Express Entry EE‑French draw issues 4,500 invitations at 446 CRS cutoff, total French invitations reach 25,500

Express Entry French draw issues 4,500 invitations at CRS 446; cumulative French-category invitations reach 25,500

Summary: IRCC conducted an Express Entry French-category draw on 2025-09-04, issuing 4,500 Invitations to Apply with a cutoff of CRS 446, bringing cumulative French-category invitations to 25,500 to date.

Date of update: 2025-09-04 | Source: IRCC IRCC held a category-based selection under the Express Entry system for French-speaking candidates, inviting 4,500 profiles with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 446. The draw applied nationwide (Region: ALL) within the EE-French category. With this round, total invitations issued in French-focused Express Entry draws have reached 25,500 to date. Program context: The update directly affects Express Entry (EE-French category) and may indirectly shape provincial activity such as OINP-EE-French, which draws from the federal pool. Potential impacts:
- Positive: A CRS cutoff of 446 signals continued accessibility for qualified French-speaking candidates, supporting francophone immigration and regional community development across Canada.
- Considerations: Increased selection volume may heighten competition among non-francophone candidates in general draws if IRCC maintains a strong cadence of category-based rounds. Scoring and selection: The draw used the CRS model under category-based selection for French proficiency, consistent with IRCC’s ongoing approach to target priority skills and language profiles. Outlook: Stakeholders will watch subsequent rounds for changes to volume and cutoff trends across both category-based and general draws, and any follow-on effects for provincial streams such as OINP-EE-French.

Tags: Canada immigration, IRCC, Express Entry, French draw, EE-French, CRS 446, Invitations to Apply, Category-based selection, OINP-EE-French, Skilled immigration, Francophone immigration, 2025 draws