Canada Just Issued 5,000 French-Language ITAs (July 9): What It Means for Your Canada PR Timeline
Canada's Express Entry draw #425 issued 5,000 ITAs to French-speaking candidates on 9 July 2026 at CRS 420 — the year's highest French-round cutoff. Here's what it means if you're on the English-only PTE Core path.
Published 23 July 2026 · 6 min read · PTE Mocks editorial team
Quick answer
On 9 July 2026, IRCC ran Express Entry draw #425 and issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply to French-speaking candidates at a minimum CRS of 420 — the highest French-round cutoff of 2026. If you're on the English-only PTE Core path, the takeaway is simple: category-based draws are now the fast lane, and general CRS cutoffs have climbed above 500. Last reviewed 23 July 2026.
What happened on 9 July 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ran the 7th French-language proficiency round of 2026 on Thursday 9 July. The numbers, verbatim from the round-of-invitations page:
- Draw number: #425.
- Category: French-language proficiency (category-based selection).
- Invitations issued: 5,000.
- Minimum CRS score: 420 — the highest French-round cutoff seen in 2026.
- Tie-break rule: 15 May 2026 at 08:04:00 UTC. Candidates who scored exactly 420 needed a profile submitted before that timestamp to be invited.
Draw #425 was the third Express Entry round in four days. On 6 July IRCC ran a Provincial Nominee Program draw (534 ITAs at CRS 708), and on 7 July it ran a Canadian Experience Class draw (2,000 ITAs at CRS 517). Across those three days IRCC issued 7,534 ITAs, one of the largest early-July windows on record. (Source: IRCC round of invitations.)
The pattern is unmistakable: IRCC is favouring category-based rounds (French, healthcare, STEM, trades, agriculture, transport) over CRS-only general draws. That shift changes what a competitive Canada PR profile looks like in 2026.
Why this matters if you're on the PTE Core (English) path
First, the reassurance: PTE Core is accepted for Canada's economic immigration programs, including Express Entry, since January 2024. If you have a valid PTE Core result at the right CLB level, you can enter the Express Entry pool today. Our PTE for Canada PR page maps every score band to its CLB equivalent.
Two things have changed around you, though:
- General CRS cutoffs have climbed above 500. The 7 July CEC round landed at CRS 517. A pure English-only profile with no provincial nomination now needs a very strong all-round score to clear a general draw.
- Category-based draws are the fast lane. Draw #425 pulled 5,000 French speakers at CRS 420 — a full 97 points lower than the same-week CEC cutoff. The message from IRCC is that eligibility category is now doing more work than raw CRS.
If you can add any category-eligible attribute (a healthcare occupation, a STEM background, a trades certificate, or French at CLB 7+), you drop into a much easier draw. If you cannot, the English-only path still works — but you need to aim higher on PTE Core than most 2024 guides suggest.
The CRS math for bilingual candidates
Canada rewards bilingualism heavily. Two mechanisms stack:
- Second official language points: up to 24 CRS points for a second language at CLB 9+ across all four skills (or 6 points at CLB 5 to 8).
- Skills-transferability bonus: up to another 50 combined from language plus education or work experience combinations.
More importantly for draw #425: to enter the French-language proficiency category, IRCC only requires French at NCLC 7 or higher on all four skills (equivalent to CLB 7). That's a mid-range level, not native fluency. Candidates who added a TEF or TCF result at NCLC 7 and kept their PTE Core English were invited at CRS 420 — dozens of points below where an English-only profile would have been drawn.
| Profile | Typical CRS range | Recent draw cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| English only (PTE Core CLB 9), no PNP | 460 to 490 | CEC 7 Jul: 517 |
| English CLB 9 + French NCLC 7 | 500 to 540 | French 9 Jul: 420 |
| English CLB 9 + provincial nomination | 700+ | PNP 6 Jul: 708 |
Indicative ranges. Actual CRS depends on age, education, work history, and adaptability factors.
What English-only PTE Core candidates should target
If French is not on your roadmap, aim for CLB 9 across all four skills on PTE Core. That's the threshold that unlocks the maximum first-language CRS points and keeps you competitive against a 517-point CEC cutoff. On PTE Core, CLB 9 means:
| Skill | PTE Core score for CLB 9 | PTE Core score for CLB 10 (best) |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 82 | 88 |
| Reading | 82 | 88 |
| Writing | 88 | 90 |
| Speaking | 84 | 89 |
CLB 9 in every skill is worth 124 first-language CRS points for a single applicant. CLB 10 lifts you to 136. On top of that, pair the language score with a provincial nomination (+600 CRS) if you can — that is the other structural fast lane still open to English-only candidates in mid-2026.
