IRCC is inviting 6,500 candidates in the first Express Entry draw of 2025 under the French language category.

On February 19, 2025, the Canadian Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) held its first Express Entry draw of 2025, focusing on candidates with strong French language skills. In this draw, IRCC issued 6,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 428. To be considered, candidates had to create an Express Entry profile before 4:41 PM Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on February 10, 2025.

This is the fourth draw in February, following two draws for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and one for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). In total, IRCC issued 11,601 ITAs in February 2025.

The 2025 draws will primarily focus on candidates under the CEC and PNP programs, aiming to achieve the immigration intake targets of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan. Specifically, the "Focus on Canada" group will be allocated a total of 82,890 immigration entries in 2025.

Summary of Express Entry draws in 2025:

To participate in the Express Entry program for French-speaking candidates, you need to meet the following requirements:

1. French language skills:

   • Achieve a minimum score of 7 on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) scale in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
     

2. English language skills (if any):

   • If you have English language skills, you can earn extra points if you achieve a score of 5 or higher on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) scale in all skills.
     

3. Valid Express Entry profile:

   • Meet the requirements of at least one of the three federal economic immigration programs:
     • Federal Skilled Worker Program
     • Canadian Experience Class Program
     • Federal Skilled Trades Program
   • Create and maintain a valid Express Entry profile in the system of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) .
     

Meeting these conditions will increase your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in Express Entry draws for French-speaking candidates.

📢 Want to increase your CRS score to receive an ITA? 🇨🇦

If you're in the Express Entry system , improving your CRS score will help you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) faster in future draws. Here are some common ways to increase your CRS score:

• Receiving a Provincial Nomination (PNP) boosts your CRS by 600 points, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA)!
• Improve your language test score (IELTS/TEF) – Up to 310 CRS points can be gained.
• Enroll in additional courses – If you have a Canadian qualification, you can increase your CRS points by up to 250.
• Gain more work experience in Canada – The more experience you have, the higher your CRS score!
• Enhance your education or complete an Qualification Assessment (ECA) – Earn extra points for higher qualifications.
• Change the primary applicant – If your spouse has a higher score, switch the application position to optimize your CRS score 💡

💡 Or Choose a Different Path: Start-Up Visa! 🚀

• Independent of employers – No LMIA required, no job offer needed!
• Lower language requirements – Just CLB 5 (IELTS 5.0), easier to achieve than Express Entry.
• Apply for PR right from the start – No need to wait for CRS scores, no dependence on PNP or job offers.
• Long-term business and growth opportunities in Canada.

📩 Contact KeyApply now for detailed advice on the most suitable immigration pathway for you! 🇨🇦