IRCC issued 5,000 French-language ITAs on October 27, 2026 at CRS 407, down 28 points from October 16.
On October 27, 2026, IRCC held its second French-language round in 11 days, inviting 5,000 candidates at a minimum CRS of 407. That is 28 points below the 435 cutoff on October 16.
This was round #452, run under the "French-language proficiency 2026-Version 2" instructions at 10:17:26 UTC. The tie-breaking cutoff was July 13, 2026 at 19:22:00 UTC: candidates at exactly 407 who submitted their profile before that moment were invited.
To be considered you needed French test results at NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities and eligibility for one of the federal programs. IRCC ranked eligible profiles by CRS and invited from the top until it reached 5,000.
The draw size matched October 16, so the 28-point drop reflects who was left in the pool after that round. The October 16 round took in everyone scoring 435 and above (subject to the tie-break), so the next round had to reach lower. IRCC has not published pool data for this round, so treat that as our reading of the pattern.
| Date | ITAs issued | CRS cutoff |
|---|
| July 9, 2026 | 5,000 | 420 |
| July 22, 2026 | 5,000 | 399 |
| August 6, 2026 | 5,000 | 391 |
| August 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| October 16, 2026 | 5,000 | 435 |
| October 27, 2026 | 5,000 | 407 |
The cutoff is now back inside the 380-420 band seen over the summer. Every French round this year has been 5,000 ITAs in this table, so the cutoff is the number that moves.
If you scored 407 or higher with NCLC 7+ in French: check your Express Entry account for an ITA.
If you scored 380-406: you are close. Rounds with a 5,000 draw size have repeatedly pulled the cutoff down, so a further round could reach you, though IRCC publishes no calendar. A stronger TEF or TCF result can add points to both your CRS and category ranking; see our TEF and TCF guide.
If you do not speak French: this category is not open to you. See category-based draws explained.
Tip
French test results are valid for two years. Check the expiry date against the day you will submit your PR application, not just the day you entered the pool.
You have 60 days, until about December 26, 2026, to submit a complete application. Start with police certificates, your education credential assessment and the medical exam.
Express Entry rounds pause from November 3 while IRCC rescores the pool, which it said could take up to two weeks. No restart date is confirmed. Because the new scoring adds points for high-wage Canadian work and job offers, French-language cutoffs after the restart may not be comparable with the numbers above.
CRS Calculator | All Express Entry Draws | French language and Canada immigration
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.