a minimum score of NCLC 7 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking), and
• meet all of the requirements set out in the specific instructions for that round.

In addition, candidates must already be eligible for at least one of the main Express Entry programs (Canadian Experience Class, Federal. Skilled Worker Program, or Federal Skilled Trades Program) and must be in the Express Entry pool at the time of the draw.

If you are francophone or bilingual and have not yet created an Express Entry profile, you are likely leaving CRS points and category-based opportunities unused.

IRCC confirms that strong French can give you additional CRS points, even when French is your second official language.

Strategic next steps after round 394

Here is practical, scenario-based guidance depending on your current situation.

If you are inside Canada and received an ITA

• Start your eAPR immediately; use the 60-day window to collect high-quality proof of work. experience (detailed employer reference letters, pay stubs, T4s if available) and any remaining police certificates.
• Review your temporary status end date (work or study permit expiry) and discuss with a professional whether. a bridging open work permit or another option could maintain your status while IRCC processes your PR file.

If you are outside Canada and received an ITA

• Confirm that you still meet the program requirements (for example, work experience hours and NOC, language test validity, proof of funds).
• Plan realistically for medical exams and police certificates in your country of. residence, since delays in obtaining these documents are a common reason for last-minute issues.

If you were not invited but meet French criteria

• Check your CRS score using a trusted calculator or our internal. Express Entry CRS scoring tool to understand how far you are from 400.
• Explore options to add CRS points, such as improving English test scores, gaining more skilled work experience, or securing a qualifying job offer.
• Consider whether a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) with francophone streams could complement your Express Entry strategy.

If you do not meet French criteria yet

If you are serious about Canadian permanent residence and can realistically invest in French, you may. want to treat French-language learning as part of your immigration plan, not just a bonus skill.

IRCC explicitly identifies strong French as a long-term economic and demographic priority, and. this is reflected in repeated French-language proficiency rounds with comparatively moderate CRS cut-offs.

You can also review our French-language immigration strategy guide for a more detailed roadmap on integrating language study into your overall immigration planning.

What this draw means for future Express Entry trends

Round 394 confirms several ongoing trends:

• Category-based selection is now a core mechanism in Express Entry, not a temporary experiment.
• French-language proficiency remains a central category, renewed in 2024 and used repeatedly to support Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
• CRS cut-offs in French-language proficiency rounds may continue to be lower than some general or. Canadian Experience Class rounds, compensating partly for the effort required to reach NCLC 7 in French.

One possible interpretation is that candidates without strong French may increasingly need either significantly higher CRS. scores in general rounds or alternative strategies (PNPs, in-demand occupations, or study-work-PR pathways) to remain competitive.

When to seek a professional case review

Given the complexity of Express Entry, category-based selection, and overlapping francophone and provincial pathways, a tailored assessment can be very helpful, especially if:

• you received an ITA today and are unsure whether your documents truly support the CRS points you claimed,
• you narrowly missed this draw and want to know whether to focus on French, PNPs, or other categories, or
• you have a previous refusal, complex work history, or gaps in status that could raise red flags with IRCC.

A regulated professional can review your documents, confirm your CRS score, and design a strategy that aligns with your risk tolerance and timelines. If you would like personalized guidance on how round 394 affects your options, you can Book a consultation for a detailed case review.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the main results of Express Entry round 394?

Express Entry round 394 took place on February 6, 2026, as a category-based selection draw targeting the French-language proficiency category. Publicly reported details indicate that 8,500 ITAs were issued and the CRS cut-off.

was 400, with a tie-breaking rule of February 3, 2026 at 11:11:44 UTC.

How do I know if I was invited in round 394?

The only definitive confirmation is in your IRCC secure account. If you were invited, you will see a new message indicating an invitation to apply for permanent.

residence, specifying the date of the round, the category (French-language proficiency), and the deadline to submit your application. If no such message appears, you were not invited in this round.

What French scores do I need to qualify for French-language proficiency draws?

IRCC’s category-based selection guidance states that to be eligible for the French-language proficiency category, you must have French test results. showing at least NCLC 7 in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing) and meet the other instructions for that round.

You must also qualify for one of the core Express Entry programs.

How long do I have to apply after receiving an ITA?

For Express Entry, IRCC indicates that an invitation to apply is typically valid for 60 days. During this period, you must complete and submit your online application and upload all required.

documents, or your ITA will expire and your profile could be removed from the pool.

Does round 394 mean general draws are over for 2026?

No. Category-based selection rounds (including French-language proficiency) are used alongside general and program-specific rounds. IRCC’s policy documents show that category-based selection is meant to complement, not replace, other draw types.

Future rounds may alternate between general, program-specific, and various category-based rounds according to immigration levels targets and labour market priorities.