Express Entry, step by step

Got your TCF Canada result? How to submit or update your Express Entry profile

Your French result has arrived. What you type into the profile in the next hour decides your score, your draw eligibility, and whether your future PR application matches. Here's how to do it carefully.

Updated November 2026 · 3 min read

The short answer

Use your existing profile if you have one. Update it; don't create a new one.
Enter the test date, result date, certificate number and the four scores exactly as printed on your TCF Canada attestation.
Choose which language is first and which is second; for most English speakers that's English first, French second.
Every claim in the profile must be provable with documents within 60 days of an invitation.

1Before you log in

Your TCF Canada attestation (PDF) with scores in all four skills.
Your English result (IELTS, CELPIP or PTE Core), still valid.
Your ECA reference number and the organisation's name.
Exact dates and NOC codes for each job you're claiming.
Passport details for you and every family member.

2Entering the French result

1
Open your profile in your IRCC secure account
Choose to update the existing profile.
2
Go to the language section
Add a second test: select TCF Canada, then enter test date, result date and the certificate number.
3
Enter the four scores
Listening and reading on the 0–699 scale; writing and speaking on 0–20. The system converts them to NCLC levels.
4
Choose first and second official language
The system asks which test is your first official language. See first or second language.
5
Review and resubmit
Check that your CRS score moved as expected (about +62 with NCLC 7 French and CLB 5+ English).

Type scores exactly. A wrong digit that inflates your score can lead to a refusal for misrepresentation after you're invited.

3Details that cause trouble later

Work history: claim only experience you can prove with reference letters matching the NOC duties.
Family members: declare a spouse or common-law partner and all children, even non-accompanying ones.
Funds: the amount you declare should be what you can document over six months.
Test validity: results must still be valid when you submit the PR application, up to 60 days after the invitation.

4After you submit

You'll see your updated CRS score and a profile expiry date (12 months from creation). Watch IRCC's rounds of invitations page for French-category draws. When an ITA arrives, a 60-day clock starts: see from ITA to landing.

5Frequently asked questions

Can I add a French test to an existing Express Entry profile?+

Yes. Update the language section with your TCF Canada or TEF Canada result. The submission timestamp stays the same, and your score and draw eligibility update right away.

What if I made a mistake in my profile?+

Before an invitation, you can correct it by updating the profile. After an invitation, the PR application must match reality; contact IRCC or a licensed representative if the error affected your score.

Keep reading

English first, French second? Choosing your official languagesHow the choice changes your CRS, why it never affects French draws, and when French first wins.After the ITA: from PR application to landingThe 60-day document list, fees, processing, the COPR, and your first weeks as a PR.Enter the Express Entry pool before your French result?Why to create your profile early, how updates keep your timestamp, and the three-phase rhythm.Express Entry reference letters: 8 elements and a templateWhat every employment letter needs, a template, and the five mistakes that cause refusals.

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.