In 2025, IRCC sent 48,000 invitations in 9 Express Entry French draws, then 55,500 in 11 draws in 2026 as of October 22, according to our calculations from IRCC data. The minimum CRS score ranged from 379 to 481 in 2025 and from 382 to 435 in 2026. To be invited, you need CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) in all four French skills, according to IRCC.
Round-by-round results
The two tables list every round in the “French-language proficiency” category, based on IRCC's “Rondes d'invitations” (rounds of invitations) page and its data file, updated October 16, 2026. The totals are our calculations from these data. The CRS, or Comprehensive Ranking System, is the score given to each profile.
2025: 9 rounds and 48,000 invitations
| Date (2025) | Invitations | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|
| February 19 | 6,500 | 428 |
| March 6 | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 21 | 7,500 | 379 |
| August 8 | 2,500 | 481 |
| September 4 | 4,500 | 446 |
| October 6 | 4,500 | 432 |
| October 29 | 6,000 | 416 |
| November 28 | 6,000 | 408 |
| December 17 | 6,000 | 399 |
| Total 2025 (9 rounds) | 48,000 | 379 to 481 |
2026: 11 rounds as of October 22
| Date (2026) | Invitations | Minimum CRS |
|---|---|---|
| February 6 | 8,500 | 400 |
| March 4 | 5,500 | 397 |
| March 18 | 4,000 | 393 |
| April 15 | 4,000 | 419 |
| April 29 | 4,000 | 400 |
| May 28 | 4,500 | 409 |
| July 9 | 5,000 | 420 |
| July 22 | 5,000 | 399 |
| August 6 | 5,000 | 391 |
| August 19 | 5,000 | 382 |
| October 16 | 5,000 | 435 |
| Total 2026 as of October 22 (11 rounds) | 55,500 | 382 to 435 |
These scores describe past rounds. They cannot predict the cut-off for the next round, and a profile above a previous cut-off has no guarantee of an invitation. As of October 22, 2026, the date of our review, the latest French-language round had taken place on October 16: others may have been held since.
A category that carries real weight in Express Entry
According to our calculations from IRCC data, the French-language category accounted for 42.1% of all Express Entry invitations in 2025 (48,000 out of 113,998) and 38.7% in 2026 as of October 22 (55,500 out of 143,467). It has grown sharply: IRCC sent 8,700 French-language invitations in 2023, then 23,000 in 2024.
The score gap is clear. Over the same years, the minimum CRS in Canadian Experience Class rounds ranged from 507 to 547, compared with 379 to 481 for the French-language category, according to the same IRCC data. For a candidate from French-speaking Africa, CLB 7 in French is therefore the main lever.
IRCC confirmed the “French-language proficiency” category for 2026 in its news release of February 18, 2026. Past volumes are only benchmarks: they guarantee neither the number of future rounds nor an individual invitation. Our article on permanent residents from 13 countries shows what comes next in the process.
Express Entry is also the main pathway for Francophone immigration outside Québec: according to IRCC, 22,505 of the 29,630 French-speaking immigrants admitted outside Québec in 2025 came through this system. Our article on Francophone immigration outside Québec presents the federal targets.
The conditions for receiving an invitation
According to IRCC's page on category-based selection (updated October 16, 2026), you need CLB 7 or higher in each French skill, with a test less than 2 years old. IRCC accepts the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada on an equal footing, but not the TEFAQ. Our TEF or TCF Canada comparison will help you choose.
On the TEF Canada results certificate, CLB 7 corresponds to 434 in reading and listening, 428 in writing and 456 in speaking. In your profile, however, IRCC asks you to enter the “Équivalence ancien score” (old-score equivalent) column: 207 in reading, 249 in listening, 310 in writing and 310 in speaking, according to its “Résultats d'examen linguistique” (language test results) page of October 16, 2026.
IRCC warns that entering the score out of 699 may produce an incorrect CLB. Our article on CLB 7 on the TEF Canada explains both columns, test by test. Keep in mind that, according to these IRCC tables, speaking requires the highest score of the four: 456 out of 699.
To find out whether these thresholds are within your reach, start with a reading comprehension mock test: 40 questions in 60 minutes, then an estimated score out of 699. Mock tests marked “Free” open with a free account.
French-language CRS points: 25 or 50
CLB 7 in French also earns additional CRS points. According to the criteria published by IRCC (page updated October 16, 2026), you get 25 points if you have CLB 7 or higher in all four French skills and, in English, CLB 4 or lower, or no test at all.
The bonus rises to 50 points if, in addition, you have at least CLB 5 in all four English skills. According to IRCC, the reform of November 3, 2026 does not change these points. Still, check the official criteria before updating your profile.
Frequently asked questions
What CRS score do you need for an Express Entry French draw?
There is no fixed score: the minimum CRS changes with every round. According to IRCC data, it ranged from 379 to 481 in 2025 and from 382 to 435 in 2026, as of October 22. First, you need CLB 7 in French in each skill to be eligible for the category.
How many French-language invitations were issued in 2026?
As of October 22, 2026, IRCC had sent 55,500 invitations in 11 rounds of the French-language category, according to our calculations from its “Rondes d'invitations” page. In 2025, the total was 48,000 invitations in 9 rounds. These figures guarantee no future invitation.
Is the TEFAQ accepted for Express Entry?
No. For Express Entry, IRCC accepts the TEF Canada or the TCF Canada. The TEFAQ is used for Québec programs and for Canadian citizenship. If you only have a TEFAQ, you will need a TEF Canada or a TCF Canada for your federal profile.
How long does my French test have to be valid?
According to IRCC, the test must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. If it expires after the invitation, you have to retake it before applying. Our article on TEF Canada validity explains this timeline.
In short
According to our calculations from IRCC data, French-language draws accounted for 48,000 invitations in 2025 and 55,500 in 2026 as of October 22, but no past figure guarantees an invitation. Your lever is CLB 7 in all four skills. Start with the most demanding test: prepare for speaking with a mock test, then take a look at the subscription, which gives access to the other mock tests.
Réussir Mon TEF is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), which designs the TEF, or with any immigration authority. Our mock tests are original: they are not official test papers.