Canada Holds Another Major French-Focused Express Entry Draw

Canada’s immigration system has delivered yet another decisive moment in 2025, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a large-scale Express Entry draw aimed at French-proficient applicants on 28th November. In this newest round, 6,000 candidates received an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence, making it one of the largest category-based selections of the year.

This draw, conducted under the French-language proficiency category, also recorded a remarkably low cut-off, 408 CRS points, placing it among the most accessible rounds of the year for qualified candidates.

Also Read IRCC Conducts Major Express Entry Draws Issuing 6000 ITAs

Who Was Eligible for the November 28 Draw?

To be included in this round of invitations, candidates were required to:

  • Score at least 408 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
  • Submit their Express Entry profile before 12:28 p.m. UTC on May 26, 2025

With this draw, IRCC continues to reinforce its commitment to strengthening Francophone immigration in communities outside Quebec, a priority laid out in multiple federal strategies.

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A Detailed Look at Express Entry Draws in 2025

IRCC has conducted a diverse mix of Express Entry draws throughout the year, targeting various program streams, including PNP nominees, CEC applicants, healthcare professionals, educators, trades workers, and French-speaking candidates, issuing a total of 94,476 ITAs in 2025 till now.

Immigrate Through Express Entry, CIC NEWS Update

Below is the complete list of draws issued so far in 2025:

Table 1: Complete Summary of Express Entry Draws – 2025

DateDraw TypeNumber of ITAsCut-off CRS score
November 28French language proficiency6,000408
November 25Canadian Experience Class1,000531
November 25Provincial Nominee Program777699
November 14Healthcare and social services3,500462
November 12Canadian Experience Class1,000533
November 10Provincial Nominee Program714738
October 29French language proficiency6,000416
October 28Canadian Experience Class1,000533
October 27Provincial Nominee Program302761
October 15Healthcare and social services2,500472
October 14Provincial Nominee Program345778
October 6French language proficiency4,500432
October 1Canadian Experience Class1,000534
September 29Provincial Nominee Program291855
September 18Trade1,250505
September 17Education2,500462
September 15Provincial Nominee Program228746
September 4French language proficiency4,500446
September 3Canadian Experience Class1,000534
September 2Provincial Nominee Program249772
August 19Healthcare and social services2,500470
August 18Provincial Nominee Program192800
August 8French language proficiency2,500481
August 7Canadian Experience Class1,000534
August 6Provincial Nominee Program225739
July 22Healthcare and social services4,000475
July 21Provincial Nominee Program202788
July 8Canadian Experience Class3,000518
July 7Provincial Nominee Program356750
June 26Canadian Experience Class3,000521
June 23Provincial Nominee Program503742
June 12Canadian Experience Class3,000529
June 10Provincial Nominee Program125784
June 4Healthcare and social services500504
June 2Provincial Nominee Program277726
May 13Canadian Experience Class500547
May 12Provincial Nominee Program511706
May 2Healthcare and social services500510
May 1Education1,000479
April 28Provincial Nominee Program421727
April 14Provincial Nominee Program825764
March 21French language proficiency7,500379
March 17Provincial Nominee Program536736
March 6French language proficiency4,500410
March 3Provincial Nominee Program725667
February 19French language proficiency6,500428
February 17Provincial Nominee Program646750
February 5Canadian Experience Class4,000521
February 4Provincial Nominee Program455802
January 23Canadian Experience Class4,000527
January 8Canadian Experience Class1,350542
January 7Provincial Nominee Program471793

French-Speaking Candidates Continue to Lead Canada’s 2025 Invitations

The latest draw strengthens an already clear trend: French-proficient candidates have dominated Canada’s Express Entry system this year. With 42,000 invitations issued so far, the French category accounts for the highest number of ITAs among all selection streams.

This group is also responsible for the largest draws of the year, including rounds that distributed between 7,500 and 4,500 invitations.

How Many Draws Has IRCC Conducted in Each Category?

IRCC has been consistently rotating through different program categories to meet labour market and linguistic priorities. The breakdown of draw frequency by program type is shown below:

Table 2: Number of Draws by Category in 2025

Draw TypeNumber of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)22
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)13
French-language proficiency8
Healthcare and social services6
Education2
Trade1

Total ITAs Distributed So Far in 2025

The cumulative number of invitations issued through each draw type is shown below, highlighting which applicant groups have been prioritised throughout the year:

Table 3: ITAs Issued by Stream-Type in 2025

Draw typeITAs issued to date
French42,000
Canadian Experience Class24,850
Healthcare and social services13,500
Provincial Nominee Program9,376
Education3,500
Trade1,250

Final Outlook

As the latest draw demonstrates, IRCC’s 2025 strategy places significant emphasis on linguistic diversity, occupation-driven needs, and pathways for candidates already integrated into Canadian society. With 94,476 invitations issued so far, Express Entry remains the leading route for skilled workers seeking permanent residence.