Canada Invites 5,000 French-Speaking Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw

Canada has conducted another Express Entry draw, inviting 5,000 candidates with French-language proficiency to apply for permanent residence.

In the latest round of invitations held on August 19, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates under the French-language proficiency category.

Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 382 to receive an invitation.

This marks one of the most significant developments for French-speaking immigration candidates this year, as the CRS cutoff has dropped to its lowest level for this category since March 2025.

Latest Express Entry Draw Details

Here is a quick overview of the latest Express Entry draw:

• Draw Date: August 19,2026
• Draw category: French-Language Proficiency
• Invitations issued: 5,000
• Minimum CRS score: 382
• Tie-breaking rule: March 1, 2026, at 6:34 p.m. UTC

Candidates who had a CRS score of 382 or higher and created their Express Entry profile before the tie-breaking deadline were eligible to receive an Invitation to Apply.

Express Entry Draws List 2026

Date	Draw Type	Minimum CRS	Number of ITAs
August 19	French-Language Proficiency	382	5,000
August 18	Canadian Experience Class	523	1,000
August 17	Provincial Nominee Program	760	442
August 7	Transport	470	300
August 6	French-Language Proficiency	391	5,000
August 5	Canadian Experience Class	516	3,000
August 4	Provincial Nominee Program	768	507
July 23	Skilled Military Recruits	368	4
July 22	French Language Proficiency	399	5,000
July 21	Canadian Experience Class	516	2,000
July 20	Provincial Nominee Program	744	511
July 10	Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	392	500
July 9	French Language Proficiency	420	5,000
July 7	Canadian Experience Class	517	2,000
July 6	Provincial Nominee Program	708	534
June 25	Healthcare and Social Services	475	4,000
June 24	Physicians with Canadian Work Experience	223	271
June 23	Canadian Experience Class	516	4,000
June 22	Provincial Nominee Program	730	955
May 28	French Language Proficiency	409	4,500
May 27	Canadian Experience Class	518	3,000
May 25	Provincial Nominee Program	805	334
May 11	Provincial Nominee Program	798	380
April 29	French Language Proficiency	400	4,000
April 28	Canadian Experience Class	514	2,000
April 27	Provincial Nominee Program	795	473
April 15	French Language Proficiency	419	4,000
April 14	Canadian Experience Class	515	2,000
April 13	Provincial Nominee Program	789	324
April 2	Trades	477	3,000
March 31	Canadian Experience Class	509	2,250
March 30	Provincial Nominee Program	802	356
March 18	French Language Proficiency	393	4,000
March 17	Canadian Experience Class	507	4,000
March 16	Provincial Nominee Program	742	362
March 5	Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	429	250
March 4	French Language Proficiency	397	5,500
March 3	Canadian Experience Class	508	4,000
March 2	Provincial Nominee Program	710	264
February 20	Healthcare and social services	467	4,000
February 19	Physicians with Canadian work experience	169	391
February 17	Canadian Experience Class	508	6,000
February 16	Provincial Nominee Program	789	279
February 6	French Language Proficiency	400	8,500
February 3	Provincial Nominee Program	749	423
January 21	Canadian Experience Class	509	6,000
January 20	Provincial Nominee Program	746	681
January 7	Canadian Experience Class	511	8,000
January 5	Provincial Nominee Program	711	574

CRS Score Drops by Nine Points

The latest draw saw the CRS cutoff fall by nine points compared to the previous French-language proficiency draw held on August 6, 2026.

In that earlier draw, IRCC invited 5,000 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 391.

The latest score of 382 shows a notable reduction and represents the lowest CRS requirement for a French-language proficiency Express Entry draw since March 2025.

For candidates who have been improving their French-language skills to increase their chances of Canadian permanent residence, the latest draw highlights the continued importance of French proficiency in Canada’s Express Entry system.

Express Entry Draws Continue Across Multiple Categories

The August 19 draw followed several Express Entry rounds held earlier in the month.

Recent draws included invitations for:

• Provincial Nominee Program candidates
• Canadian Experience Class candidates
• French-speaking candidates
• Transport professionals

Earlier this week, IRCC invited 442 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a CRS score of 760. This was followed by a Canadian Experience Class draw on August 18, where 1,000 candidates received invitations with a minimum CRS score of 523.

The latest French-language draw has significantly lower CRS requirements compared to many program-specific draws, making French proficiency an important advantage for eligible Express Entry candidates.

French-Language Candidates Remain a Major Focus

French-speaking candidates have continued to receive a significant number of invitations through Express Entry in 2026.

So far this year, French-language proficiency draws have accounted for 10 Express Entry rounds, with a total of 50,500 Invitations to Apply issued.

This makes French-language proficiency one of the largest Express Entry categories in terms of invitations issued during 2026.

Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the highest number of invitations among candidates with Canadian work experience, while French-speaking candidates have also remained a major priority under category-based selection.

Express Entry Invitations Issued in 2026

As of the latest draw, IRCC has issued 119,865 Invitations to Apply through Express Entry in 2026.

The largest number of invitations has been issued through the following categories:

Draw Type	ITAs Issued in 2026
French-Language Proficiency	50,500
Canadian Experience Class	49,250
Healthcare and Social Services	8,000
Provincial Nominee Program	7,399
Trades	3,000
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	750
Physicians with Canadian Work Experience	662
Transport	300
Skilled Military Recruits	4

The figures demonstrate IRCC’s continued focus on selecting candidates who can meet Canada’s labour market and demographic needs.

What This Means for Canada PR Applicants

The latest Express Entry draw is particularly positive news for candidates with strong French-language skills.

A CRS score of 382 is considerably lower than the scores generally required in Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program draws. This means candidates who may not qualify under other Express Entry categories could improve their chances of receiving an invitation by demonstrating strong French-language proficiency.

Candidates planning to apply for Canadian permanent residence should regularly review their Express Entry profile, improve their language scores where possible and ensure that all information and documents remain accurate and up to date.

At Oasis Visas, we help eligible candidates understand their Canadian immigration options and prepare for their permanent residence journey. If you are planning to apply through Express Entry, our team can help you assess your profile and explore the most suitable pathway toward Canada PR.

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