How Many CRS Points Do You Get for French? (2026 Express Entry)
PrepMyFrench Education Team
9 min read
How Many CRS Points Do You Get for French? (2026 Express Entry)
Summary: Adding a strong French proficiency score to your Express Entry profile can earn you up to 50 additional CRS points — and, more importantly, qualify you for category-based francophone draws that bypass the standard CRS cutoff entirely. This guide explains exactly how IRCC awards CRS points for French, what NCLC levels you need, how the points interact with your English score, and how to calculate your potential CRS boost from a TEF Canada or TCF Canada result in 2026.
Why French Is One of the Most Valuable Assets in the CRS Formula
Canada's Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) rewards bilingualism. If you can demonstrate proficiency in both English and French at the NCLC/CLB 7 level or higher, you earn a significant bonus on top of your core human capital points.
But here is the more powerful insight that many candidates overlook: , inviting candidates with CRS scores as low as 336 — well below the all-program average of 480+. These draws are specifically designed to support Canada's francophone communities outside Quebec, and they have continued into 2026.
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IRCC has been holding category-based draws exclusively for French-speaking candidates since 2023
This means French proficiency is no longer just a "nice to have" point booster. For many applicants, it is the most direct path to an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
CRS Points for French: The Exact Formula
The CRS awards French-language points through two mechanisms:
Mechanism 1: Second Official Language Bonus
If English is your primary official language (CLB 9+), French as a second official language earns you the following:
French NCLC Level (all 4 skills)
CRS Points
NCLC 5 or 6 in at least one skill
1–13 points
NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 skills
50 CRS points
The jump from NCLC 6 to NCLC 7 is significant. NCLC 7 in all four French skills is the threshold for the maximum 50-point bilingualism bonus.
Mechanism 2: French as First Official Language
If French is your first official language — or your dominant language — it is scored as your primary language in CRS. You are then evaluated for English as a second official language. This scenario applies to candidates from francophone African countries, Quebec, and North African nations.
For clarity: most US-based Express Entry applicants are English-dominant, making French their second official language. The 50-point bilingualism bonus applies to them.
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To earn the maximum 50 CRS points, you need NCLC 7 in all four skills (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing). Here is what that score threshold looks like on each exam:
TEF Canada Score Requirements for NCLC 7
Skill
Minimum TEF Score for NCLC 7
Reading (Compréhension Écrite)
226/450
Listening (Compréhension Orale)
226/450
Writing (Expression Écrite)
181/450
Speaking (Expression Orale)
181/450
TCF Canada Score Requirements for NCLC 7
Skill
Minimum TCF Score for NCLC 7
Context for planning: NCLC 7 corresponds roughly to a B2 (Upper Intermediate) level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). For most English-speaking professionals who have studied French as a second language, achieving B2 across all four skills requires approximately 600–800 total hours of structured study from a zero base — or significantly less if you already have a B1 foundation.
The Real CRS Math: Before and After French
Let's walk through a concrete example. Meet a typical US-based Express Entry candidate:
Profile: 30-year-old software engineer, bachelor's degree, 3 years of Canadian work experience, CLB 9 English.
CRS score without French: ~470–490 (competitive but below recent all-program draw cutoffs of 510+)
CRS score after adding NCLC 7 French: 470 + 50 = ~520 CRS — well above the typical cutoffs
This is the most direct, controllable way to move a mid-tier CRS profile above the draw threshold. Unlike age (which you cannot change) or education (which takes years to upgrade), French proficiency is a learnable skill with a defined endpoint.
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The Category-Based Draw: Why 50 CRS Points May Not Even Be the Point
Since August 2023, IRCC has drawn candidates specifically from the French Language Proficiency category in Express Entry. These draws target candidates who:
Have an NCLC of 7 or higher in Speaking and Writing, AND
An NCLC of 6 or higher in Reading and Listening from the TEF or TCF Canada
Candidates who meet this threshold can receive an ITA even with a CRS score of 336 — the lowest draw cutoff ever seen in Express Entry history for this category.
The implication: If you are a US-based applicant with a CRS score of 400–460 (too low for all-program draws, but solid), achieving French NCLC 7+ could make you eligible for a category-based ITA without ever needing to compete on CRS at all.
IRCC has not guaranteed the frequency or ongoing existence of these draws, but the category-based framework has been in use for over 18 months and shows no signs of stopping.
CRS Points for French + Provincial Nominee Programs
Beyond Express Entry, French proficiency opens access to Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) with francophone streams:
Ontario Francophone stream — for French speakers outside Quebec
Manitoba PNP Francophone stream
Alberta PNP French Language pathway
New Brunswick Express Entry — Skilled Worker (French preferred)
Prince Edward Island — French-speaking stream
Each of these programs, when combined with an Express Entry nomination, adds 600 CRS points — guaranteeing an ITA. French proficiency is thus a gateway to PNP access, not just a CRS booster.
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French as primary language (francophone applicants)
Core CRS language points
For US-based Express Entry applicants in 2026, French proficiency is the highest-ROI single improvement available in the CRS formula. The exam is accessible from US cities, the preparation pathway is clear, and the immigration outcome — whether through direct CRS points or category-based draws — is as concrete as any immigration pathway gets.
