Canada invites French-speaking Express Entry candidates to apply for PR; August 6 draw issues 5,000 invitations with CRS cutoff at 391, lowest in 2026

Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residency on August 6, 2026, specifically for French-speaking candidates. This draw marked a significant milestone as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff dropped to 391, the lowest score recorded in any French-language Express Entry draw this year, surpassing the previous low of 393 set on March 18.¹²³⁴

The August 6 draw is part of IRCC's ongoing efforts to enhance francophone immigration outside Quebec, reflecting a strategic focus on diversifying Canada's immigrant population. This draw is notable as it is the third Express Entry draw in three consecutive days, completing the first cluster of August draws. With this latest round, IRCC has conducted 45 selection rounds in 2026, issuing a total of 113,123 invitations so far, nearly matching the total of 113,988 for all of 2025 with almost five months remaining in the year.

The tie-breaking date of March 18, 2026, indicates that candidates who scored exactly 391 had submitted their profiles nearly five months ago, suggesting a backlog of applicants at this score level. French-language proficiency draws have become a significant source of Express Entry invitations, accounting for 45,500 invitations across nine draws in 2026. The CRS cutoffs in these draws have varied from 391 to 420, with an average of approximately 403.⁷⁸⁹

The volume of invitations has remained stable at 5,000 per round for the last three French draws, a notable increase from the previous range of 4,000 to 4,500 seen earlier in the year. This trend underscores the growing demand for French-speaking immigrants in Canada, as the country continues to prioritize linguistic diversity in its immigration strategy.