Should You Learn French for Express Entry? What I Tell My Clients

Being based in Quebec, where French and English are part of everyday life, bilingualism feels natural to me. That may influence my approach, but my view is straightforward: if you are not currently competitive through Express Entry, you need to at least consider learning French.

That does not mean everyone should immediately sign up for lessons. Learning a language takes time, energy and money, and it needs to fit your immigration timeline and your wider life.

However, French can increase your Comprehensive Ranking System score, provide access to French-language draws and potentially open other immigration and work permit options.

This article explores some of the main factors I discuss with clients who are considering learning French as part of their immigration strategy.

This article provides general guidance only. Whether learning French is an appropriate immigration strategy depends on your existing language ability, CRS score, immigration status, available time, family commitments and eligibility for other programs. A personalized assessment is recommended before you commit significant time or money to a particular pathway.

Why Learning French May Make Sense

1. French Can Add CRS Points

French can increase your CRS score in more than one place.

You may receive core points for French as a first or second official language. You may also receive up to 50 additional CRS points if you have strong French results and meet the applicable English-language threshold.

For example, a single candidate who reaches NCLC 7 in all four French abilities and has at least CLB 5 in English could receive approximately:

Second official-language points: +12

Additional French-language points: +50

Potential total increase: approximately +62

2. French Can Provide Access to Different Draws

Candidates who reach at least NCLC 7 in all four French abilities may qualify for French-language category-based Express Entry draws, provided they are also eligible for one of the Express Entry programs.

This is important because you are not relying only on Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program or other types of rounds. French gives you access to an additional category of selection, which currently is much less competitive than other categories/ draw types.

At the time of writing this article, mid-August 2026, Canada had issued 45,500 ITAs directly through French-language draws, with a CRS score cut-off as low as 391 points. That’s much lower than the score needed to land an invitation through CEC, for example.

3. French May Create Options Beyond Express Entry

French may also support other federal, provincial or community-based immigration pathways.

For example, some Provincial Nominee Programs prioritize French-speaking or bilingual candidates. Canada has also reserved 5,000 additional federal selection spaces for provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec in 2026.

4. French May Help You Qualify for a Francophone Mobility Work Permit

The Francophone Mobility work permit allows eligible employers to hire French-speaking workers for positions outside Quebec without obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

You still need to meet the program requirements, including having a qualifying job offer and demonstrating the required French ability (CLB level 5 in Speaking and Listening). The employer must also complete its part of the work permit process, but this is nothing like what is needed for an LMIA.

For someone whose current work permit is expiring with in the next 6 months, this may provide an additional way to continue working in Canada while pursuing permanent residence, which in turn could open up more PR options.

This option is often overlooked by candidates who think about French only in terms of CRS points.

5. French Remains a Clear Immigration Priority

Canada has committed to increasing French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec.

The target is 9% in 2026, rising to 9.5% in 2027 and 10.5% in 2028. The government has also committed to a target of 12% by 2029.

Express Entry is one of the federal government’s main tools for selecting French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec. This is reflected in the number of invitations issued through French-language draws, which has significantly exceeded the number issued through most other draw categories.

This makes one thing clear: French-speaking candidates are likely to remain an important part of Canada’s immigration strategy over the coming years.

The Disadvantages of Learning French

Despite these benefits, French is not a simple or guaranteed route to permanent residence.

1. It Can Take a Long Time

The target for French-language category-based selection is NCLC 7 in all four abilities.

For someone starting with little or no French, reaching that level can take a substantial amount of time. Progress also varies widely depending on:

• your previous language-learning experience
• how many hours you can study each week
• access to structured lessons
• opportunities to practise speaking and listening
• whether you can maintain a consistent routine

Some candidates may reach the required level relatively quickly. Others may study for a year or longer and still fall short in one or more abilities.

You should not build your entire immigration strategy around French without considering how realistic the timeline is for you.

2. The French-Language Pool May Become More Competitive

As more candidates recognize the value of French, more people are likely to begin studying and competing in French-language draws.

This could make future draws more competitive. A CRS score that would have been sufficient when you began studying may not necessarily be sufficient by the time you reach NCLC 7.

For this reason, timing matters. Someone beginning French now may already be at a disadvantage compared with a candidate who started six months earlier. Because it can take one or two years to reach NCLC 7, you cannot know how many other candidates are already ahead of you or how competitive the French-language pool will be by the time you qualify.

At some point, it may no longer make sense for a complete beginner to start French solely for immigration purposes.

That said, the latest data suggests candidates already in Canada may still not be taking full advantage of French-language draws. According to 2025 data, only around 22% of candidates invited through French-language proficiency draws were in Canada, compared with approximately 78% who were outside Canada. This suggests French may still represent a significant opportunity for temporary residents already in Canada who are looking for a pathway to permanent residence.

3. The Additional CRS Points Could Change

In early 2026, IRCC consulted on potential changes to Express Entry, including reforms to the federal immigration programs it manages and how CRS points are awarded. As part of that consultation, the government suggested that the additional CRS points awarded for French ability may no longer be necessary because French-speaking candidates are already selected through category-based draws.

This was a consultation proposal, not a confirmed policy change. The additional French points currently remain part of the CRS.

However, it is still an important factor to consider when deciding whether French is the right strategy for you. If those additional points were removed, all French-speaking candidates would be affected, not just you. That makes the full impact difficult to predict, because French-language draw cut-offs could also fall in response.

Even so, candidates who are relying heavily on the additional French points to become competitive should be cautious. French could still provide access to French-language draws and other immigration programs, but the overall CRS advantage may not be as strong as it is today.

4. The Strategy May Derail Other Parts of Your Life

Learning French can make sense on paper and still be the wrong decision for you.

You may already be working full-time, caring for children, studying, managing financial pressure, or dealing with the uncertainty of an expiring work permit.

A plan that requires several hours of study every day may not be realistic or sustainable.

Your immigration strategy has to fit your life. It should not depend on a routine that you can maintain for only a few weeks before becoming exhausted.

The Importance of Check-Ins

If you decide to learn French to improve your chances of securing permanent residence in Canada, do not treat it as a one-time decision that you never revisit.

Set regular points at which you review:

• your progress toward NCLC 7
• your remaining immigration timeline
• changes to French-language draw cut-offs
• changes to CRS points and category rules
• new provincial or employer-supported opportunities

For example, you may be six months into learning French and find that your progress is slower than expected. At the same time, French-language draw cut-offs may begin to rise as more candidates improve their French.

A regular strategy review can help you decide whether to continue with the same plan, increase your study efforts or place more focus on another pathway.