In the first category-based selection draw of 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended invitations to apply (ITAs) to 6,500 candidates with French language proficiency within the Express Entry pool—the second largest French proficiency draw ever.
This most recent draw also saw the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score for candidates with French proficiency drop from a previous 466 to just 428, thus far the lowest cut-off for any draw through the Express Entry system this year.
Since their introduction in 2023, category-based selection draws have featured the lowest CRS cut-off scores of all draws in the Express Entry pool.
This article will cover:
- Which kinds of profiles in the Express Entry system received ITAs in the most recent French proficiency draw; and
- How French proficiency can also increase CRS.
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams
Which profiles received ITAs in the most recent Express Entry French proficiency draw?
The following section will give fictional examples of profiles that were eligible to receive ITAs in the most recent Express Entry draw.
Note that apart from a candidate’s score meeting the cut-off CRS score for a draw (and meeting the eligibility requirements to be included in an Express Entry category) they must also have created an Express Entry profile before the date and time listed on the ministerial instructions for each draw. This is known as the tie-breaking rule.
CRS factors are broken down and detailed for each fictional profile discussed.
Example 1: Amadou Kone
Amadou is a single, 32-year-old mechanic from Cote D’Ivoire, with three years of foreign work experience in the country. He has the equivalent of a Canadian bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Amadou scored a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 9 in French and a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 6 in English.
| Factors determining CRS score | Qualifications | Points accrued |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 32 | 94 |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree | 120 |
| First language (French) proficiency | NCLC level 9 | 124 |
| Second language (English) proficiency | CLB level 6 | 4 |
| Skills transferability factors (education) | NCLC 9 + Bachelor’s degree | 25 |
| Skills transferability factors (foreign work experience) | NCLC 9 + 3 years foreign work experience | 50 |
| Additional factors | NCLC 7 or higher in French, and CLB 5 or higher in English Post-secondary education in Canada |
65 |
Core human capital points without a spouse: 342
Skills transferability factors: 75
Additional factors: 50
Based on these factors, Amadou has a CRS score of 467, qualifying him for the most recent round of French language proficiency category-based selections.
Example 2: Deepti Kajal
Deepti is a single 33-year-old schoolteacher from India, with one year of Canadian work experience, and no foreign work experience. She has a one-year Canadian college degree in early education. Deepti scored an NCLC level 7 in French and a CLB level 10 in English.
| Factors determining CRS score | Qualifications | Points accrued |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 33 | 88 |
| Education | College degree | 90 |
| First language (English) proficiency | CLB level 10 | 136 |
| Second language (French) proficiency | NCLC level 7 | 12 |
| Canadian work experience | One year | 40 |
| Skills transferability factors (education) | CLB 10 + College degree + 1 year Canadian work experience | 38 |
| Additional factors | NCLC 7 or higher in French, and CLB 5 or higher in English | 50 |
Core human capital points without a spouse: 366
Skills transferability factors: 38
Additional factors: 65
Based on these factors, Deepti has a CRS score of 469, easily qualifying her for the most recent French language proficiency draw.
Example 3: Remilekun Agnes
Remilekun is a 36-year-old married Nigerian nurse with two years of foreign work experience and one year of Canadian work experience. He has the equivalent of a Canadian master’s degree in nursing. Remilekun scored an NCLC level 7 in French and a CLB level 8 in English.
Remiluken’s wife Adesewa has a bachelor’s degree and scored a CLB level 8 in English. She also has one year of Canadian work experience.
| Factors determining CRS score | Qualifications | Points accrued |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 36 | 65 |
| Education | Master’s degree | 126 |
| First language (English) proficiency | CLB level 8 | 88 |
| Second language (French) proficiency | NCLC level 7 | 12 |
| Canadian work experience | One year | 35 |
| Skills transferability factors (education) | Points gained for language skills | 50 |
| Skills transferability factors (foreign work experience) | Points for language skills and foreign work experience | 26 |
| Additional factors | NCLC 7 or higher in French, and CLB 5 or higher in English | 50 |
|
Spousal factors
|
||
| Spouse’s education | Bachelor’s degree | 8 |
| Spouse’s language ability | CLB level 8 | 12 |
| Spouse’s Canadian work experience | One year | 5 |
Core human capital points of principal applicant (Remiluken): 326
Spouse’s human capital factors: 25
Skills transferability factors: 76
Additional factors: 50
Based on these factors, Remiluken (with his wife’s help) has a CRS score of 477, easily qualifying him for the most recent French language proficiency draw.
If invited to apply for permanent residence (PR) under the Express Entry system, Remiluken will have the opportunity to include his wife in his PR application, ensuring that she receives PR status at the same time he does, if his application is successful.
Why should Express Entry candidates consider learning or improving their French ability?
Added French ability can be a powerful catalyst to increasing a candidate’s CRS score, and thereby their chances of receiving an ITA through the Express Entry system. Candidates can add a maximum of 310 CRS points to their candidate profile by increasing their French ability (when combined with other factors, such as education). Candidates applying with a spouse can earn even more CRS points (320) by increasing their French ability, with the help of their loved one.
Further to this, candidates who score at least a level 7 on the NCLC French-language proficiency scale (and who do not wish to reside in the province of Quebec) may be eligible to be included in the Express Entry French language proficiency category, one of IRCC’s priority categories through the federal immigration system this year.
Dedicated landings to this category are even set to increase in coming years, one of the few recent instances in Canadian immigration where the government has stated its intention to increase newcomer levels. Per the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to admit close to 30,000 Francophone newcomers (destined for provinces other than Quebec) in 2025, with the figure increasing to 31,350 in 2026 and 31,500 in 2027.
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