Canada just made a big move to welcome more French-speaking immigrants. In the latest Express Entry draw on March 21, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued invitations to 7,500 candidates to apply for permanent residency. This draw specifically focused on candidates with strong French language skills.
To qualify, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 379 and must have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 2:53 a.m. UTC on March 6, 2025. This is the lowest CRS score required in any Express Entry draw since February 2024, making it a great opportunity for French-speaking applicants.
Express Entry Draws in 2025: The Numbers
This was the fourth draw in March and the second one this week. The earlier draw on March 17 focused on candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
In 2025, IRCC has issued a total of 30,683 Invitations to Apply (ITAs). Here’s a breakdown of the draws so far:
| Draw Date | Number of ITAs | Minimum CRS Score |
Category |
| March 21, 2025 | 7,500 | 379 | French Language Proficiency |
| March 17, 2025 | 536 | 736 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| March 6, 2025 | 4,500 | 410 | French Language Proficiency |
| March 3, 2025 | 725 | 667 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| February 19, 2025 | 6,500 | 428 | French Language Proficiency |
| February 17, 2025 | 646 | 750 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| February 5, 2025 | 4,000 | 521 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| February 4, 2025 | 802 | 455 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
| January 23, 2025 | 4,000 | 527 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| January 8, 2025 | 1,350 | 542 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) |
| January 7, 2025 | 471 | 793 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) |
Why Focus on French-Speaking Candidates?
Canada wants to boost its French-speaking population, especially outside Quebec. This helps maintain linguistic diversity and supports Francophone communities across the country.
The goal? To have 4.4% of immigrants outside Quebec speaking French. This also benefits industries like healthcare, education, and public service, where bilingualism is a huge plus.
