Express Entry Draw #433: 5,000 ITAs to French-Speaking Candidates with CRS Score of Only 391
IRCC conducted Express Entry Draw #433 on August 6, 2026, issuing 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence to French-speaking candidates. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was just 391.
KEY DRAW DETAILS:
- Draw Number: #433
- Date of Draw: August 6, 2026
- Invitations Issued: 5,000
- Minimum CRS Score: 391
- Category: French-Language Proficiency 2026 - Version 2
- Tie-breaking Rule: March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC
This is the third consecutive French-language category-based draw where IRCC issued 5,000 ITAs. The previous round (Draw #429 on July 22, 2026) also invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates, demonstrating a sustained commitment to this immigration pathway.
RECENT FRENCH LANGUAGE DRAWS TREND:
February 6, 2026: 8,500 ITAs, CRS 397
March 4, 2026: 5,500 ITAs, CRS 397
March 18, 2026: 4,000 ITAs, CRS 393
April 15, 2026: 4,000 ITAs, CRS 419
April 29, 2026: 4,000 ITAs, CRS 400
May 28, 2026: 4,500 ITAs, CRS 409
July 9, 2026: 5,000 ITAs
July 22, 2026: 5,000 ITAs
August 6, 2026: 5,000 ITAs, CRS 391
The overall trend shows a declining CRS cutoff. The score dropped from 397 in February to just 391 this round, marking a new recent low for French-language draws.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
To qualify for the French-Language Proficiency category, candidates must:
1. Achieve a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities on the Niveaux de competence linguistiques canadiens (NCLC 7)
2. Meet all other Express Entry program requirements
GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT:
The Official Languages Action Plan 2023-2028 has allocated $137.2 million over five years to promote Francophone immigration outside Quebec, building on earlier investments of $84.3 million.
EXPRESS ENTRY POOL DATA (Updated August 3, 2026):
Total candidates in pool: 229,100
The French-language category offers a significantly lower CRS threshold compared to general all-program draws, which typically require 470+ points. For French-speaking candidates, this remains one of the most accessible pathways to Canadian permanent residence in 2026.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON TIE-BREAKING RULE:
The tie-breaking rule for this draw was set to March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC. This means only candidates who submitted their Express Entry profile before this date were eligible for Draw #433. New profiles submitted after this date will be considered in future French-language draws.
Source: IRCC Express Entry Draw #433; Canadim, August 7, 2026
KEY DRAW DETAILS:
- Draw Number: #433
- Date of Draw: August 6, 2026
- Invitations Issued: 5,000
- Minimum CRS Score: 391
- Category: French-Language Proficiency 2026 - Version 2
- Tie-breaking Rule: March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC
This is the third consecutive French-language category-based draw where IRCC issued 5,000 ITAs. The previous round (Draw #429 on July 22, 2026) also invited 5,000 French-speaking candidates, demonstrating a sustained commitment to this immigration pathway.
RECENT FRENCH LANGUAGE DRAWS TREND:
February 6, 2026: 8,500 ITAs, CRS 397
March 4, 2026: 5,500 ITAs, CRS 397
March 18, 2026: 4,000 ITAs, CRS 393
April 15, 2026: 4,000 ITAs, CRS 419
April 29, 2026: 4,000 ITAs, CRS 400
May 28, 2026: 4,500 ITAs, CRS 409
July 9, 2026: 5,000 ITAs
July 22, 2026: 5,000 ITAs
August 6, 2026: 5,000 ITAs, CRS 391
The overall trend shows a declining CRS cutoff. The score dropped from 397 in February to just 391 this round, marking a new recent low for French-language draws.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
To qualify for the French-Language Proficiency category, candidates must:
1. Achieve a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities on the Niveaux de competence linguistiques canadiens (NCLC 7)
2. Meet all other Express Entry program requirements
GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT:
The Official Languages Action Plan 2023-2028 has allocated $137.2 million over five years to promote Francophone immigration outside Quebec, building on earlier investments of $84.3 million.
EXPRESS ENTRY POOL DATA (Updated August 3, 2026):
Total candidates in pool: 229,100
The French-language category offers a significantly lower CRS threshold compared to general all-program draws, which typically require 470+ points. For French-speaking candidates, this remains one of the most accessible pathways to Canadian permanent residence in 2026.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON TIE-BREAKING RULE:
The tie-breaking rule for this draw was set to March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC. This means only candidates who submitted their Express Entry profile before this date were eligible for Draw #433. New profiles submitted after this date will be considered in future French-language draws.
Source: IRCC Express Entry Draw #433; Canadim, August 7, 2026
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