Express Entry, step by step
Express Entry French bonus points: exactly how many CRS points French adds
French helps your Express Entry profile in two different ways that are easy to confuse: it adds points to your CRS score, and it opens a separate set of draws. This guide does the arithmetic for the first and explains why the second is usually the bigger prize.
Updated November 2026 · 3 min read
The short answer
- NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills adds 50 additional points if your English is CLB 5 or higher, or 25 if your English is CLB 4 or lower.
- French as your second official language adds 3 points per skill at NCLC 7–8 (12 total) and 6 per skill at NCLC 9+ (up to 24, or 22 with a spouse).
- A typical English speaker going from no French to NCLC 7 gains about 62 CRS points, and becomes eligible for French-category draws, which cleared between about 382 and 435 in 2026.
- The 50-point bonus is part of a 2026 redesign consultation; the French draws are planned to continue either way.
1The three places French shows up in your CRS
| Where | Condition | Points (no spouse) |
|---|---|---|
| Additional points: French bonus | NCLC 7+ in all four French skills and CLB 5+ in all four English skills | +50 |
| Additional points: French bonus | NCLC 7+ in all four French skills and CLB 4 or lower (or no English test) | +25 |
| Second official language | Per French skill: NCLC 5–6 = 1, NCLC 7–8 = 3, NCLC 9+ = 6 | up to 24 |
| First official language | Only if French is your stronger language and you declare it first | up to 136 |
For nearly every English-speaking candidate, French is the second official language. The relevant lines are therefore the 50-point bonus and the second-language points. The first or second language guide covers the rare case where French should be declared first.
2Two worked examples
Priya: 31, bachelor's degree, three years of work abroad, IELTS at CLB 9
| Factor | Without French | With NCLC 7 French |
|---|---|---|
| Age (31) | 99 | 99 |
| Education (bachelor's) | 120 | 120 |
| English (CLB 9 in all skills) | 124 | 124 |
| French as second language | 0 | 12 |
| Skill transferability | 75 | 75 |
| French bonus | 0 | 50 |
| Total | 418 | 480 |
Daniel: 31, bachelor's degree, three years of work abroad, English at CLB 8
| Factor | Without French | With NCLC 7 French |
|---|---|---|
| Age (31) | 99 | 99 |
| Education (bachelor's) | 120 | 120 |
| English (CLB 8 in all skills) | 92 | 92 |
| French as second language | 0 | 12 |
| Skill transferability | 38 | 38 |
| French bonus | 0 | 50 |
| Total | 349 | 411 |
Both gain 62 points. But look at what the points mean. Priya at 418 was already competitive, but Daniel at 349 had no realistic prospect of an invitation. At 411 he would have cleared the cut-off in most 2026 French-category rounds. That is the pattern for most people: the points alone are helpful; the points plus access to French draws are decisive.
3The real prize: French-category draws
Since 2023, IRCC regularly runs rounds open only to candidates with NCLC 7 French. Because far fewer people in the pool meet that bar, the cut-offs are much lower than in rounds where everyone competes.
| 2026 French round | Invitations | Lowest CRS invited |
|---|---|---|
| April 29 | 4,000 | 400 |
| May 28 | 4,500 | 409 |
| July 9 | 5,000 | 420 |
| July 22 | 5,000 | 399 |
| August 6 | 5,000 | 391 |
| August 19 | 5,000 | 382 |
| October 16 | 5,000 | 435 |
| October 27 | 5,000 | 407 |
4Is it worth pushing from NCLC 7 to NCLC 9?
Going from NCLC 7 to NCLC 9 in all four skills adds another 12 second-language points (from 3 to 6 per skill). That is real but modest, and NCLC 9 is roughly C1, a big jump. For most candidates the better order is:
- 1
Reach NCLC 7 in all four skills
This unlocks the 50 points and the draws. Nothing else in French comes close in value.
- 2
Check your score against recent French cut-offs
If you are already above them, apply and wait. Don't delay for more French.
- 3
If you are short, compare options
Raising English from CLB 8 to CLB 9 is often worth far more (higher first-language points and skill-transferability), and takes less time than French C1. See CLB 9 English or French B2?
5Will the bonus last?
In spring 2026 IRCC consulted on a redesign of Express Entry. The proposals included removing or modifying several additional-point factors, the French bonus among them, while keeping category-based draws for French speakers. Nothing had been enacted as of late 2026, and the earliest implementation discussed was late 2027.
Two things follow. First, an invitation received under the current rules is processed under the current rules, which rewards candidates who get there sooner. Second, even in the proposed design, NCLC 7 would still give access to French-category rounds. More in will French still matter in two years?
6Frequently asked questions
How many CRS points do you get for French?+
With NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 5+ English, you get 50 additional points plus 12 second-language points, 62 in total. At NCLC 9 the second-language points rise to 24 (22 with a spouse).
Do I get the French bonus if one skill is NCLC 6?+
No. Both the bonus and French-category eligibility require NCLC 7 or higher in every one of the four skills.
Do I need an English test to get the 50 points?+
To get 50 rather than 25, you need CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. Most candidates already have an English result because FSW and CEC require one in the first official language anyway.
Does my spouse's French count?+
Your spouse's language results earn spouse factor points (up to 20 for their first official language), but the French bonus and French-category eligibility are based on the principal applicant's results.
Keep reading
Turn the method into points
Practise with levelled TCF Canada questions and full mock exams built for NCLC 7, with an explanation for every answer.