Guide
French points for Express Entry (CRS)
How many CRS points French is worth in Express Entry: points per skill at each NCLC level, the 25 or 50 additional points, and worked examples.
Updated
Quick answer
French can earn Express Entry points twice. As your first official language, each of the four skills is worth up to 34 points, 136 in total. On top of that, NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills adds 25 points, or 50 if you also hold CLB 5 in English.
The two ways French earns points
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) ranks Express Entry candidates. Language is one of its largest parts, and French counts in two separate places: as an official language, scored skill by skill, and through additional points reserved for candidates with strong French.
This guide covers that language part only. Your full CRS score also depends on age, education, work experience and more, which no language test can tell you.
Points per skill at each NCLC level
If French is your stronger official language, it is your first official language and each skill (listening, reading, writing, speaking) earns points on its own. The last column is the total when all four skills are at the same level, for a candidate without a spouse.
| Level | Per skill, no spouse | Per skill, with spouse | Four skills, no spouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 4–5 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
| NCLC 6 | 9 | 8 | 36 |
| NCLC 7 | 17 | 16 | 68 |
| NCLC 8 | 23 | 22 | 92 |
| NCLC 9 | 31 | 29 | 124 |
| NCLC 10+ | 34 | 32 | 136 |
The additional points for French
With NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills, you receive additional points: 25 if your English is at CLB 4 or lower, or if you have no English test, and 50 if you have CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
The condition is strict: all four French skills must reach NCLC 7. With three skills at NCLC 9 and one at NCLC 6, the additional points are zero.
Three worked examples
All three are for a candidate without a spouse, with French as the first official language.
- NCLC 7 in all four skills, no English test: 68 + 25 = 93 points from French.
- NCLC 7 in all four skills and CLB 5 in English: 68 + 50 = 118 points, plus the points your English earns as a second language.
- NCLC 9 in all four skills and CLB 5 in English: 124 + 50 = 174 points, plus your English.
If English is your stronger language
When your English results are higher, English is your first official language and French counts as the second. A second language earns fewer points per skill, but the additional points for French are still awarded as soon as all four French skills reach NCLC 7. For many candidates who already have a good English score, those additional points are the main reason to sit a French test.
Proving your level
For Express Entry, IRCC accepts TCF Canada or TEF Canada as proof of French. Results must be less than two years old when you apply. Each section score converts to an NCLC level, and the points are read from those levels, never from an average.
The figures on this page come from IRCC’s criteria page as it stood on June 22, 2026. IRCC can revise them; check the official page, linked below, before you rely on a number.
Frequently asked questions
How many points does French give in Express Entry?
As a first official language, up to 136 points for a candidate without a spouse, plus 25 or 50 additional points with NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills.
Do I need English to get the additional French points?
No. Without an English test, NCLC 7 in all four French skills gives 25 additional points. With CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills, it gives 50.
Do I get the additional points if one skill is at NCLC 6?
No. The additional points require NCLC 7 or higher in listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each skill still earns its own points as an official language.
Is this my CRS score?
No. It is the part of the score that comes from French. The full score also counts age, education, work experience and other factors.