Express Entry Draw 360: French Draws Are Back!

Key Takeaways for Express Entry Candidates

• Type of draw: French Category-Based Draw
• Invites issued: 2,500
• CRS score: 481
• Tie-breaking rule: July 18, 2025 at 05:16:06 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Provincial Nominee Draw on August 18, 2025.

If you’re new to the excitement of Express Entry and you’re not sure what French draws are, check out our dedicated page covering French Language Category-Based Express Entry draws.

Our Analysis of This Week’s French-Language Express Entry Draw

This draw comes as a pleasant surprise as IRCC has not targeted French-speaking candidates since March 21, 2025.

This is not only the smallest French-language draw of 2025, but also the one with the highest CRS cut-off so far. However, because of the limited number of invitations issued, it’s difficult to determine whether this reflects increased competition among French-speaking applicants or if the high CRS is simply due to the smaller draw size.

That said, the Express Entry pool appears to be getting more competitive overall. Between July 20 and August 5, the number of candidates with a CRS score above 501 increased by nearly 3,000, suggesting a broader rise in competitiveness across all categories.

Here’s a recap of the French language draws we have seen in 2025:

• February 19: 6,500 ITAs issued, CRS cut off 428
• March 6, 2025: 4,500 ITAs issued, CRS cut off 410
• March 21, 2025: 7,500 ITAs issued, CRS cut off 379
• August 8, 2025: 2,500 ITAs issued, CRS cut off 481

Total number of French language ITAs: 21,000

What’s Next for French-Language Draws?

2025 started strong for French language draws, with over 18,500 invitations issued in the first three months alone. However, the pace has clearly slowed, with nearly five months passing since the last French-targeted round in March. This long pause has left many candidates wondering whether IRCC has shifted its focus elsewhere.

With more and more applicants learning French to boost their Express Entry chances – thanks to the favorable points awarded for French proficiency, and these targeted draws – there’s growing interest in what’s ahead for this category.

Based on 2024 trends, where 23,000 French language ITAs were issued over the course of the year, and considering Canada’s 2025 Immigration Levels Plan, we estimate that between 5,000 and 7,500 additional ITAs could still be issued to French-speaking candidates before year-end.

While upcoming draws may not be as large as those seen earlier in 2025, we do anticipate a few more French-language draws in the months ahead. That said, the timing and size of those rounds remain unpredictable—as always, IRCC tends to keep candidates guessing.

What remains to be true is that demonstrating French ability is a great way to secure your invitation. Use our CRS calculator to see your CRS score if you learned French.

For more information on Express Entry:

• Learn more about the latest Express Entry draws.
• Learn more about the state of the Express Entry pool.
• Learn when to expect the next Express Entry draw.

For up-to-date information about Express Entry draws, consider subscribing to our newsletter. We share news about the draws and our analysis as it happens, so you’ll never miss the latest results.