IRCC conducted Round #425 on July 9, 2026, at 10:32 UTC, issuing 5,000 ITAs to the 5,000 highest-ranked candidates in the French-language proficiency category. The minimum CRS score was 420, with a tie-break rule set at May 15, 2026, 08:04 UTC, meaning candidates who submitted their profiles before that timestamp were prioritized among those tied at the cut-off. The draw covered eligible French-speaking candidates across all three programs managed under Express Entry -- the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) -- with an invitation window running from July 9 to July 10, 2026.

To qualify for the category, candidates must hold French-language test results from an IRCC-recognized test that are valid within the past two years, demonstrating a score of at least Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 7 in all four abilities: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Round #425 was the third Express Entry draw in a matter of days, following a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on July 6 and a Canadian Experience Class draw on July 7. At 420, the cut-off rose 11 points from the 409 recorded on May 28, marking a 2026 high for the category, while the 5,000 invitations represented the largest single French draw since March 4.

Across 2026, the seven French-language draws have issued a cumulative 35,500 invitations, with minimum scores ranging from 393 to 420, as shown in the table below.

By comparison, recent draws in other streams cleared at markedly higher thresholds: the July 7 CEC draw required 517, the July 6 PNP draw required 708 (a figure that includes the 600 points awarded for a provincial nomination), the Healthcare and social services category sat at 475, and the Trade occupations category at 477. The French cut-off of 420 was notably lower. Analysts attribute the gap to three main factors: a comparatively small pool of qualified candidates and therefore limited competition; the CRS bonus of up to 50 points available for English-French bilingualism; and a deliberate policy tilt as the government works to meet its francophone immigration targets.

Category-based selection was launched in 2023, and the French-language proficiency category has been a priority stream from the outset, intended to support the economic and demographic vitality of French-speaking communities outside Quebec. Under the current 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the francophone target share (outside Quebec) is set at 9% for 2026, 9.5% for 2027, and 10.5% for 2028, with a long-term goal of 12% by 2029. IRCC has said it exceeded its 2025 target, with the share approaching 9%.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab, who took office in May 2025 after overseeing immigration in the Nova Scotia provincial government, has said that Express Entry will continue to support the long-term commitment to strengthening French vitality across the country.

Looking ahead, the draw represents a favourable window for applicants with strong French, who may secure an invitation even when their overall score would fall short in other streams. Thresholds do fluctuate, however -- the category reached 481 in August 2025 -- so candidates are advised to complete and refine their profiles promptly.