French Express Entry points: turn a TCF/TEF score into CRS points

Express Entry scores your first and second official languages. Most candidates take English first, so French is claimed as the second language, and that is where the headline bonus sits. The rule has two rungs, and the difference between them is entirely about your English:

• +25 points: NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, with English at CLB 4 or lower, or no English test.
• +50 points: NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, with English at CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities.

These additional points are separate from, and on top of, the core first/second-language points and the skill-transferability points, so a genuinely bilingual profile is one of the strongest things you can bring to the pool. Verify: the exact point values are set by IRCC and can change, so confirm them on canada.ca before planning around a number.

There is one gate: NCLC 7 in every ability. Miss it in a single section and the French bonus does not apply, no matter how strong the other three are. These are the NCLC 7 minimums per exam (the full band charts are on the TCF Canada and TEF Canada score charts):

The scales differ between the two exams, so a TCF number cannot be compared to a TEF number directly. Both are read only after they are converted to NCLC. See the full NCLC 7 explainer for the complete tables and what each level means.

• French only (no English test), NCLC 7 across the board: +25 additional CRS points from French. A common, valid route for strong Francophone candidates.
• English CLB 5+ and French NCLC 7 across the board: +50 additional points. Reaching CLB 5 in English, which is modest, is what doubles the French bonus, so it is often worth the extra test.
• French NCLC 7 in three abilities but NCLC 6 in listening: 0 French bonus. The gate is all four abilities, so the whole bonus turns on the weakest section, which is why targeted preparation on your weakest skill pays for itself here.

Beyond the points, IRCC runs category-based Express Entry rounds that invite candidates with strong French, frequently at CRS cut-offs well below the general draws. In practice this means NCLC 7 in French can be the difference between waiting in the pool and receiving an invitation, even before the extra points are counted. Verify: the categories, their eligibility and their cut-offs are revised through the year, so check the current rounds and rules on canada.ca rather than relying on last year's numbers.

The practical takeaway is the same either way: get every French ability to NCLC 7. Use our free French CRS points calculator to model your total, and the score converter to turn a practice mark into an NCLC level.