Draw #401

Express Entry draw #401 was held on March 4, 2026, issuing 5,500 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the French language category with a minimum CRS score of 397.

The CRS cutoff dropped 3 points compared to the previous French language draw, suggesting increased competition relief or larger pool capacity. The number of invitations decreased by 3,000 compared to the previous round.

A cutoff of 397 is notably low for Express Entry, making this round accessible to a wide range of candidates including those without Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination.

French-language draws target candidates with strong French proficiency, reflecting Canada's commitment to bilingualism and Francophone immigration outside Quebec.

If your CRS score is within 30 points of this cutoff, focusing on language test improvement or gaining additional Canadian work experience could make the difference in an upcoming draw.