August 6, 2026 Express Entry Draw: 5,000 French-Language Invitations, CRS 391
On August 6, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held a new Express Entry draw. They issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the French-language proficiency category.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited was 391.
Latest round details
The table below outlines the exact figures from this Express Entry draw. The CRS score distribution of candidates in the pool is current as of August 3, 2026.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and time | August 6, 2026 at 11:29:10 UTC |
| Round type | Category-based: French-language proficiency |
| Invitations issued | 5,000 |
| Lowest-ranked CRS score | 391 |
| Rank required | 5,000 or above |
| Tie-breaking rule | March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC |
What a category-based round is
Express Entry runs three types of rounds. These are general, program-specific, and category-based rounds.
In a category-based round, the Minister sets a category to meet a specific economic goal. Only candidates who meet that category are invited.
Candidates must also be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. This specific round was for the French-language proficiency category (2026, Version 2).
Who qualifies for the French-language category
Candidates must demonstrate French-language ability at NCLC 7 or higher to meet the standing eligibility rule. They must achieve this score in all four abilities on an approved French test.
These abilities are reading, writing, listening and speaking.
NCLC stands for Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens. It is the French equivalent of the CLB scale.
Why the CRS cut-off is 391
Category-based French draws select from a smaller group of French-speaking candidates. These draws support Canada's Francophone immigration targets.
Because of this, their CRS cut-offs typically run lower than general draws. A strong French profile can therefore lead to an invitation at a lower score.
A score of 391 would not be competitive in a general round.
What the tie-breaking rule means
More than one candidate may have the lowest CRS score of 391. When this happens, the cut-off is applied by the date and time each candidate submitted their Express Entry profile.
Anyone at 391 who submitted their profile before March 18, 2026 at 23:32:40 UTC was invited.
Candidates who submitted their profile after that timestamp were not invited.
What happens next for invited candidates
The government issued 5,000 invitations in this round. These candidates have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
They now have a limited window to submit a complete permanent residence application. A properly prepared application is critical for a successful outcome.
What this data tell us
The August 6, 2026 draw is another reminder that French remains the single most efficient lever in Express Entry right now. A cut-off of 391 is far below what a general round would demand, and with 5,000 invitations issued in one sitting, IRCC is clearly still pushing hard toward its Francophone immigration targets. What this means in practice is that a candidate with an average age, moderate work experience, and no Canadian education can still receive an ITA, provided they hold NCLC 7 or higher across all four French abilities. The tie-breaking timestamp of March 18, 2026 also tells us something useful: candidates sitting at the cut-off score had profiles that were roughly five months old, so the pool at that level is not clearing instantly. Our advice remains the same as it has been for the past two years. If you are within reach of NCLC 7, invest in the language test before you invest in anything else on your profile, because no other single factor moves your odds this much. And for the 5,000 people invited in this round, the work starts now: the 60-day window to submit a complete PR application is unforgiving, and incomplete submissions are the most common reason strong candidates lose an ITA they already earned.