Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its latest Express Entry draw targeting French-speaking candidates. Held on November 28, 2025, this draw marks one of the largest of the year and featured the second-lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off in 2025—a score of just 408.
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed to submit their Express Entry profiles before 12:28 p.m. UTC on May 26, 2025. The draw is part of Canada’s targeted immigration efforts to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
According to Maple News, French-speaking candidates have been the primary beneficiaries of Express Entry draws this year, receiving a total of 42,000 ITAs so far. In fact, the French language proficiency stream has accounted for the largest draws in 2025, including this most recent one.
This was the eighth draw of the year focused on French-language proficiency and the sixth Express Entry draw held in November alone. It followed an active stretch that included a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on November 26, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on November 25, and a Healthcare category-based draw on November 14.
With this latest round, IRCC’s total number of ITAs issued in 2025 has reached 94,476. The trend suggests that category-based draws—especially those emphasizing French proficiency, healthcare experience, and Canadian work history—will remain a prominent feature of Canada’s immigration strategy.
The low CRS threshold of 408 also signals greater accessibility for candidates who meet specific language or occupational criteria, despite potentially lower overall CRS scores. This aligns with Canada’s broader policy shift toward skills-based selection and the growing need to support Francophone settlement across the country.
As IRCC moves toward the end of the year, further draws are expected, with continued emphasis on priority categories that address Canada’s labour market and demographic needs.