French Draw Tracker 2026: Every Express Entry Cutoff

A French draw is an Express Entry round of invitations reserved for candidates with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities. Because only French speakers compete, the CRS cut-off in these rounds is usually 100 to 150 points below the all-program draws held in the same month.

This tracker lists every French-language proficiency round IRCC has held since the category started in 2023, with the date, the number of invitations and the CRS cut-off. It reads IRCC’s own rounds data every five minutes and is updated within minutes of a new round.

French Draw Tracker: Key Points

• Latest French draw: August 19, 2026, round #437, 5,000 invitations at a CRS cut-off of 382, 9 points lower than the round before (391 on August 6, 2026).
• 2026 so far: 10 French draws, 50,500 invitations, cut-offs between 382 and 420.
• Who qualifies: Express Entry candidates with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities on the TEF Canada or TCF Canada, plus a valid profile in the pool.
• Why the cut-off is low: French draws invite only French-speaking candidates, so the lowest-ranked invited score sits far under the all-program and CEC draws of the same month.
• Cadence: one French draw every 22 days on average over the last 10 rounds; this page is refreshed within minutes of IRCC publishing a new round (last check: October 6, 2026).

On this page

1. Key points
2. Latest French draw
3. Year by year
4. Cut-off trend
5. Every French draw
6. The French category
7. What you need
8. How often
9. FAQ
10. French classes at TFA

Latest French draw

IRCC held the most recent French-language proficiency round on August 19, 2026 (round #437). It issued 5,000 invitations to apply and the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited was 382. The round before it, on August 6, 2026, invited 5,000 candidates at 391, so the cut-off moved down by 9 points. Tie-breaking rule: profiles submitted before Mar 1, 2026, 18:34 UTC.

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French draws year by year

CRS cut-off trend since 2023

Each point is one French draw. The line shows the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited in that round.

Every French draw since 2023

The table lists every French-language proficiency round in IRCC’s Express Entry data, newest first. The tie-breaking rule is the profile-submission date and time IRCC used to separate candidates tied at the cut-off score. Download the same data as a CSV file.

What the French-language category is

In 2023 IRCC added category-based selection to Express Entry: alongside general and program-specific rounds, it now invites candidates who meet a specific goal, such as strong French or work experience in a priority occupation. The French-language proficiency category is one of them.

To be eligible for a French draw you must already be in the Express Entry pool under one of the three programs (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Trades) and have official French test results at NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities. IRCC then ranks the eligible candidates by CRS score and invites the top of that list. The cut-off is simply the score of the last candidate invited.

Pro tip: your French results must be less than two years old both when IRCC issues the invitation and when you submit the permanent residence application. A test taken early in your preparation can expire before the draw you are waiting for.

What you need to be in the next French draw

NCLC 7 in each of the four abilities on one of the two accepted tests. The minimum scores, from IRCC’s published equivalency tables:

The full band tables are on the TEF Canada score chart and the TCF Canada score chart. Enter your four scores in the TEF and TCF score calculator to see your NCLC level per ability and how far the weakest one is from NCLC 7.

French also moves your CRS score. NCLC 7 in all four abilities adds 25 points when your English is CLB 4 or lower (or untested) and 50 points when your English is CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities, on top of the core points for French as a first or second official language. The French CRS points calculator shows the exact gain for your profile.

If you are not there yet, the CLB 7 in TEF Canada guide sets out the timelines, and our TEF Canada preparation course and TCF Canada preparation course train all four abilities with weekly corrected practice.

How often French draws happen

There is no published calendar. In 2026 IRCC has held 10 French draws, between 13 and 42 days apart; the average gap over the last 10 rounds is 22 days. The longest pause since the category started was 140 days. Draws are usually announced on a weekday during Ottawa business hours and appear in IRCC’s rounds table the same day; this page checks that table every five minutes.

French draw FAQ

French classes at Toronto French Academy

Toronto French Academy prepares Express Entry candidates for the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada with small live groups, private classes and weekly corrected practice, online and in Toronto. Most students who start at A2 or B1 reach NCLC 7 in four to six months. Book a demo class to have your current level assessed against the next French draw.