IRCC invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates on October 16, 2026, at a minimum CRS of 435, the highest cut-off of its 11 French draws this year.
On October 16, 2026, IRCC held Express Entry round #450 for the French-language proficiency category, inviting 5,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence. The lowest-ranked invited candidate had a CRS score of 435. This is a regular round of invitations published by IRCC, not a rule change.
In short: French-category candidates needed at least 435 CRS points on October 16, 2026, which is 53 points higher than the previous French draw on August 19 (382) and the highest French-category cut-off IRCC has recorded in 2026.
The draw at a glance
| Detail | Round #450 |
|---|---|
| Date and time | October 16, 2026, 10:25:13 UTC |
| Category | French-language proficiency (2026, version 2) |
| Invitations issued | 5,000 |
| Lowest CRS score invited | 435 |
| Tie-breaking rule | Profiles at 435 submitted before October 6, 2026, 21:31:22 UTC |
How it compares with earlier French draws this year
IRCC's published rounds show 11 French-language draws in 2026, totalling 55,500 invitations. Cut-offs have ranged from 382 to 435. The most recent ones:
| Date | Invitations | Lowest CRS |
|---|---|---|
| October 16 | 5,000 | 435 |
| August 19 | 5,000 | 382 |
| August 6 | 5,000 | 391 |
| July 22 | 5,000 | 399 |
| July 9 | 5,000 | 420 |
The gap between the August 19 and October 16 French rounds was about eight weeks, the longest pause between French draws since the spring. IRCC does not explain cut-off movements, so the higher score should not be read as a trend on its own.
The rest of the week
Round #450 was the third draw that week. On October 13 IRCC invited 752 Provincial Nominee Program candidates (lowest CRS 772), and on October 15 it invited 2,500 Canadian Experience Class candidates (lowest CRS 519), for 8,252 invitations across the three rounds.
Who can be invited in a French draw
To be eligible for the French-language category, IRCC requires French test results at NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities, plus the requirements set for each round. Separately, the CRS awards 25 additional points for NCLC 7+ in French with CLB 4 or lower in English, or 50 points for NCLC 7+ in French with CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities.
What it does not change
This draw does not change CRS rules. The CRS changes IRCC announced for November 3, 2026 are separate; see <a href="/en/blog/express-entry-high-wage-crs-points-no-lmia-november-3-2026" class="text-[#C9A84C] font-medium hover:underline">our explainer on the new high-wage points</a>.
What to do next
- Check your current score with our CRS calculator, including the French bonus points.
- Convert TEF Canada or TCF Canada results to NCLC levels with our CLB/NCLC calculator.
- Read our French-language Express Entry guide for how category draws work.
- Track every round on our Express Entry draws page.
Draw sizes, cut-offs and timing are decided by IRCC and can change from round to round; past draws do not predict future ones, and an invitation does not guarantee permanent residence. Official source: IRCC, Express Entry round #450 (checked October 19, 2026).
Not sure how this applies to your situation? A licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) can review your profile with you.
