Canada has issued another 5,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through Express Entry, with the latest selection round specifically targeting candidates with French-language proficiency.
The August 19, 2026 draw produced a CRS cut-off of 382, marking a notable decline from the previous French-language draw earlier this month. The result gives French-speaking Express Entry candidates another opportunity to receive an invitation at a comparatively lower ranking score.
Also Read Canada Invites 5,000 French-Speaking Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
Key Details of the August 19 Express Entry Draw
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the latest category-based selection on August 19, inviting 5,000 candidates to submit applications for Canadian permanent residence.
The main details of the draw were:
| Draw Detail | Information |
| Draw date | August 19, 2026 |
| Category | French-language proficiency |
| Invitations issued | 5,000 |
| Minimum CRS score | 382 |
| Tie-breaking date | March 1, 2026 |
| Tie-breaking time | 6:34 p.m. UTC |
Candidates who met the minimum CRS requirement and had created their Express Entry profiles before the specified tie-breaking date and time were considered for invitations.
CRS Score Drops by Nine Points
The latest result stands out because the CRS threshold fell significantly compared with the previous French-language selection.
On August 6, IRCC invited another 5,000 French-speaking candidates, but the minimum CRS requirement was 391. The new threshold of 382 represents a nine-point reduction.
The August 19 result also represents the lowest CRS requirement recorded for a French-language Express Entry selection since March 2025. This could make the category particularly relevant for candidates who have strong French skills but may not have a CRS score high enough for some broader Express Entry selections.
Recent Express Entry Draws
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off | ITAs Issued |
| August 19, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 382 | 5,000 |
| August 18, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 17, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| August 7, 2026 | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| August 6, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23, 2026 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10, 2026 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25, 2026 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2, 2026 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5, 2026 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20, 2026 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6, 2026 | French-language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7, 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5, 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
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Express Entry Draws in 2026: A Category-Based Approach
The latest invitation round was the 49th Express Entry draw conducted by IRCC in 2026.
So far, selections have covered several groups of candidates, including those with Canadian work experience, provincial nominations, French-language abilities, healthcare backgrounds, trades experience and other targeted qualifications.
The distribution of draws illustrates the broad range of candidates IRCC has been selecting:
| Draw Category | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 16 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 14 |
| French-language proficiency | 10 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and social services | 2 |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled military recruits | 1 |
This selection pattern indicates the importance of category-based immigration within Canada’s 2026 Express Entry strategy.
Canadian Experience and Provincial Nomination Remain Important
While French-language candidates have received substantial attention, other Express Entry pathways have also generated a large share of invitations this year.
The Canadian Experience Class has accounted for 49,250 ITAs so far in 2026. Provincial Nominee Program selections have contributed another 7,399 invitations.
Candidates selected through these pathways often benefit from characteristics that strengthen their connection to Canada’s labour market, such as Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination.
A provincial nomination can also substantially increase a candidate’s CRS ranking, making PNP candidates highly competitive in Express Entry selections.
More Than 119,000 Invitations Issued in 2026
With the August 19 round included, IRCC has issued 119,865 ITAs through Express Entry selections in 2026, according to the draw figures provided.
The distribution across categories is as follows:
| Draw Category | ITAs Issued |
| French-language proficiency | 50,500 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 49,250 |
| Healthcare and social services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 7,399 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Skilled military recruits | 4 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 662 |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 750 |
| Transport | 300 |
French-language and Canadian Experience Class candidates together account for the largest portions of invitations issued through the year’s Express Entry rounds.
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What the Latest Draw Means for French-Speaking Applicants
The 382 CRS cut-off could be encouraging for candidates who have invested in improving their French-language ability.
Applicants with qualifying French proficiency may be considered under Canada’s French-language category-based selections, provided they meet the applicable requirements and are eligible for Express Entry.
However, achieving a particular CRS score does not automatically guarantee an ITA. IRCC determines eligibility based on the requirements of each draw, and future cut-offs can move higher or lower depending on the candidate pool and number of invitations issued.
Candidates should therefore keep their Express Entry profiles accurate and update them whenever their circumstances change..
Conclusion
Canada’s latest Express Entry selection has once again placed French-speaking immigration candidates in the spotlight. IRCC issued 5,000 ITAs on August 19, 2026, while the CRS cut-off dropped to 382.
The result is significant because it represents the lowest French-language CRS threshold in this year’s recent selection cycle and the lowest for the category since March 2025.
With French-language selections continuing to account for a substantial share of Canada’s Express Entry invitations, French-speaking skilled workers should closely track upcoming draws and assess whether their profiles meet the requirements for category-based selection.
