How many CRS points does French give in Express Entry?
Checked November 1, 2026
French as your first official language is worth up to 136 CRS points if you apply without a spouse (128 with one), and a French bonus adds 25 or 50 more. IRCC has announced other CRS changes from 3 November 2026 for Canadian work experience and job offers. The notice does not mention language points.
These are the points for each of the 4 abilities (listening, speaking, reading, writing) when French is your first official language.
| NCLC level | Without spouse | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Below 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | 9 | 8 |
| 7 | 17 | 16 |
| 8 | 23 | 22 |
| 9 | 31 | 29 |
| 10 or more | 34 | 32 |
You count as having no spouse if your spouse or partner is not coming with you to Canada, or is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
French as a second official language (when English is your first, for example) earns each ability 0 points at CLB 4 or less, 1 point at 5 or 6, 3 points at 7 or 8 and 6 points at 9 or more. The cap is 24 points without a spouse and 22 with one.
The French bonus depends on your English.
- 25 points for NCLC 7 or more in all four French abilities and CLB 4 or lower in English, or no English test.
- 50 points for NCLC 7 or more in all four French abilities and CLB 5 or more in all four English abilities.
Language also feeds into other CRS sections (skill transferability), which IRCC explains on its page.
For the test and score you need, and how French rounds work, see TCF Canada for Express Entry. The scores that give NCLC 7 are in what TCF Canada score you need for NCLC 7.