Express Entry: French Cutoff Plunges to 399 Points as IRCC Invites 5,000 Candidates in the July 22, 2026 Draw | ImmigraCan
· | Categoria: Express Entry
Historic draw for French-proficient candidates selects 5,000 candidates in Express Entry with a CRS cutoff of 399, the lowest score in months. Understand the impact for Brazilians.
Historic French-Language Draw Hits the Lowest Cutoff of the Year
On July 22, 2026, Canada's immigration department (IRCC) held one of the most anticipated invitation rounds of the year in the Express Entry system. Focused exclusively on candidates with French-Language Proficiency, the draw distributed 5,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence (ITAs).
The big highlight of the draw was the sharp drop in the minimum score required under the CRS (*Comprehensive Ranking System*), which fell to 399 points. That's a reduction of 21 points compared to the previous French-language draw (held on July 9 with a cutoff of 420 points) and the lowest score recorded in this category in 2026.
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Draw Summary (Round #429)
- Draw Date: July 22, 2026
- Selection Type: French-Language Proficiency Category
- Number of Invitations (ITAs): 5,000
- CRS Cutoff Score: 399 points
- Tie-Breaking Rule: March 14, 2026, at 11:42 UTC
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Why Did the French Cutoff Fall Below 400 Points?
IRCC's strategy reflects the government's Immigration Levels Plan target of progressively increasing the share of French-speaking immigrants living outside the province of Quebec.
With aggressive targets set for the 2026–2028 period (aiming for 10% to 12% of new permanent residents in English-speaking provinces to be French-proficient), IRCC has maintained high volume and consistent frequency of invitations in this category.
For candidates, reaching Canadian Language Benchmark (NCLC/CLB) level 7 or higher in French on the TEF or TCF Canada exam unlocks two combined, hard-to-beat benefits:
1. Direct Bonus Points: Up to 50 additional CRS points for French proficiency (or more if combined with English).
2. Eligibility for Targeted Rounds: Access to draws with cutoffs substantially lower than general-program or CEC rounds (which orbit around 516-520 points).
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Impact and Opportunities for Brazilians
For Brazilian professionals planning to immigrate to Canada, French-language proficiency has become one of the most efficient shortcuts to obtaining permanent residence without an imperative need for a job offer (LMIA) or having studied in Canada.
A 30-year-old candidate with a bachelor's degree from Brazil, 3 years of work experience, and intermediate-advanced French (NCLC 7) can reach a range of 400 to 440 CRS points — more than enough to be selected in French-language rounds like this July 22 draw.
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> Use our Free CRS Calculator or our CLB Level Converter to simulate how including your French exam result immediately impacts your Express Entry score.