The passing score for French speakers in Express Entry has dropped to its lowest in a year and a half

Canada issued 5,000 invitations with a lower passing score than in other categories.

On August 19, 2026, Canada held a category-based selection in Express Entry for candidates with French language skills. 5,000 people received invitations to apply for permanent residence.

The cut-off score dropped to 382. This is the lowest score for French-language draws since March 21, 2025, when the threshold was 379 points. In the previous draw on August 6, the score was 391 with the same number of invitations. That's a drop of 9 points.

When multiple candidates have the same score, invitations go first to those who registered their profile earlier. In this draw, the tie-breaking date was March 1, 2026.

French opens doors to immigration

The difference between Express Entry categories is huge. During the same period, candidates with Canadian work experience needed a score of 523, while French-speaking applicants only needed 382. That's more than 140 points difference, and you can gain this advantage simply by learning the language.

To qualify for the French-language category, you need to prove French proficiency at CLB 7 or higher in all four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Plus, knowing French gives you extra points in the overall scoring system, regardless of whether you're in a category-based draw.

Canada is actively recruiting French-speaking professionals to support francophone communities outside Quebec. Draws for this category happen regularly and remain among the largest: 5,000 invitations per draw throughout the summer of 2026.

You can start learning French online without leaving your home country. Learn more about online French courses.

Even if you don't speak French right now, you have time to prepare for future draws. Online language courses let you study at your own pace and reach the required CLB 7 level in just a few months of consistent practice. Considering how much lower the cut-off score is in this category, the investment in language learning pays off pretty quickly.