Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued another set of invitations to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system on July 22, 2026. This category-based round focused exclusively on candidates with French-language proficiency and resulted in 5,000 invitations. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score required was 399, and only those who had created their Express Entry profile before 9:21 p.m. Coordinated Universal Time on November 19, 2025, were considered.
This cutoff of 399 stands as the lowest for a French-language proficiency draw since March 2026. It continues the department’s consistent use of targeted selections to support bilingual candidates while managing overall invitation volumes. The day before, a Canadian Experience Class round had required a much higher score, and earlier Provincial Nominee Program draws remained highly competitive. The latest result shows that French-language ability can open more accessible pathways even as other categories stay selective.
Below is a complete line-by-line record of every Express Entry draw listed for 2026 up to the July 22 round:
July 22 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 399 – 5,000 invitations issued
July 21 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 516 – 2,000 invitations issued
July 20 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 744 – 511 invitations issued
July 10 – Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience – CRS cutoff 392 – 500 invitations issued
July 9 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 420 – 5,000 invitations issued
July 7 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 517 – 2,000 invitations issued
July 6 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 708 – 534 invitations issued
June 25 – Healthcare and social services – CRS cutoff 475 – 4,000 invitations issued
June 24 – Physicians with Canadian Work Experience – CRS cutoff 223 – 271 invitations issued
June 23 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 516 – 4,000 invitations issued
June 22 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 730 – 955 invitations issued
May 28 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 409 – 4,500 invitations issued
May 27 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 518 – 3,000 invitations issued
May 25 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 805 – 334 invitations issued
May 11 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 798 – 380 invitations issued
April 29 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 400 – 4,000 invitations issued
April 28 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 514 – 2,000 invitations issued
April 27 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 795 – 473 invitations issued
April 15 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 419 – 4,000 invitations issued
April 14 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 515 – 2,000 invitations issued
April 13 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 786 – 324 invitations issued
April 2 – Trades – CRS cutoff 477 – 3,000 invitations issued
March 31 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 509 – 2,250 invitations issued
March 30 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 802 – 356 invitations issued
March 18 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 393 – 4,000 invitations issued
March 17 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 507 – 4,000 invitations issued
March 16 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 742 – 362 invitations issued
March 5 – Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience – CRS cutoff 429 – 250 invitations issued
March 4 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 397 – 5,500 invitations issued
March 3 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 508 – 4,000 invitations issued
March 2 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 710 – 264 invitations issued
February 20 – Healthcare and social services – CRS cutoff 467 – 4,000 invitations issued
February 19 – Physicians with Canadian work experience – CRS cutoff 169 – 391 invitations issued
February 17 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 508 – 6,000 invitations issued
February 16 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 789 – 279 invitations issued
February 6 – French-Language proficiency – CRS cutoff 400 – 8,500 invitations issued
February 3 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 749 – 423 invitations issued
January 21 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 509 – 6,000 invitations issued
January 20 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 746 – 681 invitations issued
January 7 – Canadian Experience Class – CRS cutoff 511 – 8,000 invitations issued
January 5 – Provincial Nominee Program – CRS cutoff 711 – 574 invitations issued
These draws together bring the total number of Express Entry selection rounds held in 2026 to 41. Across all of them, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has issued more than 104,000 invitations to apply. Canadian Experience Class candidates have received the largest share, followed closely by French-language proficiency rounds. Provincial Nominee Program invitations form a smaller but steady portion, while specialized category draws for healthcare, trades, physicians, and senior managers have added further opportunities.
The repeated French-language rounds throughout the year highlight Canada’s ongoing commitment to strengthening official bilingualism. Candidates who demonstrate strong French skills gain extra points under the Comprehensive Ranking System and often face lower cutoffs than those competing only in general or Canadian Experience Class pools. The July 22 draw, with its 399-point threshold, is a clear example of this advantage in action.
For candidates currently in the pool, the pattern of these draws offers practical guidance. Profile creation date remains important, as seen in the November 2025 cutoff applied to the latest round. Language test results must stay valid. Additional Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination can still lift scores substantially. Those whose rankings sit near the recent French-language thresholds should monitor future category-based selections closely, while others may benefit more from focusing on Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee Program pathways.
As the second half of 2026 continues, the mix of draw types is expected to remain varied. High-volume Canadian Experience Class and French-language rounds will likely continue alongside more selective Provincial Nominee Program and occupation-specific invitations. The full list of draws above shows both the consistency and the flexibility of the system so far this year. Candidates who keep their profiles accurate, improve language scores where possible, and stay informed about cutoff trends will be best positioned to receive an invitation when the next suitable round occurs.
