Canada Holds New French Express Entry Draw on July 9

IRCC Issued 5,000 PR Invitations

Canada held a new French-language Express Entry draw on July 9, 2026. In this round, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 5,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence (PR).

CRS Cut-Off Reached 420

This time, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was 420, making it the highest CRS score for a French-language draw in 2026.

This Was the Third Draw in Just Four Days

Meanwhile, this was the third Express Entry draw in four days.

Earlier, IRCC held:

• A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on July 6
• A Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on July 7
• A French-language draw on July 9

Together, these three draws issued 7,534 invitations in just the first nine days of July.

More Invitations Than the Previous French Draw

Compared to the previous French-language draw, IRCC increased the number of invitations from 4,500 to 5,000. This shows that Canada continues to prioritize French-speaking candidates.

French Draws Are Becoming More Competitive

However, the CRS cut-off has also increased over the past few months.

Although IRCC invited more candidates, the cut-off score rose from 409 in May to 420 in July. This suggests that more high-scoring French-speaking candidates have entered the Express Entry pool.

Tie-Breaking Rule Explained

If multiple candidates had the same CRS score of 420, IRCC used a tie-breaking rule.

Candidates needed to submit their Express Entry profile before May 15, 2026, at 08:04 UTC to receive an invitation.

French Language Can Improve Your CRS Score

In addition to language skills, strong French test results can help candidates earn extra CRS points.

Candidates can prove their French ability by taking approved tests such as TEF Canada or TCF Canada, making French one of the best ways to improve an Express Entry profile.

What Should Candidates Do Next?

If you received an invitation, check your IRCC account and prepare your permanent residence application.

On the other hand, if you missed this draw, consider improving your French language score or updating your Express Entry profile to increase your chances in future rounds.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the latest French-language Express Entry draw highlights Canada’s continued focus on welcoming French-speaking immigrants. At the same time, the higher CRS cut-off shows that competition is increasing, making it important for candidates to keep their profiles updated and improve their scores whenever possible.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your immigration questions. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).