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BREAKING IRCC's First French-Language Express Entry Draw in December - Huge Opportunity!

AdminDec 3

IRCC Conducts French-Language Specific Express Entry Draw in December

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, inviting candidates to apply for permanent residency.

In this latest round, 800 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued under the category-based selection for candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 466.


Free Express Entry Evaluation Available

This is the second Express Entry draw of December, following a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on December 2.

In November, IRCC conducted six Express Entry draws, issuing 5,507 ITAs for permanent residence. Trends indicate consistent invitations for candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) categories.


Category-Based Selections and Future Trends

As part of Canada's evolving immigration policies, IRCC has introduced the new "In-Canada" focus category, targeting applicants under the CEC and other regional programs. These categories may also include candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Under Canada's Immigration Levels Plan, this category has been allocated 82,980 permanent residency admissions, representing over 40% of all planned admissions for the upcoming year.

Additionally, candidates with strong French-language skills outside of Quebec are expected to receive more ITAs, as allocations for Francophone immigration increase to 29,235 admissions in 2025. This upward trend is expected to continue into 2026 and 2027 under IRCC's Francophone immigration strategy.


Summary of Recent Express Entry Draws (2024)

Date Draw Type Number of ITAs CRS Cut-Off
December 16 Provincial Nominee Program 1,085 727
December 3 French Language Proficiency 800 466
December 2 Provincial Nominee Program 676 705
November 20 Healthcare Occupations 3,000 463
November 19 Canadian Experience Class 400 539
November 15 French Language Proficiency 800 478
November 12 Provincial Nominee Program 733 812
October 23 Trade Occupations 1,800 433

What is Express Entry?

The Express Entry system manages applications for three major federal economic immigration programs:

  1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  2. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  3. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

It also includes candidates applying through Express Entry-aligned PNP streams.

Applicants are evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assigns scores based on factors such as:

  • Age
  • Language proficiency
  • Education
  • Work experience

A Provincial Nomination adds 600 CRS points, significantly increasing the chances of receiving an ITA. Additional points can also be earned through family ties in Canada, applying with a spouse, or combining international education and work experience.


Category-Based Selections: A New Approach

In addition to the standard CRS-based draws, IRCC now conducts category-based selections, inviting candidates with specific skills, professional expertise, or language abilities. These draws align with Canada’s labor market and demographic goals. Notably, CRS cut-offs for category-based draws tend to be lower than general or program-specific rounds, opening opportunities for a broader range of candidates.


If you’re planning to immigrate to Canada, ensure your profile is optimized to maximize your CRS score and align with category-based selection criteria. For assistance, book a Free Express Entry Assessment today!