On July 9, 2026, IRCC issued 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence in a French-language proficiency draw. Two days earlier, a Canadian Experience Class round invited 2,000 candidates in the low 500s. French rounds in 2026 have consistently invited candidates with CRS scores hundreds of points below the general cut-off.
Why French draws are so generous
Canada has legislated targets for francophone immigration outside Quebec, and category-based selection is the main tool for hitting them. The result is the largest and most persistent discount in the CRS system. For many candidates, 18 months of serious French study is worth more than a decade of extra work experience.
What you actually need
The category requires French proficiency of at least CLB 7 in all four abilities, proven by an accepted test such as the TEF Canada or TCF Canada. You do not need to live in a francophone community or work in French. You do need results that are valid at the time you receive an invitation.
The math for a typical candidate
Consider a candidate with a CRS around 430: strong, but well short of recent general cut-offs above 500. Reaching CLB 7 French does two things at once. It adds points directly, up to 50 additional points for strong French combined with English, and it unlocks category rounds that have been inviting in the high 300s and low 400s. The combined effect regularly turns a stalled profile into an invitation within months.
A note on timing
Test seats in Vancouver and other major cities book out weeks in advance, and results take time. If French is part of your plan for 2026 or 2027, book the test before you feel ready, not after.
Official source: IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently and every case is different. For advice about your situation, book a consultation.
About the author
Miguel Martins Pereirinha is a Canadian immigration lawyer and partner at Slayen Immigration Law in Vancouver, British Columbia. He practises Canadian immigration law exclusively — work permits, permanent residence, family sponsorship, citizenship and inadmissibility — and works with clients in English and Portuguese.
