Canada has lowered the passing score for French-speaking candidates in Express Entry
The passing score has dropped again and is now the lowest it's been since March 2025.
On December 17, 2025, Canada held a new category-based Express Entry draw targeting candidates with French language skills. This time, 6,000 people received invitations to apply for permanent residence, confirming the country's strong interest in French-speaking professionals.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 399. Compared to the previous draw held on November 28, 2025, the requirements dropped noticeably: back then the minimum score was 408, with 6,000 candidates also receiving invitations.
Want to know how many points you could score? Use our free CRS calculator and assess your chances of immigrating to Canada.
The lower cut-off score makes this round particularly favorable for those who speak French. Today's score is the lowest for the French-language category since March 2025. As a reminder, the lowest score this year was recorded on March 21 at 379 points.
How does the Express Entry system work?
The Express Entry system is used by Canada to select candidates through three federal programs:
French language skills significantly increase your chances of receiving an invitation. You can join online French classes through this link.
Follow the draw history for Express Entry to stay updated on new rounds, cut-off scores, and immigration opportunities.
