What's changed

IRCC conducted Express Entry round 414 on April 29, 2026 as a category-based selection draw under the French-language proficiency Version 2 category. The round invited 4,000 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 400. Candidates needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile no later than the tie-break timestamp of April 7, 2026 at 20:13:59 UTC to receive an invitation at the cut-off score.

The French-language Version 2 category, in effect for the 2026 category-based selection cycle, targets candidates who have demonstrated French proficiency at Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens 7 or higher across all four language abilities. Category-based draws operate alongside Express Entry's general and program-specific rounds, allowing IRCC to issue invitations to candidates whose profiles match designated economic priorities.

Who's affected

Candidates in the Express Entry pool with French-language test results meeting the Version 2 category threshold and a CRS score of at least 400 received invitations in round 414. The CRS 400 cut-off continues a downward trajectory across the 2026 French-language draw series — earlier French-category rounds in 2024 and early 2025 cleared at CRS scores in the 470–478 range, and the lowered threshold expands the pool of candidates eligible for selection without additional ranking gains.

The round does not affect candidates seeking selection under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Provincial Nominee Program, which operate through separate program-specific or general draws.

When it takes effect

Invited candidates have 60 days from April 29, 2026 — until June 28, 2026 — to submit a complete application for permanent residence with the supporting documentation required under the relevant Express Entry program. IRCC's published service standard targets processing of complete Express Entry applications within six months of submission.