· 6 min read
French Points for Express Entry: NCLC 7
By Language Lab editorial team
French in Express Entry: 25 extra CRS points with NCLC 7 in all four skills, 50 with CLB 5 English as well, and what IRCC's 2026 consultation may change.
French is the cheapest 50 points in Canada's Comprehensive Ranking System. If you score NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 4 or lower in English, or no English test, you get 25 additional points. If you score NCLC 7 or higher in French and CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills, you get 50. The French-language factor is capped at 50 points inside the 600-point additional-points block, the same block that holds the 600 points for a provincial nomination. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada also runs French-language category-based draws, and its 2026 consultation on Express Entry reform asks whether the French points should be removed or changed now that those draws exist. The points stand until the rules change.
The two tiers
| French result | English result | Additional points |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills | CLB 4 or lower, or no English test | 25 |
| NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills | CLB 5 or higher in all four skills | 50 |
The table is from IRCC's CRS criteria page, which lists French language skills with a maximum of 50 points under additional points. NCLC, the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens, is the French scale; CLB, the Canadian Language Benchmarks, the English one. Level 7 on either corresponds to an intermediate user who can handle most work and daily situations.
Why 50 rather than 25
The difference is the English. A candidate strong in French but weak in English gets 25 points; a bilingual candidate with at least CLB 5 in every English skill gets 50. If you are a native French speaker, a modest English test, CLB 5 in listening, reading, writing and speaking, doubles the bonus. If you are an English speaker learning French, the goal is NCLC 7 across the board, including writing, where most candidates fall short.
Where the points sit
The CRS splits a profile into core points and additional points. Additional points are capped at 600 and include a provincial or territorial nomination (600), the French-language factor (up to 50) and other factors. A provincial nomination fills the whole block, so candidates with a nomination do not stack the French points on top. For everyone else, French is one of the few additional-point factors you can earn by studying.
The tests that count
IRCC accepts the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada for French. Both report results on the NCLC scale for the four skills. Book the Canada versions specifically; general TEF or TCF results are not the same product.
What may change
IRCC's 2026 consultation on reforms to Express Entry's federal high-skilled programs and the CRS says the department is assessing the possibility of removing or changing the points for French proficiency, because category-based selection has, since 2023, provided a more effective mechanism to select French-speaking skilled workers. That is a proposal, not a rule. Until IRCC publishes a ministerial instruction changing the CRS, the 25 and 50 points apply, and French-language category draws continue alongside them.
A realistic plan
- Sit an English test first if you are a French speaker: CLB 5 in all four skills is enough to move from 25 to 50 points.
- If you are learning French, target NCLC 7 in all four skills; writing decides most results.
- Choose your stronger official language as the first language in your profile.
- Book the TEF Canada or TCF Canada, not the general versions.
Frequently asked
How many CRS points does French give?
25 additional points with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 4 or lower in English, or 50 points with CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills.
Do I need English to get the French points?
No. Without an English test you get 25 points; with CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills you get 50.
Can I add French points to a provincial nomination?
No. The nomination's 600 points fill the 600-point additional block.
Which French tests does IRCC accept?
The TEF Canada and the TCF Canada, reported on the NCLC scale.
Are the French points being removed?
IRCC's 2026 consultation asks whether to remove or change them. They remain in force unless and until IRCC changes the rules.
Checked against IRCC's Comprehensive Ranking System criteria page and its 2026 consultation on Express Entry reforms on 3 November 2026.
