French-Speaking Candidates Invited in Latest IRCC Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, inviting 800 candidates with French-language proficiency to apply for permanent residency. To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 466.

December brought the second Express Entry draw, with another Provincial Nominee Program candidates held in PNP draw on 2nd of December. As many as six draws and in November IRCC conducted where in a total of 5,507 ITAs have issued for permanent residence.

Consistent trends have emerged in recent months, with frequent draws targeting candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the PNP. This trend is expected to continue with the introduction of the new “In-Canada” category, which focuses on applicants with Canadian work or study experience. This category may also include candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, the “In-Canada” category has been allocated 82,980 permanent residence admissions, which is more than 40% of all planned admissions next year.

French-speaking candidates continue to be a focus for IRCC. The number of permanent residence spots allocated to Francophone immigrants outside Quebec will increase to 29,235 in 2025, with further increases planned for 2026 and 2027 as part of IRCC’s Francophone immigration strategy.

Latest Draw Details 

• Draw Date: December 3, 2024
• Draw Type: French Language Proficiency  
• Number of Invitations: 800
• Minimum CRS Score Required: 466

Express Entry Draws List

Overview of Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada’s web-based application management system. It deals with three types of federal economic immigration programs:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Express Entry-aligned PNP streams also invite candidates as enhanced provincial nominations through this system.

It awards ranking using the Comprehensive Ranking System, which ranks candidates with regard to factors such as age, education, work experience, and proficiency in language. A nomination by a province adds 600 CRS points, increasing a candidate’s chances of an ITA immensely.

Applicants can score additional points if they have siblings in Canada, apply with a spouse, or if they combine their Canadian and international work or education experience.

Recently, IRCC introduced category-based selection draws targeting candidates with specific skills, occupations, or language abilities that align with Canada’s labor market and demographic needs. The CRS cut-offs for such draws are often lower than general or program-specific draws, providing more opportunities for candidates in targeted categories to receive ITAs.

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