Express Entry draw #450: 5,000 invitations (French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2), CRS 435

What changed

On October 16, 2026, IRCC held Express Entry round #450, a category-based round for French-Language proficiency. 5,000 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residence. The lowest score invited was 435 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Invitations could go to candidates in these programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Who it affects

Only candidates who belong to this category could be invited.

• An eligible foreign national is a member of the category established in section 2 if they are not a member of the class referred to in paragraph 2(d) of the Express Entry Instructions and if they meet the following requirements:
• their proficiency in French was assessed using a language test, the results of which are less than two years old, that is approved under subsection 74(3) of the Regulations and provided by an institution or organization designated under that subsection; and
• the result for each language skill area tested was a level 7 or higher according to the benchmarks set out in the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens , as defined in section 2 of the Regulations.

Tie-breaking rule

October 06, 2026 at 21:31:22 UTC. Several candidates had the lowest score of 435. Among them, only those who submitted their Express Entry profile before this date and time were invited.

The pool

On October 12, 2026, 229,456 candidates were in the Express Entry pool. 121,222 of them had a score of 431 or more. These numbers count every candidate, not only those who qualify for this round.

What it means for you

If you have the required experience and a score of 435 or more, you were in range for this round. Cut-off scores change from one round to the next. Your work duties must match the NOC description, including its main duties, not just your job title.

What to do next

Check your score with our CRS calculator and make sure your Express Entry profile is up to date, including your work experience and NOC codes. If you are not sure whether your experience counts for a category, a licensed consultant can review it with you.