Canada’s latest Express Entry draw on August 8, 2025, brought great news for many foreign nationals—2,500 individuals with strong French language proficiency have received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

Details of the August Express Entry Draw

On August 8, 2025, at 15:36:25 UTC, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted Express Entry Draw #360 specifically for candidates under the French Language Proficiency category.

• Number of ITAs issued: 2,500
• Lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score invited: 481
• Tie-breaker cutoff: July 18, 2025, at 05:16:06 UTC
  (If multiple candidates had the same CRS score, IRCC considered who submitted earliest)

How This Compares to the Previous French-Language Draw

The last similar draw took place on March 21, 2025, when IRCC issued:

• 7,500 invitations
• Lowest CRS score was 379

This time around, the cut-off score is significantly higher, reflecting increased demand and competitive profiles.

What Is the CRS Score?

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) assesses Express Entry candidates based on:

• Education
• Language proficiency (French and/or English)
• Work experience
• Skills transferability
• Other factors like age, education, and Canadian job offers

French proficiency is measured via Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC), while English uses Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB).

Why the French-Language Draw Matters

For individuals with strong French language skills, this tailored draw is a strategic opportunity. While draws typically alternate between language proficiency and broader categories, this French-dominant draw creates a more level playing field for francophone candidates.

Other Recent Canadian Immigration Draws

• Earlier, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) held a draw on August 7, 2025
• On August 6, there was a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw too

Express Entry handles major federal economic class programs, including:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

Meanwhile, the PPN allows provinces to nominate candidates based on local labor needs.

What It Means for You

If you’re a skilled professional—especially with high-level French proficiency—this bulletin is crucial. A CRS score of 481 or higher could position you well for future rounds. Keep refreshing your Express Entry profile in case of additional draws.

For those with strong English and/or provincial ties, staying updated on both federal draws and PNP selections is key.

Final Thoughts

Canada continues to favor skilled, multilingual candidates—particularly French speakers—through targeted draws. With the CRS threshold at 481, updating your profile and strengthening language test results could be your ticket to Canada. Planning your next move? I can help with CRS evaluation, provincial options, and profile strategy