What level of French is required for Canada PR?

operationsspeakwit
4 days ago
3 min read

If you are planning to apply for Canada Permanent Residency (PR), you may be wondering: what level of French is required for Canada PR? With Canada increasingly prioritizing French-speaking immigrants, especially outside Quebec, French has become a major factor in Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

The minimum French level for Canada PR
How French boosts your CRS score
Which French exam is accepted for Canada PR
Whether A2, B1, or B2 French is enough

Why French is important for Canada PR

Canada is officially bilingual, and the government has set clear targets to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec. Because of this, French-speaking candidates benefit from:

✅ Extra CRS points in Express Entry

✅ Dedicated French category-based Express Entry draws

✅ Francophone-focused Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

✅ Lower CRS cut-offs compared to general draws

👉 The recent Express Entry draw inviting around 6,000 candidates reinforces one thing: French is now a strategic advantage, not an optional skill.

How Canada measures French language proficiency

Canada does not directly use DELF or DALF levels (A1–C2) for immigration purposes.

Instead, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses:

NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) for French
Approved exams: TEF Canada and TCF Canada

CEFR to NCLC Comparison

B2 French ≈ NCLC 7

This level is the most important benchmark for Canada PR.

Minimum French Level Required for Canada PR

The minimum French level for Canada PR depends on how you are using French in your application.

For French as a Primary or Strong Secondary Language,

You must score:

NCLC 7 in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking

Scoring below NCLC 7 significantly reduces the immigration benefit.

French language requirement for Express Entry

Many applicants ask whether French is mandatory for Express Entry. The answer is no, but it can greatly improve your chances.

CRS Points for French Language Skills

NCLC 5–6:

With this, it can give a small boost to your CRS score.

In many cases, this level is also enough for certain Francophone work permit extensions, depending on the pathway.

NCLC 7 or higher:

French becomes a big advantage. You can earn much higher CRS points and may qualify for French-specific Express Entry draws, which often have lower cut-off scores.

How our Student got a 3 year work permit extension:

One of our students, Jashanpreet, successfully obtained a 3-year work permit extension in Canada after meeting the minimum French language requirement of NCLC 5. In her case, demonstrating intermediate French proficiency was sufficient under a Francophone-friendly work permit pathway, where NCLC 5 is commonly accepted as the threshold level.Read her story here >>