Minimum TCF Canada score for Express Entry (and TEF Canada)

1 The short answer

For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the minimum is NCLC 7 in all four abilities: 458, 453, 10/20, 10/20 on TCF Canada, or 249, 207, 310, 310 on the TEF Canada ancien score (listening, reading, writing, speaking). The Canadian Experience Class asks for NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs and NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs. The Federal Skilled Trades Program asks for NCLC 5 in listening and speaking and NCLC 4 in reading and writing.

Check your own scores in the NCLC converter

2 Minimum scores by program

IRCC’s minimum level for each requirement, with the lowest score that reaches it on each test. The program minimums apply to the official language you qualify with; if you qualify with an English test, a French test is optional. Scores are in the order listening / reading / writing / speaking. TCF Canada writing and speaking are marked out of 20.

Requirement	NCLC needed	TCF Canada	TEF Canada (ancien score)
Federal Skilled Worker Program (first official language)	NCLC 7 in all four	458 / 453 / 10 / 10	249 / 207 / 310 / 310
Canadian Experience Class, TEER 0 or 1 job	NCLC 7 in all four	458 / 453 / 10 / 10	249 / 207 / 310 / 310
Canadian Experience Class, TEER 2 or 3 job	NCLC 5 in all four	369 / 375 / 6 / 6	181 / 151 / 226 / 226
Federal Skilled Trades Program	NCLC 5 listening and speaking, NCLC 4 reading and writing	369 / 342 / 4 / 6	181 / 121 / 181 / 226
Additional CRS points for French, and French-language draws	NCLC 7 in all four	458 / 453 / 10 / 10	249 / 207 / 310 / 310

IRCC converts each ability on its own and does not average them. A result at NCLC 7 in three abilities and NCLC 6 in the fourth does not meet an NCLC 7 minimum.

For TEF Canada, IRCC uses the “Équivalence ancien score” printed on the certificate, whatever the date of the test, and asks candidates not to enter the Score / 699 in their Express Entry profile.

NCLC and CLB conversion tables NCLC 7 in French: the scores you need

3 Meeting the minimum is not an invitation

Meeting the language minimum covers only the language requirement. You also have to meet the program’s other requirements to enter the Express Entry pool. Each round then invites the candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores, and language is one part of that score.

As your first official language, NCLC 7 earns 17 CRS points per ability without a spouse or partner, NCLC 9 earns 31 and NCLC 10 or more earns 34. NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities also adds 25 points if you have no English test or CLB 4 or lower in English, and 50 points if you have CLB 5 or higher in all four English abilities.

French and Express Entry points

4 French-language draws in 2026

Candidates with NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities can be invited in French-language proficiency rounds. These are the 2026 rounds in IRCC’s data, with the lowest CRS score invited in each. Cut-offs change from round to round, and a past cut-off does not predict the next one.

Round date	Invitations	Lowest CRS score
August 19, 2026	5,000	382
August 6, 2026	5,000	391
July 22, 2026	5,000	399
July 9, 2026	5,000	420
May 28, 2026	4,500	409
April 29, 2026	4,000	400
April 15, 2026	4,000	419
March 18, 2026	4,000	393
March 4, 2026	5,500	397
February 6, 2026	8,500	400

Source: IRCC’s rounds of invitations data, read on October 16, 2026. No later French-language round had been published by then.

5 Results must be less than two years old

IRCC requires language test results to be less than two years old both when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. If they would expire first, you can retake the test, apply before they expire, or decline the invitation and return to the pool.

Canadian citizenship asks for less. Applicants aged 18 to 54 need speaking and listening at CLB or NCLC 4, and for TCF Canada and TEF Canada IRCC lists B1 or higher in listening and speaking. French test for Canadian citizenship

Try 10 free TCF Canada questions Try 10 free TEF Canada questions

Questions people ask

What is the minimum TCF Canada score for Express Entry?

It depends on the program. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program it is NCLC 7 in each ability: 458 in listening, 453 in reading, and 10 out of 20 in writing and in speaking. For a TEER 2 or 3 job in the Canadian Experience Class, NCLC 5 is enough: 369 in listening, 375 in reading, and 6 out of 20 in writing and in speaking.

What is the minimum TEF Canada score for Express Entry?

On the Équivalence ancien score, NCLC 7 (the Federal Skilled Worker minimum) starts at 249 in listening, 207 in reading, and 310 in writing and in speaking. NCLC 5 starts at 181 in listening, 151 in reading, and 226 in writing and in speaking.

What score do I need for the French-language draws?

You must be eligible for an Express Entry program, have NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities on TCF Canada or TEF Canada, and meet the round’s instructions. Invitations then go by CRS score: candidates at the cut-off score are separated by the round’s tie-breaking rule. In the 2026 French-language rounds, the lowest score invited ranged from 382 to 420.

Can French be my only language for Express Entry?

Yes. You can list French as your first official language and take no English test. With NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities you still get 25 additional CRS points, and an English result at CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities raises them to 50.

Does IRCC accept TCF tout public, TCF Québec or TEFAQ for Express Entry?

No. For French, Express Entry accepts only TCF Canada and TEF Canada.

How long are TCF Canada and TEF Canada results valid for Express Entry?

They must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence.

Official sources

Checked against official sources on October 16, 2026.