Surprise Express Entry Draw, And It’s Not a PNP One! 4,500 Invited in a French Language Proficiency Draw

Key Takeaways From the French Language Draw on October 6, 2025

• Type of draw: French Category-Based Draw
• Invites issued: 4,500
• CRS score: 432
• Tie-breaking rule: June 13, 2025 at 19:07:01 UTC
• Prediction for the next draw: Provincial Nominee Draw on October 14, 2025.

This round targeted candidates with French language results equivalent to CLB 7 or higher in all abilities (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Invitations were issued to eligible candidates across all three Express Entry programs – the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

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 was the sixth draw of 2025 targeting French-speaking candidates under category-based selection, bringing the total number of invitations to francophone candidates to 30,000 so far this year.

The number of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) remains consistent with the previous French-language draw held on September 4, which also issued 4,500 ITAs. However, the minimum CRS score fell from 446 to 432, marking a notable 14-point drop.

Incidentally, the French-language draw in early March also issued 4,500 ITAs but with a much lower CRS cutoff of 410. So while this latest round shows a decrease from September, it also highlights an overall increase in competition among French-proficiency candidates throughout 2025, as more high-scoring francophones enter the pool.

The consistent, large French-language draws will likely prove frustrating for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, who continue to see limited opportunities, with just 1,000 ITAs issued in each of the last three CEC draws.

Why did this draw happen today?

We’re not going to lie, this one took us by surprise. IRCC really likes to keep us guessing, and today’s draw broke a few patterns. Category-based draws rarely happen on Mondays; those are typically reserved for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, and this week was expected to be an Express Entry “off week.” (For context, IRCC usually follows a “one week on, one week off” rhythm for Express Entry draws.)

So, a French-language draw on a Monday and during an off week definitely wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card.

Our best guess? With Truth and Reconciliation Day falling on September 30, a federal holiday, IRCC may have had trouble fitting in three draws last week, leading to this surprise round to kick off the week instead.

Either way, 4,500 French-speaking candidates will be thrilled to start their week with an invitation.

Draws like this one show just how important it is to have reliable, timely updates, because IRCC clearly likes to keep everyone guessing.

Be sure to sign up for the Moving2Canada newsletter to get notified as soon as new draws happen, along with expert analysis, immigration news, and tips to help you stay ahead of the curve.

What This Means for French-Speaking Candidates

Following back-to-back French-language rounds in August, September, and now October, IRCC appears committed to keeping Francophone-focused draws as a core part of Express Entry. This aligns directly with Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which targets 29,325 French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in 2025 – one of the government’s strongest commitments to Francophone immigration yet.

With this target in mind, we can expect at least one more French-language draw before year-end, likely maintaining a similar pace of 4,500 invitations per round and potentially easing the CRS cut-off further. French-speaking candidates continue to receive the largest share of category-based invitations, a trend expected to continue through 2025.

For candidates with CLB 7 or higher in French, or those planning to improve their language scores, the coming months offer strong opportunities – especially as IRCC balances its In-Canada focus with its Francophone immigration goals.

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.