Express Entry · French-Language Proficiency (2026-Version 2)
Express Entry Draw #452: 5,000 French-Language invitations at CRS 407
IRCC invited 5,000 French-Language Proficiency candidates with a minimum CRS score of 407 — 28 points below the previous French-language round, and 112 points below the most recent CEC cutoff of 519.
| Draw number | #452 |
|---|---|
| Date | October 27, 2026 |
| Round type | French-Language Proficiency (2026-Version 2) |
| Invitations issued | 5,000 |
| Lowest CRS score invited | 407 |
| Previous round | October 16, 2026 · CRS 435 |
| Tie-breaking rule | Profiles at exactly 407 needed to be submitted before July 13, 2026, 19:22:00 UTC |
What happened
On October 27, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry draw #452, inviting 5,000 candidates under the French-Language proficiency (2026-Version 2) round. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 407.
This is the second large French-language round in a row at 5,000 invitations, and the cutoff fell 28 points from the October 16 round (draw #450, CRS 435).
IRCC applied a tie-breaking rule: candidates with a CRS score of exactly 407 needed an Express Entry profile submitted before July 13, 2026 at 19:22 UTC to be invited.
What this means for your score
French-language rounds remain the lowest-bar door into Express Entry — this 407 cutoff sits 112 points below the most recent Canadian Experience Class cutoff of 519 (draw #449, October 15).
If you are French-language eligible with a CRS score of 407 or higher, you were in the invitation range for this round, subject to the tie-break at exactly 407. If you have French ability, even at an intermediate level, getting tested and adding those results to your profile is one of the biggest levers available — run the CRS calculator to see where you stand.