Dear future neighbour,
Canada’s immigration department was busy this week. On October 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 5,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence in a French-language Express Entry draw. The lowest score that made the cut was 407.
That is 28 points lower than the previous French-language draw on October 16, when the cutoff was 435. The number of invitations stayed the same, but IRCC went further down the list of French-speaking candidates this time.
It was also the second draw in two days. A Provincial Nominee Program draw took place on October 26 and invited 792 candidates. Together, the two draws sent out 5,792 invitations in just 48 hours.
If your CRS score was stuck somewhere between 407 and 434 and you have strong French, this draw may have been the opening you were waiting for.
See the full results below:
| Draw details | Results |
|---|---|
| Express Entry draw number | 452 |
| Date | October 27, 2026 |
| Draw category | French-Language proficiency |
| Invitations issued | 5,000 |
| Minimum CRS score | 407 |
| Tie-breaking rule | July 13, 2026 |
The tie-breaking rule only mattered for candidates who scored exactly 407. Where several people had the same score, IRCC looked at when each profile was submitted. Candidates with 407 points whose profiles were submitted before that cutoff time were considered for an invitation, as long as they met all the other requirements.
How the French-language cutoff has moved
The 5,000-invitation size has been steady, but the minimum score has gone up and down quite a bit.
| Draw date | Invitations | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|
| October 27, 2026 | 5,000 | 407 |
| October 16, 2026 | 5,000 | 435 |
| August 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| August 6, 2026 | 5,000 | 391 |
| July 22, 2026 | 5,000 | 399 |
| July 9, 2026 | 5,000 | 420 |
Across these six rounds, IRCC invited 30,000 French-speaking candidates. The lowest cutoff was 382 on August 19, and the highest was 435 on October 16. The latest score of 407 sits in the middle.
Past results don’t promise anything about future draws, though. A score that qualified last time might not qualify next time, so you can’t plan around one number.
Who can get an invitation in these draws?
French-language draws are for candidates who meet specific language requirements. Under the current category rules, you need at least NCLC 7 in all four skills:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
Your results must come from an approved French-language test and must be less than two years old. You also need to qualify under one of the programs managed through Express Entry.
Meeting these requirements doesn’t guarantee an invitation. Candidates are still ranked by CRS score, and IRCC invites the highest-ranking ones until it reaches the number set for that draw. Canada runs these rounds to support French-speaking immigration outside Quebec.
How the other draws compare
Here are the latest Express Entry rounds, so you can see how different the cutoffs are from one category to another.
| Draw | Date | Category | Invitations | CRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 452 | October 27 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 407 |
| 451 | October 26 | Provincial Nominee Program | 792 | 761 |
| 450 | October 16 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 435 |
| 449 | October 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,500 | 519 |
| 448 | October 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 752 | 772 |
| 447 | October 1 | Trades occupations | 3,500 | 476 |
| 446 | September 29 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 518 |
| 445 | September 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 733 | 725 |
| 444 | September 16 | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 250 | 389 |
| 443 | September 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 519 |
| 442 | September 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 576 | 734 |
| 441 | September 4 | Healthcare and social services occupations | 3,500 | 475 |
| 440 | September 3 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 229 | 198 |
| 439 | September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 2,000 | 521 |
| 438 | August 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 562 | 697 |
| 437 | August 19 | French-language proficiency | 5,000 | 382 |
The PNP scores look huge because a provincial nomination adds 600 extra CRS points. That is why the October 26 PNP draw needed 761 while the French-language draw needed only 407. The Canadian Experience Class has also been demanding lately, with its last three draws landing at 519, 518 and 519.
Don’t compare these scores directly, though. Each draw looks at a different group of candidates, so a cutoff of 407 in one category is not “easier” than 519 in another for the same person.
What comes next?
IRCC hasn’t confirmed the date, category or size of the next draw. Recent rounds show it keeps rotating between categories, so the next one could target almost anyone. The practical lesson is to get your profile and documents ready now rather than waiting for the draw that suits you.
Ready to Turn Your Express Entry Profile Into an Invitation?
Watching draws from the sidelines is stressful, especially when you don’t know which category fits you best. The October 27 draw showed that French-language skills can open a different door, with a cutoff of 407 against 519 for the latest Canadian Experience Class draw. Whether that door is open to you depends on your language scores, work history and the program you qualify for.
That’s where we come in. Book a consultation at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and we will look at your profile, your CRS score and your best route forward. We help with Express Entry, provincial nomination, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications and school admissions. Your next invitation could be closer than you think, so let’s find the right path together.