Three ways French helps
- Bonus points. NCLC 7 in all four French abilities adds 50 points if your English is CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities, or 25 points if your English is CLB 4 or lower (or you have no English test).
- Second-language points. French also counts as your second official language: up to 6 points per ability, capped at 24 without a spouse and 22 with one.
- French category rounds. Candidates with NCLC 7 in all abilities can be invited in French-language rounds. In 2026 these rounds invited 4,000 to 8,500 people at a time, with cutoffs between 382 and 420 — far below Canadian Experience Class rounds.
What level you need
For the category and the bonus, the bar is NCLC 7 in every ability on TEF Canada or TCF Canada. See the conversion chart for the scores.
Is it worth it?
For candidates far from the general cutoffs, reaching NCLC 7 is often the single most valuable step after a nomination. The cost is time: learners starting from zero commonly need many months of steady study. Use the CRS calculator to see your exact gain.
Common questions
Do I need French in all four abilities?
Yes. One ability below NCLC 7 removes both the bonus and category eligibility.
Does French help outside Express Entry?
Yes. The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot and Quebec's programs are built around French, and several provinces have French-speaking streams.