
Canada Issues 2,500 Express Entry Invitations
On August 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its third Express Entry draw of the week, issuing 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
This draw, focused on candidates with French language proficiency, required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 481.
As Canada intensifies its efforts to bolster Francophone immigration outside Quebec, this draw underscores the country’s commitment to linguistic diversity and economic growth.
This article delves into the details of the latest draw, explores the context of the week’s earlier draws, and provides insights into how candidates can qualify for French draws and the total number of ITAs issued so far this week.
Table of Contents
How to Qualify for a French Language Proficiency Draw
Overview of the August 8, 2025, Express Entry Draw
The latest Express Entry draw, held on August 8, 2025, targeted candidates with strong French language skills, aligning with Canada’s strategic goal of increasing Francophone immigration to provinces and territories outside Quebec.
Here are the key details:
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- Date and Time: August 8, 2025
- Category: French Language Proficiency (Version 1)
- Number of ITAs Issued: 2,500
- CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate: 481
- Rank Required: 2,500 or above
- Tie-Breaking Rule: Profiles submitted before July 18, 2025, at 05:16:06 UTC were prioritized if multiple candidates shared the minimum CRS score of 481.
Back-To-Back 3 Express Entry Draws
This week has been notably active for Canada’s Express Entry system, with three draws conducted, each targeting different candidate profiles.
Below is a summary of the two draws that preceded the August 8 French language proficiency draw, along with the total ITAs issued across all three.
First Draw: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – August 6, 2025
- Number of ITAs: 225
- CRS Cut-Off Score: 739
- Category: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Details: This draw invited candidates who had received nominations from Canadian provinces or territories, automatically adding 600 CRS points to their profiles.
The high CRS cut-off reflects this additional 600 points boost in PNP draws, which prioritize candidates with strong ties to specific regions.
The tie-breaking rule for this draw was set at April 23, 2025, at 06:35:51 UTC.
Second Draw: Canadian Experience Class – July 22, 2025
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- Number of ITAs: 1,000
- CRS Cut-Off Score: 534
- Program: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Conducted yesterday, this draw targeted candidates with at least 1 year of Canadian work experience in the last 3 years.
The CRS cut-off of 534 was notably higher as compared to the previous CEC draw in July 2025.
Why French Language Proficiency Draws Matter
Canada’s Express Entry system, introduced in 2015, manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
In 2023, IRCC introduced category-based selection draws to target candidates with specific skills or attributes, such as French language proficiency, to address labour market shortages and demographic priorities.
French language proficiency draws are a cornerstone of Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which aims to admit 29,325 Francophone newcomers in 2025, increasing to 31,350 in 2026 and 31,500 in 2027 outside Quebec.
These draws prioritize candidates with a minimum Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 7 in French across all four language abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
Candidates with strong French skills can also earn up to 56 additional CRS points, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an ITA.
The lower CRS cut-offs in French proficiency draws—such as 481 in the August 8 draw or as low as 379 earlier in 2025—make them an attractive pathway for candidates who might not qualify for general or PNP draws, where cut-offs often exceed 515.
How to Qualify for a French Language Proficiency Draw
To be eligible for a French language proficiency draw, candidates must:
- Meet Express Entry Program Requirements: Be eligible for the FSWP, CEC, or FSTP.
- Demonstrate French Proficiency: Achieve at least NCLC level 7 in all four language abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
Candidates can also boost their CRS scores by improving their French proficiency, gaining Canadian work experience, or securing a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points and virtually guarantees an ITA.
For example, a candidate like Amadou, a 32-year-old mechanic from Côte d’Ivoire with a bachelor’s degree equivalent, three years of foreign work experience, NCLC level 9 in French, and CLB level 6 in English, could achieve a competitive CRS score.
Such profiles often qualify for French proficiency draws due to their language skills and other human capital factors.
Category-based draws, like the one on August 8, prioritize French language proficiency over the highest CRS scores, resulting in lower cut-offs.
The third Express Entry draw of the week on August 8, 2025, marks another milestone in Canada’s efforts to attract skilled, French-speaking immigrants.
With 2,500 ITAs issued at a CRS cut-off of 481, this draw offers hope to candidates with strong French proficiency.
Combined with the week’s earlier PNP and CEC draws, a total of 3,725 ITAs were issued, bringing the 2025 total to 53,128.
As Canada continues to prioritize Francophone immigration and address labour market needs, candidates with diverse skills and language abilities have unprecedented opportunities to build a future in Canada.
By optimizing their CRS scores, submitting profiles early, and staying informed about draw trends, candidates can position themselves for success in the competitive Express Entry pool.
Whether you’re a French-speaking professional or exploring other pathways, now is the time to take action and pursue your Canadian dream.
How many ITAs have been issued in Express Entry draws this week?
This week, IRCC issued a total of 3,725 ITAs across three Express Entry draws: 225 in the August 6 PNP draw, 1,000 in the August 7 CEC draw, and 2,500 in the August 8 French language proficiency draw.
Source: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
GFK Immigration
Gboyega Esan RCIC R708591
Phone: +1 (647) 225-0092
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