TL;DR
French can earn up to 136 points as your first official language (128 with a spouse), or up to 24 points as your second language. On top of that, you get a 25 point bonus for NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 French skills, or 50 points if you also have CLB 5 or higher in all 4 English skills.
Before the points: your program's minimum level
| Program | Minimum French level |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | NCLC 7 in all 4 skills |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 1 job | NCLC 7 in all 4 skills |
| Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 3 job | NCLC 5 in all 4 skills |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | NCLC 5 in listening and speaking, NCLC 4 in reading and writing |
| Express Entry French language proficiency category | NCLC 7 in all 4 skills |
These minimums decide whether you are eligible. The ranking points come on top, once you are eligible.
First official language
| Level per skill | With spouse | Without spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Below CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 and above | 32 | 34 |
These points add up across the four skills: a maximum of 128 points with a spouse, 136 without.
Second official language
If French is your second official language, each skill earns 1 point at CLB 5 or 6, 3 points at CLB 7 or 8, and 6 points at CLB 9 or higher. The maximum is 22 points with a spouse, 24 without.
The French bonus
- 25 points: NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 French skills, and CLB 4 or lower in English (or no English test).
- 50 points: NCLC 7 or higher in all 4 French skills, and CLB 5 or higher in all 4 English skills.
This bonus comes on top of your language points. For a French speaking candidate, it is often the fastest way to gain points.
A full calculation
A candidate without a spouse, with French as her first official language at NCLC 7 in all four skills, and English at CLB 5 in all four skills (second language):
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| French, first language (4 × 17) | 68 |
| English, second language (4 × 1) | 4 |
| French bonus (NCLC 7 + English CLB 5 or higher) | 50 |
| Language total | 122 |
With the same profile but NCLC 8 in French, the first language earns 4 × 23 = 92 points, 24 more.
The French language proficiency category
On top of general draws, IRCC holds category-based rounds of invitations. For the French language proficiency category, you need French test results showing at least NCLC 7 in all four skills, plus the conditions of each round. The same threshold therefore unlocks both the points bonus and this category.
The mistake to avoid
The bonus requires NCLC 7 in each of the four skills. A single NCLC 6, for example in writing, and the bonus disappears. Work on your weakest skill first, and make sure your results will be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 50 point bonus require good English?+−
Which French tests are accepted?+−
How many points is NCLC 9 worth as a first language?+−
My results are more than 2 years old. Do they still count?+−
What is the French language proficiency category?+−
What score would you get in writing?
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