Canada has conducted a new Express Entry draw targeting candidates with French language proficiency, issuing 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on July 9, 2026. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 420 points — the highest cutoff recorded for a French-language round in 2026.
This was the largest French-language draw since March 4, 2026, when IRCC issued 5,500 invitations, and it continues a gradual upward trend in both size and cutoff for this category. It is the seventh French-language proficiency round of the year and the third Express Entry draw in four days.
The round followed the Provincial Nominee Program draw on July 6 (534 ITAs at a cutoff of 708) and the Canadian Experience Class draw on July 7 (2,000 ITAs at a cutoff of 517), lifting the July total to 7,534 invitations across three categories in the first nine days of the month.
Full Details of the July 9 French-Language Draw
| Draw detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | French-language proficiency |
| Date | July 9, 2026 |
| Number of invitations issued | 5,000 |
| CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited | 420 |
| Rank needed | 5,000 or above |
| Tie-breaking rule | May 15, 2026 at 08:04:00 UTC |
| Round number | 425th overall (37th of 2026) |
To be considered in this round, candidates needed a minimum CRS score of 420 and must have created an Express Entry profile before 8:04 a.m. UTC on May 15, 2026. The tie-breaking rule determines which candidates receive invitations when more than one profile shares the same CRS score at the cutoff: anyone with a score of exactly 420 who submitted their profile after that timestamp was not selected in this round.
How This Round Compares
At 420, the cutoff is the highest IRCC has set for a French-language proficiency draw in 2026, edging past the 419 recorded on April 15. It is also the highest cutoff for this category since October 6, 2025. The steady rise reflects both a larger, more competitive pool of French-speaking candidates and the department’s decision to raise the invitation count to 5,000 from 4,500 in the previous French round on May 28.
French-language proficiency draws allow IRCC to invite candidates at CRS scores well below those seen in program-based rounds — the July 7 Canadian Experience Class cutoff was 517 and the July 6 Provincial Nominee Program cutoff was 708 — because eligibility is tied to French ability rather than raw ranking. This makes French proficiency one of the most valuable advantages a candidate can hold in the Express Entry pool.
Every French-Language Draw in 2026
Canada has now held the following French-language proficiency rounds in 2026:
| Date | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 5,000 | 420 |
| May 28, 2026 | 4,500 | 409 |
| April 29, 2026 | 4,000 | 400 |
| April 15, 2026 | 4,000 | 419 |
| March 18, 2026 | 4,000 | 393 |
| March 4, 2026 | 5,500 | 397 |
| February 6, 2026 | 8,500 | 400 |
Total French-language invitations in 2026 now stand at 35,500 across seven draws, making it the second-largest source of Express Entry invitations this year after the Canadian Experience Class.
Express Entry in 2026 So Far
The July 9 round was the 37th Express Entry draw of 2026 and the 425th since the system launched in January 2015. Over the course of the year, IRCC has issued 96,601 ITAs across the following draw types:
| Draw type | ITAs issued in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 43,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 35,500 |
| Healthcare and social services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5,939 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian work experience | 250 |
Candidates who received an ITA have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence, which is typically processed within the six-month service standard.
Who Qualifies for French-Language Proficiency Draws
French-language proficiency category draws invite top-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool who have strong French-language ability, regardless of the program they qualify under. To be eligible, candidates must demonstrate French proficiency of at least Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 across all four abilities — reading, writing, listening, and speaking — on an approved French test such as the TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Candidates must also already be eligible for one of the three programs managed through Express Entry and have a valid profile in the pool. Full details are available on the Government of Canada’s category-based selection page.
What This Draw Means for Your CRS Score
If you have strong French-language ability and a CRS score of 420 or higher, you were within range for this round. Keep your profile accurate, ensure your French test results remain valid, and have your documents ready for the 60-day application window.
If your score sits just below 420, you are close to the current cutoff. French-language proficiency rounds have offered some of the lowest CRS thresholds of any 2026 draw type, so improving your French test results or gaining additional points could move you into range in an upcoming round. Recalculate your score with our free Express Entry CRS calculator and compare it against the 420 cutoff.
If your score is well below 420 and you do not yet have qualifying French results, developing French-language proficiency to NCLC 7 is one of the most effective ways to become eligible for these category-based rounds — and it adds up to 50 CRS points on its own. Use our free CRS calculator to see exactly how many points you would gain and where you stand in the pool.
What to Expect in the Coming Days
The July 6 PNP round, July 7 CEC draw, and July 9 French-language round confirm that IRCC’s multi-category draw cadence remains firmly in operation. With Canadian Experience Class and French-language proficiency dominating invitation volumes this year, candidates eligible for either stream should keep their profiles active and their supporting documents current in case another round follows before the end of the month.
Resources