Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,500 invitations to apply for permanent residence in a new French-language proficiency Express Entry draw held on May 28, 2026.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff for the lowest-ranked candidate invited was 409 points.
This draw took place just one day after the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) round on May 27, which issued 3,000 invitations with a CRS cutoff of 518. The sequence restores the familiar CEC-then-French draw pattern IRCC has regularly followed throughout 2026.
Before this week, May had only seen two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)-specific draws on May 11 and May 25, making this the first broader non-PNP activity of the month.
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The previous French-language draw was held on April 29, when IRCC invited 4,000 candidates with a CRS cutoff of 400. After a 29-day pause between French draws, the latest round increased invitation numbers by 500 while the CRS threshold climbed by 9 points.
The latest results continue to show that French-language proficiency remains one of the most accessible Express Entry pathways for candidates who meet the language requirements.
May 28, 2026 Express Entry Draw Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Category | French-Language Proficiency 2026-Version 2 |
| Draw Date And Time | May 28, 2026 at 10:52:36 UTC |
| Number Of Invitations Issued | 4,500 |
| CRS Score Of Lowest-Ranked Candidate | 409 |
| Rank Required | 4,500 or above |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | April 29, 2026 at 22:20:00 UTC |
The tie-breaking rule determines which candidates receive invitations when multiple profiles share the same CRS score at the cutoff.
Candidates with exactly 409 CRS points needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before April 29, 2026 at 22:20:00 UTC in order to receive an invitation. Those who submitted after that timestamp were not selected despite meeting the minimum CRS requirement.
How CRS 409 Compares To Previous French Draws
French-language draw cutoffs in 2026 have ranged from a low of 393 on March 18 to a high of 419 on April 15, with most rounds falling between 397 and 409.
The May 28 cutoff of 409 sits near the middle of that range.
The 9-point increase from the April 29 cutoff of 400 reflects growing competition in the Express Entry pool during the 29-day gap between French draws. More French-speaking candidates accumulated in the pool during the pause, pushing the CRS requirement higher even though IRCC increased invitations from 4,000 to 4,500.
A similar pattern appeared in the recent CEC draw, where the cutoff increased from 514 on April 28 to 518 on May 27 despite a larger invitation round after the extended break.
2026 French-Language Express Entry Draw History
| Draw # | Date | Invitations Issued | CRS Cutoff |
| 418 | May 28, 2026 | 4,500 | 409 |
| 414 | April 29, 2026 | 4,000 | 400 |
| 411 | April 15, 2026 | 4,000 | 419 |
| 405 | March 18, 2026 | 4,000 | 393 |
| 401 | March 4, 2026 | 5,500 | 397 |
| 394 | February 6, 2026 | 8,500 | 400 |
IRCC has now issued 30,500 invitations through French-language proficiency draws across six rounds in 2026.
This makes French-language selection the second-largest Express Entry category after CEC, which has issued approximately 37,250 invitations across nine draws so far this year.
The average CRS cutoff for French-language draws in 2026 is approximately 403, which remains more than 100 points lower than the current CEC cutoff of 518.
What French Draws Mean For Candidates Below CRS 500
According to the May 24 Express Entry pool snapshot, nearly 75,000 candidates are currently stuck in the 451 to 500 CRS range and remain unable to receive CEC invitations at current cutoff levels.
French-language draws provide an alternative pathway with significantly lower CRS requirements.
For example, a candidate with a CRS score of 409 and strong French test results would have received an invitation in this round, while the same profile would need at least 518 points to qualify through CEC.
However, French draws do not reduce pressure on CEC cutoffs in the same way that larger CEC rounds do because many French-speaking candidates fall into different CRS ranges and profile categories.
CEC cutoffs have continued rising since IRCC reduced invitation sizes from 4,000 to 2,000 beginning with the April 14 draw at CRS 515, increasing the importance of alternative immigration pathways for mid-range candidates.
Applicants who do not currently qualify for French-language draws may still benefit from improving their French proficiency to at least NCLC 7 as a long-term immigration strategy.
How To Qualify For French-Language Express Entry Draws
To receive an invitation under a French-language proficiency draw, candidates must:
- Have an active Express Entry profile
- Qualify under at least one Express Entry-managed program
- Achieve a minimum score of NCLC 7 in all four language abilities:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
Accepted French language exams include:
- TEF Canada
- TCF Canada
Both tests are available at designated testing centres across Canada and internationally.
French test results can also significantly improve a candidate’s CRS score, making them valuable even for applicants targeting CEC draws.
Candidates must additionally meet the eligibility requirements for one of the following programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Applicants should also ensure that the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code in their Express Entry profile accurately matches their work experience to avoid processing issues.
Candidates who receive an invitation have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application with all supporting documents.
Those who narrowly missed this draw should monitor whether IRCC continues issuing French-language draws within the current 4,000 to 4,500 invitation range or returns to larger rounds similar to the 8,500 invitations issued on February 6.
CEC candidates with strong French scores may also benefit from monitoring both draw categories because the difference between the current CEC cutoff of 518 and the French-language cutoff of 409 remains substantial.
Candidates below 400 CRS points may want to explore provincial nomination programs such as the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) or BC PNP, where a provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points.
Ontario’s upcoming OINP program redesign, scheduled to take effect on May 30, could also create additional nomination opportunities through newly launched streams.
Applicants should further watch for a potential occupation-based category draw in the coming days, particularly for healthcare, trades, or education occupations, as IRCC has frequently completed draw clusters this way throughout 2026.
IRCC does not announce draw schedules in advance, so candidates should regularly monitor official updates for confirmed results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the CRS cutoff in the May 28 French-language Express Entry draw?
The CRS cutoff was 409 in the French-language proficiency draw held on May 28, 2026. This was 9 points higher than the April 29 French draw cutoff of 400, but still significantly lower than the CEC cutoff of 518.
How many French-language invitations has IRCC issued in 2026?
IRCC has issued 30,500 invitations across six French-language proficiency draws in 2026, making it the second-largest Express Entry category after CEC.
What French score is required to qualify?
Candidates need a minimum of NCLC 7 in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Accepted exams include TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Meeting the language requirement alone does not guarantee an invitation because candidates must also meet the CRS cutoff.
Will the French draw cutoff continue rising?
Future cutoffs will depend on invitation sizes and the frequency of draws. If IRCC continues regular French-language rounds with 4,000 or more invitations, the CRS score could stabilize or decline. Larger rounds above 5,000 invitations may push the cutoff closer to the 393 to 400 range again.
Could an occupation-based draw follow this round?
Possibly. Throughout 2026, IRCC has frequently followed CEC and French-language rounds with category-based draws for healthcare, trades, or education occupations. Since no occupation-based draw has occurred since the April 2 Trades round, another category-based selection could happen soon.
