French in Express Entry

The short answer

Reaching NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills can:

1. add 50 additional CRS points if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills, or 25 if your English is CLB 4 or lower or you have no English test;
2. add second official language points if French is your second official language: 12 at NCLC 7 in all four skills, up to 24 at NCLC 9 or higher (22 with a spouse or partner);
3. make you eligible for French-language proficiency draws. Cut-off scores vary from round to round.

In total, French can be worth up to 74 CRS points (72 with a spouse or partner). That maximum requires NCLC 9 or higher in all four French skills, CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills, and French as your second official language. A candidate with exactly NCLC 7 in all four French skills and CLB 5 or higher in English gets 62. If you choose French as your first official language instead, it earns first-language points, and the additional French points still apply.

This article explains IRCC’s published rules. It is not immigration advice. Always check the current rules on the IRCC website before you make decisions.

Where the points come from

1. Additional points for French

2. Second official language points

French also earns points in the core part of the CRS, skill by skill:

The maximum is 24 points without a spouse or partner, and 22 with one.

Source: IRCC, Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria, page reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Worked examples

All three candidates below have CLB 5 or higher in English.

The third example is the one to remember. One skill at NCLC 6 costs 52 points compared with the first candidate, and it also blocks access to the French-language draws.

Why your weakest skill decides everything

The 50 points and the French category both require NCLC 7 in every skill. A brilliant result in reading does not compensate for a weak result in writing.

That is why the best preparation strategy is to:

1. find your weakest skill with a mock test;
2. bring it to NCLC 7 first;
3. only then try to push your stronger skills higher.

The scores you need for NCLC 7

Source: IRCC, Language test equivalency charts, reviewed in October 2026. Our score guides include calculators for both tests.

French-language proficiency draws

French-language proficiency is one of the categories IRCC uses for category-based rounds of invitations. To be eligible, you need NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and an Express Entry profile that meets the requirements of one of the programs.

Cut-off scores change from one draw to the next. Check the latest French-language rounds, with their dates and cut-offs, on IRCC’s “Rounds of invitations” page.

Other points to know

• Only TEF Canada and TCF Canada are accepted for French. The DELF, the DALF and the TCF Tout Public are not.
• Your results are valid for two years. They must still be valid when you create your profile and when you apply.
• IRCC has announced changes to other parts of the CRS taking effect on 3 November 2026, including points for Canadian work experience and job offers. They are not yet in force on the date of this article. The French points above are the rules in force, as listed on IRCC’s CRS page; we will update this page if the new rules change them.

Frequently asked questions