Who's eligible for French-language draws
To be invited in a French-language category round, you must:
- meet the minimum rules for an Express Entry program (CEC, FSW or FST)
- have French test results showing at least NCLC 7 in all 4 abilities
- meet any other requirements in the instructions for that round
You don't need to live in Quebec or plan to. Express Entry is for people settling outside Quebec.
French tests IRCC accepts
- TEF Canada (Test d'évaluation de français)
- TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français)
Results are valid for 2 years. Convert your scores to NCLC levels with our CLB converter.
Extra CRS points for French
On top of the regular language points, the CRS gives additional points for strong French:
| Your results | Additional points |
|---|---|
| NCLC 7+ in all 4 French abilities and CLB 5+ in all 4 English abilities | 50 |
| NCLC 7+ in all 4 French abilities and CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test) | 25 |
French can also count as your first or second official language for core and skill transferability points. Try both in our CRS calculator.
How to prepare
- Take a practice test to see where you stand on each ability.
- Book TEF Canada or TCF Canada and aim for NCLC 7 in every ability, not just on average.
- Keep your English test valid too: CLB 5+ in English doubles the French bonus.
- Update your profile as soon as you have results.
Watch our Express Entry draws page for recent French-language rounds and their cut-offs.