Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a category-based Express Entry draw targeting candidates with strong French-language proficiency. This October 29 draw stands as the third-largest in 2025 to date, continuing a clear trend toward increasing opportunities for Francophone immigrants outside Quebec.
To qualify for this round, candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 416 and have submitted their Express Entry profile before 3:27 p.m. UTC on September 8, 2025.
This draw follows two other major Francophone-focused selections this year: one on February 19 inviting 6,500 candidates and a record-setting draw on March 21 with 7,500 ITAs. Together, these three targeted rounds reflect IRCC’s firm commitment to enhancing Francophone immigration as part of its obligations under Canada’s Official Languages Act.
As of this latest selection round, IRCC has invited a total of 36,000 French-speaking applicants in 2025—more than any other category. These measures support Canada’s broader multiculturalism mandate by strengthening the country’s bilingual character, especially in provinces where French is not the dominant language.
The October 29 draw caps off an active month for Express Entry, marking the seventh draw in October alone. Earlier draws included a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) round on October 28 that issued 1,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 533, and a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) round on October 27 with 302 candidates invited and a high CRS threshold of 761.
The diversity in draw types this month—CEC, PNP, healthcare, and now Francophone—illustrates IRCC’s continued move toward more targeted immigration streams under Express Entry. By focusing on specific language skills, occupations, and provincial affiliations, Canada aims to better align incoming immigrants with national labor market demands and linguistic goals.
To date, 80,485 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2025, highlighting the program’s central role in supporting Canada’s economic immigration strategy amidst growing global talent competition.
Maple News will continue monitoring Express Entry trends and what they may signal for current and future applicants, particularly those looking to leverage language and work experience to advance their pathways to permanent residency in Canada.