Express Entry French category: the NCLC 7 rule, CRS points and every 2026 French draw
To be invited in an Express Entry French-language proficiency draw, you need NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing) on the TEF Canada or TCF Canada, and you must be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. The same NCLC 7 result also adds 25 CRS points, or 50 if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities. As of October 27, 2026, IRCC had held 12 French draws in 2026, with 60,500 invitations and cutoffs from 382 to 435.
The rule, in IRCC's words
IRCC's category page asks for "French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities" on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). You also need to meet the minimum criteria of Express Entry and be eligible for one of its three programs (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades).
Three details that trip people up:
- All four abilities, not an average. NCLC 8 in speaking does not make up for NCLC 6 in reading. One ability at NCLC 6 means you are not in the French category, and you lose the French bonus points below.
- Only two tests count for Express Entry in French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Your results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and again when you apply for permanent residence.
- TEF Canada results: enter the old-score column. IRCC tells TEF takers to enter only the "Équivalence ancien score" column. The /699 scores "aren't compatible with our system at this time." The conversion is on our TEF Canada score chart.
How many CRS points French is worth
These are the points IRCC's CRS criteria page gives for French. "Additional points" are on top of your core language points.
| Your French | Your English | Additional points for French |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities | CLB 4 or lower, or no English test | 25 |
| NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities | CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities | 50 |
| Below NCLC 7 in any ability | Any | 0 |
If French is your second official language (English is the first in your profile), it also earns second-language points per ability: 0 at CLB/NCLC 4 or less, 1 at 5 or 6, 3 at 7 or 8, and 6 at 9 or more, up to 24 points without a spouse or 22 with one.
If French is your first official language, it earns first-language points per ability instead. Without a spouse: 6 at NCLC 4 or 5, 9 at 6, 17 at 7, 23 at 8, 31 at 9 and 34 at 10 or more (with a spouse: 6, 8, 16, 22, 29 and 32).
Worked examples
Worked by Niveau7 from IRCC's CRS table. Each candidate is single (no spouse). For A, B and C, English is the first official language and French the second; D has French as the first official language and no English test. The examples show only the French part of the score.
| Candidate | French results (S / L / R / W) | English | Core points from French | Additional points | French adds | French draws? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | NCLC 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 | CLB 9 in all four | 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 | 50 | 62 | Yes |
| B | NCLC 8 / 9 / 7 / 7 | CLB 9 in all four | 3 + 6 + 3 + 3 = 15 | 50 | 65 | Yes |
| C | NCLC 7 / 7 / 7 / 6 | CLB 9 in all four | 3 + 3 + 3 + 1 = 10 | 0 | 10 | No |
| D | NCLC 7 / 7 / 7 / 7 | No English test | 17 × 4 = 68 (first-language points, not second) | 25 | 93 | Yes |
Candidate C is the case to remember: one ability at NCLC 6 costs 52 points against candidate A and closes the French draws. On the speaking test, NCLC 7 means at least 10 out of 20 on the TCF Canada, or 456 to 493 out of 699 on the TEF Canada (310 to 348 in the old column IRCC uses). What each level needs: NCLC 7 on each test.
Every French-language draw in 2026 (as of October 27, 2026)
From IRCC's rounds-of-invitations data. "Cutoff" is the CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited.
| Date | Invitations | CRS cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2026 | 8,500 | 400 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | 5,500 | 397 |
| Mar 18, 2026 | 4,000 | 393 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | 4,000 | 419 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | 4,000 | 400 |
| May 28, 2026 | 4,500 | 409 |
| Jul 9, 2026 | 5,000 | 420 |
| Jul 22, 2026 | 5,000 | 399 |
| Aug 6, 2026 | 5,000 | 391 |
| Aug 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| Oct 16, 2026 | 5,000 | 435 |
| Oct 27, 2026 | 5,000 | 407 |
| 2026 total | 60,500 | 382 to 435 |
For comparison, Canadian Experience Class draws in 2026 had cutoffs between 507 and 523. In 2025, IRCC held 9 French draws with 48,000 invitations and cutoffs from 379 to 481. There is no fixed schedule: the gaps between 2026 French draws ranged from 11 days (October 16 to 27) to 58 days (August 19 to October 16). We update this table after each French draw.
Where to start if you're not at NCLC 7 yet
Speaking is the skill you can't cram from a book: you have to say it out loud, on a clock, to someone who doesn't help. Pick your test first (TEF vs TCF), learn its speaking format (TEF Canada speaking or TCF Canada speaking), then follow a plan (TEF Canada preparation). The TCF score chart is here: TCF Canada score chart. Working in Canada outside Quebec in the meantime? Francophone Mobility asks for NCLC 5 in speaking and listening. Later, for citizenship: French test for Canadian citizenship.
Practise the speaking test with Niveau7
Practise the TEF and TCF speaking tasks with Niveau7 Do each task out loud, on the real clock, with an AI examiner who plays the part and never helps. Right after: an estimated NCLC (an estimate, not an official result), a level for each of the six criteria in Niveau7's report, and the three fixes worth most toward NCLC 7, on your own sentences. 7 days free, then a weekly or monthly plan, cancel anytime. Start your free week
Frequently asked questions
Does NCLC 7 guarantee an invitation?
No. NCLC 7 in all four abilities makes you eligible for French-language draws, but each draw invites the highest-ranked candidates in the category down to that round's cutoff (from 382 to 435 in 2026, as of October 27), and IRCC doesn't publish a schedule.
Do the French bonus points count in other draws?
Yes. The 25 or 50 additional points are part of your CRS score, and IRCC ranks you by that score in every round you're eligible for.
How many CRS points do you get for French in Express Entry?
With NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities you get 25 additional points, or 50 if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities. French as a second official language also earns up to 24 core points (22 with a spouse).
What level of French do I need for the Express Entry French draws?
NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing) on the TEF Canada or TCF Canada, plus eligibility for one of the three Express Entry programs.
What were the CRS cutoffs for French draws in 2026?
As of October 27, 2026: 12 French draws, 60,500 invitations, and cutoffs from 382 (August 19) to 435 (October 16). The latest, on October 27, invited 5,000 candidates at 407.
Does NCLC 6 in one skill still count?
Not for the French category or the French bonus. Both need NCLC 7 in all four abilities. NCLC 6 still earns 1 second-language point in that ability.
Can I use DELF or DALF for Express Entry?
No. For French, IRCC's Express Entry language-testing page lists only TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
How long are TEF and TCF results valid for Express Entry?
Results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.
Sources
- IRCC, category-based selection: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html
- IRCC, CRS criteria: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score/crs-criteria.html
- IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/ministerial-instructions/express-entry-rounds.html (data: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/documents/json/ee_rounds_123_en.json)
- IRCC, Express Entry language test equivalency: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/language-requirements/language-testing.html
- France Éducation International, TCF candidate manual (Manuel du candidat TCF), version M (May 2025), hosted by Collège Stanislas: https://stanislas.qc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Manuel_du_candidat_TCF-1.pdf
- CCI Paris Île-de-France, TEF / NCLC correspondence: https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/correspondance-tef-nclc.pdf
Last checked: November 1, 2026.
Niveau7 is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with France Éducation International (TCF Canada), CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF Canada) or IRCC.