Express Entry Draw Update: French-Language Proficiency Round #2 2026 Held on July 9, 2026

IRCC held a new Express Entry round of invitations on July 9, 2026. This was a category-based round for French-language proficiency, and it is the second French-language proficiency round of 2026. Here is everything you need to know about it.

The Latest Draw at a Glance

If two candidates ended up with the same CRS score of 420, the tie-break rule applied. In that case, IRCC gave priority to whoever submitted their Express Entry profile earlier than the tie-break date and time listed above.

IRCC also confirmed that an earlier issue affecting invitations in the French-language proficiency round from May 28, 2026, has now been resolved, and eligible candidates from that round should have received their invitation.

What Does a French-Language Proficiency Round Actually Mean?

This was not a general round. Category-based rounds happen when the Minister sets a specific economic goal, and only candidates who are eligible for that category and already sitting in the Express Entry pool get invited. To be in the pool at all, a candidate must first be eligible for one of the three programs managed through Express Entry.

This is exactly why the CRS cut-off for this round, 420, sits well below what you would normally see in a general or Canadian Experience Class round. The pool of candidates eligible under the French-language category is smaller, so IRCC can reach further down the ranking and still fill the 5,000 invitations.

Why does this draw matter to you?

If you have strong French-language test results, this round is a clear signal. Candidates who do not qualify through a general round are still getting invited through category-based rounds like this one, often at a much lower CRS score.

If your CRS score is sitting below the general round cut-off but you have not yet tested your French, this may be the gap in your profile worth closing. Strong French ability can add significant additional CRS points on top of whatever the category itself opens up for you.

How does IRCC run every round?

IRCC lays out the process behind every round of invitations the same way, regardless of type:

1. IRCC chooses the type of round to hold.
2. IRCC decides how many candidates to invite.
3. IRCC identifies the highest-ranking candidates in the pool who are eligible for that round type.
4. IRCC invites those candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination continue to be invited through general rounds and through Provincial Nominee Program-specific rounds. According to this source, this pattern has remained consistent across recent rounds.

Previous draw of the French

Need Personalized Immigration Advice?

Every Express Entry profile is different, and a draw like this one can open a door for you that a general round never will. If you want to know exactly where you stand and what it would take to get invited, book a consultation with our licensed RCIC consultant to discuss your specific situation.

Please let us know how we can help you. If you would like to get a consultation, kindly feel free to book an appointment at the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the CRS cut-off for the July 9, 2026 draw? 

The lowest-ranked candidate invited in this round had a CRS score of 420. This was a category-based round for French-language proficiency, not a general round, which is why the score is lower than what general rounds usually require.

Do I need to be eligible for a specific program to get invited in a category-based round? 

Yes. You must first be eligible for one of the three programs managed through Express Entry to be placed in the pool. From there, only candidates who also meet the category’s requirements, in this case French-language proficiency, get invited.

What happens if my CRS score matches the cut-off exactly? 

If more than one candidate has the same lowest score, IRCC applies a tie-break rule based on the date and time the profile was submitted. For this round, the tie-break date was May 15, 2026, at 08:04:00 UTC, so profiles submitted before that date and time were given priority.