Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has launched its first category-based Express Entry draw of 2025 by issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to 6,500 candidates with strong French language proficiency. This marks the second-largest French language-focused draw in the program’s history.
This milestone draw also introduced the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of the year so far, at just 428 points—significantly lower than the previous French-category draw, which had a cut-off of 466. This trend confirms that category-based selection, first introduced in 2023, continues to yield comparatively lower CRS thresholds, providing broader access for qualified candidates tied to in-demand skills and languages.
The draw targets Francophone applicants within the Express Entry system—an effort by Canada to strengthen its commitment to linguistic diversity and support French-speaking newcomers, particularly outside of Quebec. These tailored draws offer a strategic advantage to candidates who meet language requirements, increasing their chances of receiving an ITA.
A closer look at the kind of candidates invited paints a clearer picture of the criteria. For instance, Amadou Kone, a fictional profile used to illustrate eligibility, is a 32-year-old single mechanic from Côte d’Ivoire. He holds a Canadian-equivalent bachelor’s degree and has three years of foreign work experience. With a French language score of NCLC 9 and a moderate CLB 6 in English, Amadou easily surpasses the CRS cut-off thanks to strong scores in language proficiency and skills transferability.
His CRS breakdown includes 94 points for age, 120 for education, 124 for French abilities, and additional bonus points from skill transferability and bilingual proficiency. In total, his CRS of 482 comfortably clears the cut-off.
Candidates eligible for these targeted draws not only need to meet the CRS score requirements but must also fulfill category-specific criteria, such as language benchmarks. Additionally, they must have submitted their Express Entry profile before the tie-breaking date and time specified in IRCC’s ministerial instructions.
French proficiency plays a critical role in boosting CRS totals. Applicants at NCLC level 7 or above can receive up to 50 additional CRS points, with even more available for those who also demonstrate proficiency in English.
Maple News notes that as Canada continues to welcome skilled immigrants who reflect its bilingual identity, French-speaking candidates—whether from Africa, Europe, or elsewhere—are finding increasing opportunities to immigrate through Express Entry.
With this draw, IRCC demonstrates a clear preference for candidates who contribute to Canada’s linguistic diversity and labor market needs, a trend that is likely to continue well into 2025.