French-language Express Entry draws have run since July 2023, and in 2026 IRCC has held them roughly every two to three weeks with 4,000–5,000+ invitations each. Reported 2026 cut-offs have mostly sat between the high 300s and the low 400s, for example 399 on July 22, 391 on August 6 and 382 on August 19, 2026. Plan for about 400, not for the lowest number you have seen.
Key takeaways
- French draws started in July 2023. Cut-offs are not set in advance; they fall out of each draw.
- 2026 rounds have been large (about 4,000–5,000+ ITAs) and frequent (every 2–3 weeks, reported).
- Reported 2026 cut-offs: mostly high 300s to low 400s. Recent ones: 399, 391, 382.
- Small rounds push cut-offs up; big rounds pull them down. Volume matters more than the calendar.
- Eligibility needs NCLC 7 in all four French skills. The seat for the test is often the slowest step.
On this page
IRCC has run French-language proficiency draws since July 2023. In 2026 they have been the most-used Express Entry category, with rounds reported every two to three weeks and 4,000–5,000+ invitations each. Reported cut-offs have mostly landed between the high 300s and low 400s.
None of these numbers is an official target. IRCC publishes each round after it happens, and the cut-off is simply the score of the last person invited. So the useful question is not "what will the next cut-off be" but "what range should I plan for".
- Jul 2023
- First French-language draw
- ~2–3 wks
- Gap between 2026 French draws (reported)
- 382–420
- Most recent reported 2026 cut-offs
How have French draw cut-offs moved since 2023?
#Figures below are as reported by third-party trackers and rounded into ranges. Check the official IRCC rounds page for any specific round.
French-language draws, reported trend
- 2023The category starts, with small roundsFirst French draws in July 2023. Rounds were mostly small (hundreds to a few thousand ITAs), and cut-offs swung widely, from the 370s up to the 480s.
- Early 2024The lowest cut-offs so farLarge rounds pulled cut-offs down to the 330s–360s. A reported 336 in February 2024 is still the lowest French cut-off on record.
- 2025French becomes a priority categoryCut-offs ranged from about 379 (March 2025, a large round) to the high 400s in some smaller later rounds. French was used more than any other category.
- 2026Big, regular roundsRounds of roughly 4,000–5,000+ ITAs every few weeks. Reported cut-offs mostly between the high 300s and low 400s, and around 50,000 French ITAs by August.
- Jul–Aug 2026Recent reported roundsJuly 22: 399 (5,000 ITAs). August 6: 391 (5,000). August 19: 382 (5,000).
| Date | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2026 | 5,000 | 399 |
| August 6, 2026 | 5,000 | 391 |
| August 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
Why does the cut-off go up and down?
#- Round size. A 500-ITA round only reaches the top of the French pool, so the cut-off is high. A 5,000-ITA round reaches much deeper.
- Time since the last round. Longer gaps let more high-scoring French candidates build up in the pool.
- Targets. IRCC's 2026–2028 levels plan aims for 9% of permanent residents outside Quebec to be French-speaking in 2026, rising to 10.5% in 2028. That target is why French rounds have grown.
- Who is in the pool. Every candidate who reaches NCLC 7 in French joins the same queue, so a surge in French test-takers can nudge scores up.
What cut-off should you plan for?
#Plan for around 400. If your score with French is comfortably above that, you are in the range that most 2026 French rounds have reached. If you are in the 380s, you may be invited in a big round, but you are relying on luck.
Above almost every reported 2026 French cut-off. Your job is timing: get a valid TEF or TCF Canada result with NCLC 7 in all four skills and create your profile while it is valid.
Inside the range most 2026 rounds have reached. A few more points give you a buffer: NCLC 8 or 9 in French as your first official language, or a better English result, can add real points. See is NCLC 7 enough?
Only the largest rounds have gone this low. Look for points first: higher French levels, an English test for the +50 bonus instead of +25, education credentials. The CRS language calculator shows what each level is worth.
Best next step: raise French writing from NCLC 6 to 7 → +58 points (unlocks the French bonus).
- NCLC 7 in every French skill → +58 points (includes the +50 French bonus, and opens French-language draws)
Uses IRCC’s CRS criteria. Language only: skill-transferability points (language combined with education or foreign work, up to 100) and your spouse’s language (up to 20) are separate. For your full score, use IRCC’s official CRS tool. Have raw TEF or TCF scores? Use the full calculator.
For the full list of French points, read how many CRS points French is worth. For who is eligible for these draws, see what NCLC 7 gets you in French draws.
Who gets considered in a French draw?
#- Myth
IRCC announces the French cut-off before the draw.
FactNo. The cut-off is only known after the round: it is the score of the lowest-ranked person invited.
- Myth
The cut-off will stay at 382 because the last draw was 382.
FactEach round depends on its size and on who is in the pool. Recent rounds alone have moved by almost 40 points.
- Myth
You need a job offer to be picked in a French draw.
FactNo. Job offer CRS points were removed in March 2025, and French rounds rank on CRS. See French PR without a job offer.
Check yourself
1 of 3.When did French-language Express Entry draws start?
2 of 3.What usually pushes a French cut-off down?
3 of 3.What CRS is sensible to plan around for 2026 French draws?
Questions people ask
It changes every round. Reported 2026 French cut-offs have mostly sat between the high 300s and low 400s, for example 399 on July 22, 391 on August 6 and 382 on August 19, 2026. Check IRCC's rounds page for the latest.
In 2026 they have been reported roughly every two to three weeks, usually with 4,000–5,000 or more invitations. IRCC does not publish a schedule in advance.
A reported 336 in February 2024, during a period of very large rounds. It has not been repeated since.
Nobody can promise that. IRCC's targets for French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec are rising through 2028, which supports large rounds, but more people are also reaching NCLC 7.
Yes. French-language proficiency rounds only consider candidates with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Terms in this guide
- ITA
- French-language proficiency draw
- CRS
- English tests accepted by IRCC
- NCLC 7
- Express Entry
- NCLC
- Alliance Française
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations
- IRCC: Category-based selection
- IRCC: Supplementary information, 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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