IRCC invites Express Entry candidates in first French-language draw of December

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, issuing 800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through a category-based selection targeting candidates with French-language proficiency.

To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 466.

This marks the second draw of December, following a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on December 2.

In November, IRCC held six Express Entry draws, issuing a total of 5,507 ITAs for permanent residence. Consistent with prior months, streams such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and PNP remained a focal point. This trend is expected to persist with the introduction of the new "In-Canada" focus category. This category is designed to prioritize CEC candidates and participants in regional programs, alongside potential inclusions from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Under Canada’s updated Immigration Levels Plan, the "In-Canada" focus category has been allocated 82,980 permanent residence admissions—over 40% of all planned admissions for the upcoming year.

Candidates proficient in French are also set to benefit, with 2025 seeing an increased allocation of 29,235 permanent residence admissions for Francophone immigrants outside Quebec. This aligns with IRCC's Francophone immigration strategy, which anticipates further increases in ITAs for French speakers in 2026 and 2027.

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2024

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an online system used by Canada to manage applications for three federal economic immigration programs leading to permanent residency: the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Additionally, candidates in Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams may be invited through an enhanced provincial nomination process.

Applicants are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns scores based on factors such as age, language proficiency, education, occupation, and work experience. A provincial nomination through an enhanced PNP stream adds 600 CRS points, significantly increasing the chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

CRS scores can also be boosted by factors such as having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse or partner, or combining education and work experience gained in Canada and abroad.

Candidates with the highest CRS scores are more likely to receive an ITA in upcoming Express Entry draws, provided they meet the draw's specific criteria. In addition to general CRS-based invitations, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced category-based selections. These target candidates with specific professional skills or language proficiencies aligned with Canada’s labor market and demographic needs. CRS cut-offs for these category-based draws are often lower compared to program-specific or general draws, broadening opportunities for eligible candidates.