Express Entry French draws: the last draw, who is eligible, recent rounds

The most recent Express Entry French draw on IRCC’s page is round 452 on 27 October 2026: 5,000 invitations, with a lowest score invited of 407 [3]. This page gives that draw first, then every French draw IRCC has run in 2026, who is eligible and how to check for a newer one. The level these rounds ask for is set out in CLB 7 in French. For the points French adds to your score, see Express Entry French points. For other ways in, see French PR pathways in Canada.

When was the last Express Entry French draw?

The last French-language proficiency round on IRCC’s list is round 452 on 27 October 2026 [3]. IRCC invited 5,000 candidates, and the lowest-ranked candidate invited had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 407 [3].

The newest round of any type in IRCC’s data is round 453 on 28 October 2026, and it is not a French round [3]. A new French draw can happen after what we show, so open IRCC’s list of rounds and check that round 452 is still the latest French one [2]. Our table is a copy, and the list is the record.

What are the Express Entry French draws in 2026 so far?

IRCC has run 12 French-language proficiency draws in 2026, from 6 February to 27 October [3]. The table copies each one from IRCC’s list of rounds [2][3]. The lowest score is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in that round [2].

The last column is our own count of days since the previous French round, worked out from the dates. IRCC does not publish it. The 6 February gap counts back to the 17 December 2025 French round, round 388.

IRCC names all 12 rounds “French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2” [3]. Between 19 August and 16 October, IRCC’s list holds only rounds of other types, rounds 438 to 449 [3]. Round 451, on 26 October, is a Provincial Nominee Program round [3].

How do you check for a new French draw yourself?

Open IRCC’s list of Express Entry rounds and look for the newest French-language proficiency round [2]. The list can be searched, filtered and sorted by its fields [2]. In four steps:

1. Open IRCC’s list of Express Entry rounds [2].
2. Filter or search the round type for “French”.
3. Sort by date so the newest round is first.
4. Compare its round number with round 452 at the top of this page.

IRCC publishes the same list as a data file, which is what we read for the table above [3]. If the newest French round on IRCC’s list has a higher number than 452, it is newer than what this page shows.

What is an Express Entry French draw?

An Express Entry French draw is a category-based round of invitations for the French-language proficiency category. In category-based rounds, IRCC invites candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a category set by the Minister to meet an economic goal [1]. French-language proficiency is 1 of 10 categories IRCC lists [1].

“French draw” is the everyday name. IRCC’s own list calls it a French-language proficiency round [2][3]. In a category-based round, IRCC ranks the candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements and invites the top-ranking ones to apply for permanent residence [1].

Who is eligible for the French stream in Express Entry?

You are eligible if your French test results show NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 abilities and you meet the rules for that round. There is no separate French program. The “French stream” people search for is this category inside Express Entry [1].

Three details follow from IRCC’s pages:

• All 4 abilities count. Speaking, listening, reading and writing each need NCLC 7 or higher [1]. One ability at NCLC 6 means you are not eligible for the category.
• You still need Express Entry itself. You must meet the minimum Express Entry criteria, including eligibility for 1 of the 3 programs it covers [1].
• Only approved tests count. IRCC accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada as French tests for Express Entry [4]. Results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply for permanent residence [4]. Our French test for Canadian PR guide covers the two tests.

What does the lowest CRS score in a French draw mean?

It is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate IRCC invited in that round [2]. The score only counts candidates who were eligible for the category in that round [1]. It is not a fixed requirement of Express Entry, and a past score says nothing official about any future round.

Questions people ask

When is the next Express Entry French draw?

You cannot know the date of the next French draw in advance. The IRCC pages we read give no date for the next French round, so do not plan around a date you read elsewhere. To see whether a new one has been held, follow the steps in the section on checking for a new draw yourself.

What CRS score do you need for a French draw?

IRCC sets no single score for French draws. The lowest score invited in the 12 rounds of 2026 in the table ranged from 382 on 19 August to 435 on 16 October, and was 407 in the latest round [3]. Each round has its own instructions, and candidates must meet the requirements in them [1].

Do you need CLB 7 in French for an Express Entry French draw?

Yes. IRCC’s French-language proficiency category asks for French test results with a minimum score of 7 in all 4 abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) [1]. See CLB 7 in French for what that level means.

How often are Express Entry French draws held?

IRCC held 12 French draws from 6 February to 27 October 2026 [3]. The gap between one French draw and the next ranged from 11 to 58 days in that period, by our count from IRCC’s dates [3].

Common mistakes

• Counting on 3 strong abilities. The category needs NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 [1].
• Thinking the French category replaces Express Entry. You still need to meet the minimum Express Entry criteria and a program’s requirements [1].
• Reading the lowest score as a target. It describes a past round. The score went from 435 on 16 October to 407 on 27 October 2026 [3]. Each round has its own instructions, and candidates must meet the requirements in them [1].
• Using expired results. French test results must be less than 2 years old at profile and at application [4].
• Relying on a list of draws from a blog, including this one. IRCC adds rounds to its list as they happen. Compare the latest round on its list with the last draw at the top of this page, and check the official page’s date against ours.

Sources