Dear future neighbour,
On March 6, 2025, IRCC sent out 4,500 invitations to apply for permanent residency in a French Language Focused Express Entry Draw. Candidates eligible for this draw were those who demonstrated French language proficiency by achieving a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) scale.
This is the second draw in the month of March, prior to this draw, a Provincial Nominee Program category based draw was held on the 3rd of March were 725 candidates were invited to apply for PR.
See below details of French Language Focused Express Entry Draw
- Date: March 6, 2025
- Category: French language proficiency (Version 1)
- Number of Invitations: 4,500
- Lowest CRS Score Invited: 410
- Rank Required: 4,500 or higher
- Tie-Breaking Rule: February 11, 2025
This draw aligns with Canada’s strategic focus on enhancing Francophone immigration outside of Quebec. The IRCC has set targets to welcome 26,100 French-speaking permanent residents in 2024, with numbers increasing to 31,500 in 2025 and 36,000 by 2026.
The relatively low CRS cut-off score of 410 in this draw suggests a competitive advantage for candidates with strong French language skills. Notably, this score is lower than those in previous draws, indicating a potential shift in IRCC’s selection priorities.
See below details of all Express Entry Draw in 2025
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 6 | French language proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| February 19 | French language proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
See below details of latest CRS breakdown
| CRS score range | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| 601-1200 | 807 |
| 501-600 | 23,075 |
| 451-500 | 66,792 |
| 491-500 | 13,174 |
| 481-490 | 12,730 |
| 471-480 | 15,213 |
| 461-470 | 13,377 |
| 451-460 | 12,298 |
| 401-450 | 61,383 |
| 441-450 | 11,822 |
| 431-440 | 12,429 |
| 421-430 | 12,072 |
| 411-420 | 13,014 |
| 401-410 | 12,046 |
| 351-400 | 49,555 |
| 301-350 | 20,573 |
| 0-300 | 5,637 |
| Total | 227,822 |
If you are aiming to immigrate to Canada through the Express Entry system, you should consider enhancing your French language proficiency to increase your competitiveness. Achieving higher NCLC levels can significantly boost CRS scores and improve chances of receiving ITAs in future draws.
Do you have French Language Proficiency? Are you yet to create an express entry profile? Do you require assistance with securing a visitor visa for Canada, seeking professional aid in submitting a visa or work permit application. Schedule a consultation or reach out via email at info@eseumohimmigration.com