How many CRS points French adds
62 points at NCLC 7 in all four skills, with CLB 5 or more in all four English skills: a 50-point bonus plus 12 for French as a second official language. At NCLC 9 in all four, up to 74 if you apply alone.
| French bonus, CLB 5+ in all four English skills | 50 points at NCLC 7 in all four skills |
|---|---|
| French bonus, English CLB 4 or lower or no test | 25 points |
| Second official language | Up to 24 points alone, 22 with a spouse |
| Per skill as a second language | NCLC 5 or 6: 1 · NCLC 7 or 8: 3 · NCLC 9+: 6 |
| French-language rounds | NCLC 7 or higher in all four skills, and the round's other conditions |
Two kinds of points
French counts twice. As a second official language it earns points per skill from NCLC 5. And at NCLC 7 in all four skills it earns the additional French bonus: 50 points if your English is CLB 5 or more in all four abilities, 25 if it is not.
What NCLC 7 is worth, side by side
- NCLC 5 in all four: 4 points (second language only)
- NCLC 7 in all four: 12 + 50 = 62 points alone
- NCLC 9 in all four: 24 + 50 = 74 points alone (22 + 50 = 72 with a spouse)
French-language rounds
IRCC held 9 French-language rounds in 2025, inviting 48,000 candidates, with cut-offs from 379 to 481. In 2026 so far it has held 10, inviting 50,500, with cut-offs from 382 to 420. To be eligible you need NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities, a place in the pool and the round's other conditions.
Which test
TEF Canada and TCF Canada both count. Enter TEF Canada results from the "Équivalence ancien score" column; TCF Canada results go in as they are.
Next step
Questions people ask
Is the French bonus 50 points?
Yes, if you have NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. With English at CLB 4 or lower, or no English test, it is 25 points.
Do I need NCLC 7 in every skill?
For the bonus and for French-language rounds, yes: all four of listening, reading, writing and speaking. Second-language points start at NCLC 5 per skill.
Can French be my first official language?
Yes. You declare which language is first. If your French is stronger, declaring it first can score more; the calculator tries both and uses the higher.