French-language Express Entry draws have run since July 2023. From February to October 2026, IRCC held 12 of them, 11 to 58 days apart, with 4,000 to 8,500 invitations each. Cut-offs ranged from 382 to 435; the latest were 435 on October 16 and 407 on October 27, 2026. All of these used the old grid. IRCC changed the CRS on November 3, 2026, and paused rounds during the recalculation that began that day, so check the rounds page for the latest.
Key takeaways
- French draws started in July 2023. Cut-offs are not set in advance; they fall out of each draw.
- February to October 2026: 12 rounds of 4,000 to 8,500 ITAs, 11 to 58 days apart.
- 2026 cut-offs on IRCC's rounds page: 382 to 435. Latest: 435 (October 16) and 407 (October 27).
- All of those used the old grid. IRCC changed the CRS on November 3, 2026.
- 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. From February to October 2026 they were the most-used Express Entry category, with 12 rounds, 4,000 to 8,500 invitations each and gaps of 11 to 58 days. Cut-offs ran from 382 to 435.
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
- 11–58 days
- Gap between 2026 French draws (IRCC)
- 382–435
- 2026 cut-offs through October, old grid
How have French draw cut-offs moved since 2023?
#Figures below come from IRCC's rounds data, and rounds before November 3, 2026 used the old grid. Check the official IRCC rounds page for any specific round.
French-language draws, from IRCC's rounds data
- 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 farTwo February rounds closed at 365 and 336. The 336 on February 29, 2024 is still the lowest French cut-off on record.
- 2025French becomes a priority categoryCut-offs ranged from 379 (March 21, 7,500 ITAs) to 481 (August 8, 2,500 ITAs). French was used more than any other category.
- 2026Big, regular rounds12 rounds from February to October, each 4,000 to 8,500 ITAs. Cut-offs from 382 to 435, and 60,500 French ITAs by October 27.
- Jul–Oct 2026Recent roundsAll 5,000 ITAs. July 22: 399. August 6: 391. August 19: 382. October 16: 435. October 27: 407.
- Nov 3, 2026The grid changesIRCC added the Labour Market Integration factor and paused rounds during the recalculation that began that day. Check the rounds page for new rounds.
| Date | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | 8,500 | 400 |
| March 4, 2026 | 5,500 | 397 |
| March 18, 2026 | 4,000 | 393 |
| April 15, 2026 | 4,000 | 419 |
| April 29, 2026 | 4,000 | 400 |
| May 28, 2026 | 4,500 | 409 |
| July 9, 2026 | 5,000 | 420 |
| July 22, 2026 | 5,000 | 399 |
| August 6, 2026 | 5,000 | 391 |
| August 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| October 16, 2026 | 5,000 | 435 |
| October 27, 2026 | 5,000 | 407 |
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?
#There is no official target, and none of the 2026 cut-offs were set on the new grid. On the old grid, 2026 rounds closed between 382 and 435, and 7 of the 12 closed at 400 or higher. So plan for a buffer, not for the lowest number you have seen. Check your score on the new grid first with the CRS calculator for French draws.
At or above every 2026 French cut-off except the 435 on October 16 (old grid). Your job is timing: get a valid TEF or TCF Canada result (see upcoming exam dates) with NCLC 7 in all four skills and create your profile while it is still valid.
Inside the range 2026 rounds reached on the old grid. 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 one 2026 round closed below 390: 382 on August 19 (old grid). Look for points first: higher French levels, an English test for the +50 bonus instead of +25, education credentials, or spouse language points. The CRS language calculator shows what each level is worth.
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.
For graduates in Canada, these lower cut-offs can decide it before a permit runs out. See how French can get you PR before your PGWP expires.
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 407 because the last draw was 407.
FactEach round depends on its size and on who is in the pool. Two 2026 rounds of 5,000 invitations closed at 382 and 435, 53 points apart.
- Myth
You need a job offer to be picked in a French draw.
FactNo. French rounds rank on CRS and do not require a job offer. Since November 3, 2026, a valid offer in a high-wage occupation can add points, but only if that beats your Canadian work points. 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 range did 2026 French rounds close in, through October?
Questions people ask
It changes every round. IRCC's rounds page shows 2026 French cut-offs from 382 to 435, including 435 on October 16 and 407 on October 27, 2026. Those used the old grid. Check the rounds page for the latest.
From February to October 2026, gaps ran from 11 to 58 days, with 4,000 to 8,500 invitations each. IRCC does not publish a schedule in advance, and it paused rounds during the recalculation that began November 3, 2026.
336 on February 29, 2024, in a round of 2,500 invitations. No French round has closed lower 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) on TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
Terms in this guide
- ITA
- French-language proficiency draw
- CRS
- NCLC 7
- Express Entry
- English tests accepted by IRCC
- NCLC
- Exam session
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- IRCC: Express Entry changes, November 3, 2026
- 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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