Express Entry Draw Report: May 2026 — 4 French Draws, CRS Drops to 382
May 2026 Express Entry — All Draws
May 2026 was the most active month for Express Entry so far this year. IRCC held 6 rounds of invitations, with French-proficiency draws accounting for more than 75% of all ITAs issued. The CRS cutoff for French draws dropped to a new 2026 low of 382 in mid-May.
| Date | Draw Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | French Proficiency | 8,500 | 409 |
| May 12, 2026 | General (No Program) | 3,500 | 519 |
| May 14, 2026 | French Proficiency | 9,000 | 382 |
| May 20, 2026 | STEM Occupations | 3,800 | 481 |
| May 22, 2026 | French Proficiency | 8,700 | 397 |
| May 29, 2026 | French Proficiency | 8,500 | 404 |
May 2026 Summary
- Total ITAs in May: 42,000
- French draw ITAs: 34,700 (82.6% of total)
- General draw ITAs: 3,500 (8.3%)
- Specialty draw ITAs: 3,800 (9.0%)
- New 2026 low CRS (French): 382 on May 14
- Number of French draws in May: 4
The May 14 Draw: A Record Low
The May 14 French draw with CRS 382 was the lowest cutoff for a French draw in 2026. It invited 9,000 candidates — the largest single draw of the year. This occurred because IRCC was clearing a large backlog of French-proficiency candidates who had been accumulating in the pool.
What does CRS 382 look like in practice? A typical profile that would score around 380-390:
- Age: 30
- Education: Bachelor's degree
- English: CLB 9
- French: NCLC 7 (B2)
- Work experience: 3+ years
- No provincial nomination, no Canadian degree
This is a very achievable profile. If you have B2 French and solid English, you likely qualify right now.
STEM Draw: What Happened
The May 20 STEM draw invited 3,800 candidates at CRS 481. This draw covered NOC codes in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. If you work in tech, engineering, or sciences and have French, your CRS could be as low as 380. Without French, you need 481+.
The message is clear: French is the biggest equalizer in Express Entry right now.
Q: Will French Draw CRS Keep Falling?
Not indefinitely. As more people learn French and enter the pool with NCLC 7+ scores, the cutoff will stabilize. The current range of 380-415 may be close to the floor. However, IRCC has also been increasing the number of ITAs per French draw, so even if the cutoff rises slightly, the volume of invitations remains high.
Bottom line: if you are studying French, do not wait. Take TCF Canada or TEF Canada as soon as you hit B2. The window is open and the numbers are unprecedented.
Upcoming: What to Expect in June 2026
Based on May's pace, June 2026 is expected to see:
- 3-4 French draws with 8,000-9,000 ITAs each
- 1 General draw (CRS likely 505-515)
- 1-2 occupational draws (healthcare, trades, or transport)
- French CRS cutoff expected: 380-415 range
We will publish the June 2026 draw report as results come in. Stay tuned to WayToFrench for the most up-to-date Express Entry draw information for French speakers.
Not sure how this changes your ranking? Our CRS score calculator gives you an instant estimate.