Express Entry March 2026: An Analysis of the Massive and Consecutive Draws

In one month, there were 9 drawings, and 8,000 ITA tickets were sold in just 48 hours! 

Throughout March, the Express Entry system operated at a “marathon” pace, with consecutive rounds issuing up to 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) each. 

This took place on March 18 for the French Proficiency category. Just 24 hours earlier, on March 17, another 4,000 ITAs had been issued for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

This frequency of draws at such short intervals demonstrates that IRCC’s technical priority this year is to retain talent that already has work experience in Canada and to strengthen Francophone communities.

Why is this important to you? Because the system is demonstrating a high capacity for processing profiles and is lowering the cut-off scores in specific categories. Please read on to the end, as I’ll analyze IRCC’s behavior so you can understand how it affects your chances of receiving an ITA in 2026.

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Round-by-Round Analysis: Where Are the Toughest Requirements and the Best Opportunities for Permanent Residency?

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At the end of the month, IRCC launched two interesting draws: one for provincial nominees with a minimum score of 802, and the other for the Canadian Experience Class, with a minimum CRS score of 509.

IRCC's actions during the second half of March revealed a strategy to "relieve congestion" in the pool across two very distinct categories: 

1. Proficiency in French.
2. The Canadian Experience.

Below is an analysis of IRCC's performance in these rounds.

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The Frenchman who opens doors (393 points)

The March 18 draw stands out for its score of 393. By dropping below the 400-point threshold, the Canadian government is staying true to its message: proficiency in French is the fastest and most accessible route to permanent residency. 

The fact is that, while in a general round you compete against scores of 520 or higher, the requirement in the French category is considerably lower. 

Did you know? We haven't seen such a low cut-off score for an ITA since 2025! This opens the door for people who don't yet have enough work experience in Canada or a higher education degree, but who speak French at the NCLC Level 7. 

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The stability of the Canadian experience (507 points)

On the other hand, the 4,000 invitations issued for the CEC on the previous day, around March 17, show that Canada continues to prioritize those who have already entered the country’s labor market and contribute to its economy. 

Although 507 remains a high score, it is the lowest recorded for this category so far this year.

Note: This offers hope to those working in the country on Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) or with LMIA approvals; these are candidates who pay taxes, spend money in the country, and are well-versed in the Canadian workplace.

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Summary of the first draws in March

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Before the mid-month mass rounds, IRCC held four consecutive draws that set the tone for the system:

March 2 | Provincial Candidate Program (PNP): With 264 ITA approvals issued and 710 points. The system processed applications that already had the required 600 points of provincial support.

March 3 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Just 24 hours later, IRCC issued the first high-volume draw of the month, inviting 4,000 candidates with Canadian experience and a score of 508.

March 4 | French Competition (2026 Edition): The marathon-like trend continued the next day, with even greater intensity: 5,500 ITA and 397 points. 

Note: This was the largest draw of the month and set the stage for the record we would see on March 18 (393 points).

March 5 | Senior Executives (Canada Experience 2026): 250 ITA offers were issued with a cutoff score of 429. 

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What does this sequence tell us?

The rapid pace between March 2, 3, 4, and 5 (more than 10,000 invitations in 96 hours) was a prelude to the marathon-like trend we would see in the third week of the month. IRCC is demonstrating that the system has the capacity to handle high-volume batches. However, it remains demanding in terms of applicant preparation.

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Note: A low score does not automatically favor a candidate who lacks language proficiency, a college degree, or Canadian work experience. You must always strengthen your profile to improve your chances of being selected, and these are the key factors.

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Do you know your Express Entry score? At Immiland Canada, we offer our CRS Calculator, which shows you how competitive your profile is and what you need to improve.

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If you have any questions, please contact us and we'll be happy to help.

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Immigration services

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We are CICC-regulated consultants and Canadian lawyers, and we can handle your case to improve your chances of obtaining permanent residency.

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You can request a free assessment of your profile here.

To schedule a consultation, click here.

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I hope this analysis will help you improve your immigration profile and obtain your Canadian residency soon.

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Thank you for joining us on this journey. See you in our next blog post, where we will continue to build your Canadian dream with professionalism and empathy!

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With love,

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Immiland Canada