Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency in the latest Express Entry draw held on August 19, 2026.
Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 382 to receive an invitation.
IRCC also applied a tie-breaking rule of March 1, 2026, at 18:34:05 UTC. This means that where multiple candidates had the minimum CRS score of 382, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before that date and time received an invitation.
The latest round was conducted under the French-language proficiency 2026-Version 2 category, one of the categories currently used by IRCC for category-based Express Entry selection.
To qualify under the French-language proficiency category, candidates must meet the minimum requirements for one of the immigration programmes managed through Express Entry and have French-language test results showing a minimum score of NCLC 7 in all four language abilities.
Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply can now submit their application and begin preparing for permanent residence.
Draw Summary
- Draw type: French-Language Proficiency 2026-Version 2
- Invitations issued: 5,000
- Minimum CRS score: 382
- Rank required: 5,000 or above
- Tie-breaking rule: March 1, 2026, at 18:34:05 UTC
How Sehli Global Can Help
As a licensed Canadian immigration consulting firm, Sehli Global helps eligible candidates assess their Express Entry profile, respond to Invitations to Apply and prepare permanent residence applications.
If you received an invitation or want to understand whether French-language proficiency could strengthen your Express Entry strategy, you can book a consultation with Sehli Global to discuss your immigration options.
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