French Express Entry Intelligence — 2026
Executive summary
Python Immigration's analysis of IRCC data identified 10 French-language Express Entry rounds in 2026 through August 19, 2026, issuing 50,500 invitations at a median CRS cut-off of 399.5. Published cut-offs in these rounds ranged from 382 to 420, with an average of 5,050 invitations per round.
Source: IRCC rounds of invitations · Express Entry dataset last synced on September 16, 2026 · Calculations by Python Immigration · Reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Key findings
Python calculation over official IRCC records for 2026 through August 19, 2026.
- French-language rounds
- 10
- Invitations issued
- 50,500
- Median CRS cut-off
- 399.5
- Average CRS cut-off
- 401
- Lowest cut-off
- 382
- Highest cut-off
- 420
- Average invitations per round
- 5,050
- Share of all 2026 invitations
- 39.2%
- Median across all round types
- 512.5
Of 128,982 invitations across all round types
For comparison — all Express Entry round types
Official IRCC data — every 2026 French-language round
Published exactly as IRCC recorded it. No values are estimated.
| Round | Date | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| #437 | August 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| #433 | August 6, 2026 | 5,000 | 391 |
| #429 | July 22, 2026 | 5,000 | 399 |
| #425 | July 9, 2026 | 5,000 | 420 |
| #418 | May 28, 2026 | 4,500 | 409 |
| #414 | April 29, 2026 | 4,000 | 400 |
| #411 | April 15, 2026 | 4,000 | 419 |
| #405 | March 18, 2026 | 4,000 | 393 |
| #401 | March 4, 2026 | 5,500 | 397 |
| #394 | February 6, 2026 | 8,500 | 400 |
Python calculation — monthly distribution
French invitations by month, 2026
January–August 19, 2026 · Source: IRCC rounds of invitations · Calculated by Python Immigration
- February 20268,500
- March 20269,500
- April 20268,000
- May 20264,500
- July 202610,000
- August 202610,000
Median French CRS cut-off by month, 2026
January–August 19, 2026 · Source: IRCC rounds of invitations · Calculated by Python Immigration
- February 2026400
- March 2026395
- April 2026409.5
- May 2026409
- July 2026409.5
- August 2026386.5
| Month | Rounds | Invitations | Median CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | 1 | 8,500 | 400 |
| March 2026 | 2 | 9,500 | 395 |
| April 2026 | 2 | 8,000 | 409.5 |
| May 2026 | 1 | 4,500 | 409 |
| July 2026 | 2 | 10,000 | 409.5 |
| August 2026 | 2 | 10,000 | 386.5 |
Python calculation — quarterly distribution
| Quarter | Rounds | Invitations | Median CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q1 | 3 | 18,000 | 397 |
| 2026 Q2 | 3 | 12,500 | 409 |
| 2026 Q3 | 4 | 20,000 | 395 |
Python calculation — recent windows
Measured back from the most recent French-language round in the dataset (August 19, 2026), not from today's date.
| Window | Rounds | Invitations | Median CRS | Lowest CRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last 30 days | 3 | 15,000 | 391 | 382 |
| Last 90 days | 5 | 24,500 | 399 | 382 |
Python calculation — 2025 compared with 2026
2026 is still in progress, so the like-for-like row compares the same calendar period of 2025 (1 January to August 19, 2025). The full-year 2025 row is shown separately and is not directly comparable.
| Period | Rounds | Invitations | Median CRS | Lowest CRS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to date | 10 | 50,500 | 399.5 | 382 |
| 2025, same period | 4 | 21,000 | 419 | 379 |
| 2025, full year in our record | 9 | 48,000 | 416 | 379 |
RCIC analysis
French-language rounds have continued to sit well below Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee cut-offs in the published record. That gap is a description of what IRCC has done, not a commitment about what it will do next: a category can be paused, renamed or given different instructions in any year.
The practical reading for a candidate is that demonstrated French at NCLC 7 or above in all four abilities changes which rounds you can be considered in, not only how many points you hold. That is why a candidate whose score is uncompetitive for a general round can still be invited in a French-language round.
Test results must be valid on the day of the round, and the claimed ability must be supported by a result from an approved French test. A plan built on French is a plan with a testing timeline attached to it, and that timeline is usually the part candidates underestimate.
This section is professional interpretation by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. It is not an IRCC statement, not a prediction of future cut-offs, and not advice for an individual case.
What to monitor
- Whether IRCC publishes revised category instructions for the French-language category.
- The invitation volume per round, which has moved more than the cut-off in the published record.
- Changes to approved French test providers or result validity.
- Provincial French-focused streams, which operate separately from the federal category.
Cite or download this analysis
Free to quote with attribution. No sign-up required. Python Immigration analysis is not peer-reviewed academic research; the underlying records are official IRCC publications.
Python Immigration. "French Express Entry Intelligence — 2026." Analysis derived from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Express Entry rounds of invitations. Updated September 16, 2026. https://pythonimm.com/immigration-intelligence/french-express-entry-2026
Official Sources & References
Immigration requirements change frequently. Always verify current requirements with official sources.
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