- Round number
- #450
- Invitations to apply
- 5,000
- CRS cut-off (highest French cut-off of 2026)
- 435
- Minimum in all four French abilities
- NCLC 7
On 16 October 2026, IRCC held round #450 of Express Entry, a French-language proficiency round under "French-Language proficiency 2026-Version 2". It issued 5,000 invitations to apply with a minimum CRS score of 435.
What changed
This was the eleventh French-language round of 2026 and the first since 19 August 2026 (#437), 58 days earlier. The size was the same as the previous four French rounds (5,000), but the cut-off rose from 382 to 435. That is the highest French cut-off of 2026; the previous high was 420 on 9 July 2026 (#425).
Tie-breaking rule. Several candidates had exactly 435 points. IRCC invited those who submitted their Express Entry profile before 6 October 2026 at 21:31:22 UTC.
How it compares with recent French rounds
| Date | Round | Invitations | CRS cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 October 2026 | #450 | 5,000 | 435 |
| 19 August 2026 | #437 | 5,000 | 382 |
| 6 August 2026 | #433 | 5,000 | 391 |
| 22 July 2026 | #429 | 5,000 | 399 |
| 9 July 2026 | #425 | 5,000 | 420 |
| 28 May 2026 | #418 | 4,500 | 409 |
The Canadian Experience Class round the day before (15 October 2026, #449) had a cut-off of 519. The full table is in our French-category draw history.
Changes from 3 November 2026
IRCC's Express Entry changes page says that as of 3 November 2026 it is changing how CRS points are awarded. Recalculating existing profiles could take up to two weeks, and IRCC will pause rounds of invitations during that time. No restart date is published. What changes, point by point: Express Entry CRS changes from 3 November 2026.
Who it affects
- Candidates with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and at least 435 CRS points, with profiles submitted before the tie-break time, received an invitation.
- Candidates between 382 and 434 points who would have been invited in the August rounds were not invited this time. If you're still choosing a test, see whether TCF/TEF or IELTS earns you more CRS points. Cut-offs move from round to round, and IRCC does not announce future rounds in advance.
- Candidates with NCLC 7 in only some skills were not eligible. French-category eligibility needs all four.
What to do now
- If you were invited: you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application. Your French test result must still be less than 2 years old on the day you apply.
- If you are in the pool: check your CRS score against the 2026 French cut-offs, which now range from 382 to 435.
- If you don't have NCLC 7 in every skill yet: check if you meet NCLC 7 with your TCF Canada or TEF Canada scores. Your weakest skill decides eligibility; to find it, sit a free full-length TEF Canada mock test.
- Learn how the French points fit together in French for Express Entry and in our post on the French-language proficiency category.
Previous round in this series: the 19 August 2026 French draw. The whole year is in the 2026 French draws recap.