Express Entry Draw 365: 4,500 Candidates Invited on September 4 2025

Key Takeaways for Express Entry Candidates

• Type of draw: French Category-Based Draw
• Invites issued: 4,500
• CRS score: 446
• Tie-breaking rule: June 16, 2025 at 07:21:06 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Provincial Nominee Draw on September 15, 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 week’s French-language Express Entry draw saw 4,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) issued, with a CRS cut-off of 446.

What stands out immediately is that, while the same number of ITAs were issued in the French draw on March 6, 2025, the CRS cut-off has risen sharply, from 410 in March to 446 now.

The sharp increase in the CRS cut-off suggests that competition among French-speaking candidates is intensifying. With the same volume of ITAs being issued but with a much higher CRS cut-off, it’s clear that the pool of French-speaking candidates is becoming increasingly competitive.

One factor behind this rising competitiveness could be the low volume of ITAs issued in Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws in recent months. When there are fewer CEC ITAs issued, more candidates already living in Canada, with high CRS scores, may be drawn into these category-based rounds, pushing up the scores.

However, as we reported here, based on 2024 data, the vast majority of French-category ITAs go to candidates outside Canada.

So while there may be more in-Canada candidates in the mix this year, it’s also possible that more overseas applicants are learning French to improve their Express Entry prospects, another factor contributing to the rising CRS cut-off.

French Draws ITAs Dominate 2025

I don’t know about you, but it feels like we’ve had way more than five French draws this year. That impression probably comes from the fact that more ITAs have been issued in this category than in any other so far in 2025.

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
• September 4, 2024, 4,500 ITAs issued, CRS cut off 446

Total number of French language ITAs: 25,500.

The French-language stream continues to be a major focus of IRCC’s category-based selection strategy, and with competition increasing, candidates in this category will need to keep an eye on their CRS scores more than ever.

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.

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