Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the latest Express Entry draw on December 17, 2025, targeting candidates under the French-language proficiency category. In this round, IRCC issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 399, marking the lowest CRS cut-off recorded in 2025.
The draw stands out both for its scale and its low CRS threshold, reflecting IRCC’s continued use of category-based selections to meet specific immigration priorities while advancing overall permanent resident admissions through the Express Entry system.
Details of the Draw #388
The December 17 round focused exclusively on candidates who met IRCC’s French-language proficiency criteria. The official details are as follows:
Program category: French-language proficiency
Date of draw: December 17, 2025
Number of ITAs issued: 6,000
Minimum CRS score: 399
Tie-breaking rule: August 24, 2025, at 23:43:05 UTC
The high number of invitations issued in a single round makes this one of the largest category-based Express Entry draws conducted this year.
Overview of the Draw
Category-based draws allow IRCC to invite candidates based on specific attributes identified as priorities under Canada’s immigration strategy.
In French-language proficiency draws, candidates are selected based on their ability to demonstrate strong French language skills, regardless of whether they qualify under the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
The significantly lower CRS cut-off in this draw indicates that language proficiency was a decisive selection factor.
Candidates with moderate CRS scores were able to receive invitations due to their eligibility under the French-language category, highlighting how category-based draws operate alongside traditional CRS ranking.
French-Language Proficiency and Express Entry
French-language proficiency has been formally incorporated into the Express Entry category-based selection as part of Canada’s objective to strengthen Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
Candidates eligible under this category must meet specific language benchmarks in French, typically demonstrated through approved language test results.
French-speaking immigrants contribute to Canada’s linguistic duality and support workforce needs across multiple provinces.
As a result, IRCC has consistently used French-language draws to increase the intake of Francophone permanent residents through the Express Entry system.
Impact on Immigration Levels and Selection Trends
By issuing 6,000 invitations at a lower CRS threshold, IRCC expanded the range of eligible candidates while maintaining selection control through defined category criteria.
This approach supports Canada’s objective of diversifying its immigrant intake by language ability while continuing to balance admissions across multiple Express Entry programs.
The scale of the draw indicates that category-based selections are playing an increasingly prominent role in meeting annual immigration targets, alongside Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program rounds.
The use of large, targeted draws also allows IRCC to respond efficiently to demographic and workforce planning priorities without altering the overall Express Entry framework, reinforcing the system’s flexibility as Canada moves into the next immigration planning cycle.