Canada Issues New Round of Invitations for Permanent Residency Applicants

On 29 October 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 6,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the French language stream of the Express Entry system, setting the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score at 416.

The draw, the 376th round of invitations, represents a significant increase compared with the previous French-language draw. Candidates with identical CRS scores were prioritised using the tie-breaking rule, which applied to profiles submitted before 15:27 UTC on 8 September 2025. 

The higher volume of invitations and relatively low CRS threshold highlight the federal government’s ongoing focus on attracting French-speaking talent outside Quebec. Compared with the 6 October draw, which targeted the Canadian Experience Class and issued 4,500 invitations with a higher CRS score, the latest round reflects both a numerical increase and a 16-point reduction in the cut-off. 

The decline suggests a strategic effort to broaden access for candidates with strong French language skills who may not meet higher thresholds in other streams. Eligibility for Express Entry requires proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages, assessed through standardised tests. 

French proficiency is measured via the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC), while English is assessed with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Candidates are advised to list their strongest language as their first official language in their profile, as it can significantly affect CRS scores.

IRCC grants additional points for strong French skills. Candidates who achieve NCLC level 7 or higher across all four language competencies may receive 25 bonus points if their English proficiency is limited (CLB 4 or below) or untested. If they also reach CLB 5 or higher in English, the bonus increases to 50 points, rewarding bilingualism and supporting integration.

As of 26 October 2025, the Express Entry pool contains 248,253 candidates. The largest group, over 72,000 profiles, falls within the 401–450 CRS range. Another 69,503 candidates score between 451 and 500, while just over 26,000 exceed 500 points. These figures illustrate the competitive nature of the pool and the importance of targeted draws in shaping immigration outcomes.

The French language stream remains a key component of Canada’s strategy to meet Francophone immigration targets, particularly in provinces and territories outside Quebec. By lowering the CRS threshold and increasing invitations, IRCC is emphasising linguistic duality and regional population growth.

Prospective applicants are advised to monitor draw trends and ensure that language test results are current.