General draws at CRS 500+ are technically clearable without a nomination, but you need a young age (25 to 29), a Canadian master's or PhD, and CLB 10 language to stack there. For most working candidates, the realistic English-only plan is: PTE Core at CLB 9 + PNP nomination.
How to prepare for PTE Core with us
Our PTE Core prep hub is designed for CLB 9 and CLB 10 targets, not just a pass. A workable plan:
- Sit a full scored PTE Core mock test in week one. You'll get a per-skill breakdown showing which of Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking is the weakest link. In our data the weak link is almost always Speaking or Writing, not Reading.
- Drill the highest-leverage tasks on the practice hub. For PTE Core the two that most reliably move Speaking are Read Aloud and Describe Image; for Writing it is Summarize Written Text.
- Re-sit a full mock every 10 to 14 days. Track whether every one of the four skills is comfortably above the CLB 9 threshold (Listening 82, Reading 82, Writing 88, Speaking 84). If one skill is stuck, that's your drill focus for the next block.
- Confirm the current PTE Core to CLB conversion on our PTE for Canada PR page before you book the paid test.
We are independent and not affiliated with Pearson or IRCC. Always confirm current draw rules and language equivalencies on the official IRCC page linked above. Our methodology is in our editorial standards.
Frequently asked
What was the CRS score for the July 9 2026 Express Entry draw?
The minimum CRS for draw #425 on 9 July 2026 was 420. It was a category-based round for French-language proficiency and issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply. The tie-break rule was profile submission before 15 May 2026 at 08:04:00 UTC.
Who qualified for the 9 July 2026 draw?
Only candidates in the French-language proficiency category qualified. That means candidates in the Express Entry pool with a valid TEF Canada or TCF Canada result showing at least NCLC 7 (equivalent to CLB 7) across all four skills, plus a CRS of 420 or higher and a profile submitted before the tie-break timestamp.
How many CRS points do you get for French on Express Entry?
French as a second official language is worth up to 24 CRS points on its own (at CLB 9 or higher on all four skills, or 6 points at CLB 5 to 8), plus additional points via the skills-transferability bonus when combined with education or work experience. In practical terms, adding French at NCLC 7 can lift a profile by 30 to 50 CRS points and unlock the French-only category draws, which have cutoffs around 400 to 480 rather than 500+.
What PTE Core score do I need for CLB 9?
CLB 9 on PTE Core requires Listening 82, Reading 82, Writing 88, and Speaking 84 as minimums in each skill. CLB 9 unlocks the maximum first-language CRS point bucket for a single applicant (124 points) and is the standard target for Canada PR candidates.
Is PTE Core accepted for Canada PR?
Yes. IRCC has accepted PTE Core for Express Entry and all economic immigration programs since January 2024. It is not the same test as PTE Academic — Canada PR requires PTE Core specifically. PTE Academic is used for Canadian study visas but not for permanent residence.
How do I qualify for a French Express Entry draw?
You need a valid TEF Canada or TCF Canada result showing at least NCLC 7 on all four French skills. You then create an Express Entry profile with your French score attached, and you become eligible for the French-language proficiency category rounds like draw #425. English can be your first or second language on the profile.
Are Canada Express Entry draws getting harder in 2026?
General CRS-based rounds are, yes — the CEC round on 7 July 2026 landed at CRS 517 and PNP-inclusive rounds sit above 700. Category-based rounds (French, healthcare, STEM, trades) are still much more accessible, with cutoffs in the 400 to 500 range. IRCC is deliberately shifting invitation volume toward category-based selection.
Can I get Canada PR with PTE Core and no French?
Yes, but you need to aim higher. Target CLB 9 or CLB 10 on every skill (Listening 82+, Reading 82+, Writing 88+, Speaking 84+) and pair it with a provincial nomination for a realistic path. Without a PNP, general-round cutoffs above 500 are hard to clear on English alone unless you also have a young age and a Canadian graduate degree.
What is the difference between PTE Core and PTE Academic for Canada?
PTE Core is the shorter, more general English test designed for economic immigration and accepted by IRCC for Canada PR. PTE Academic is the longer academic English test used for university admissions and student visas. If your goal is a Canadian PR pathway, you need PTE Core, not PTE Academic.
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