Add TEF Canada Score to Express Entry Profile

You finally have your TEF Canada attestation in your inbox. After weeks of preparation, the hard part is over — and then you open your Express Entry profile, see the language section, and freeze. Which numbers do you type in? The ones on your certificate? Something else? If you are wondering how to add your TEF Canada score to your Express Entry profile without making a costly mistake, take a breath. The process is simple once you know one critical rule, and this guide walks you through it using the official instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). A wrong entry can quietly lower your NCLC level and your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, so it is worth five minutes to get it right. We will cover what IRCC accepts, which column of your results to use, how long your results stay valid, what the French scores are worth in CRS points, and what to do if something does not match.

The One Rule to Know Before You Add Your TEF Canada Score

Here is the single most important point in the entire process. According to IRCC, when you enter TEF Canada results in Express Entry, you must use only the scores from the column called "Équivalence ancien score". You must not enter the figures listed under "Score / 699". IRCC states that other TEF Canada charts are not compatible with the system, and that typing the "Score / 699" numbers into your profile may produce an incorrect NCLC level.

Why the "Équivalence ancien score" column exists

Your TEF Canada statement of results lists your scores out of 699 for each skill. IRCC explains that, for Express Entry, the level is based on the "Équivalence ancien score" column, which uses the chart for tests taken before September 30, 2019. This applies regardless of when you actually took your test. In other words, the system still works with the older scale, so the column that converts your result to that scale is the one you must copy.

What can go wrong if you copy the wrong numbers

Imagine a candidate living in Mississauga who reads "Score / 699" on the attestation and types those figures directly into the e-APR form. The system will convert them using a scale that does not match, and the resulting NCLC level could be lower than the one the candidate truly earned. Nobody is warned when this happens. That is why IRCC insists on using only the "Équivalence ancien score" column. If your attestation does not show it clearly, ask the testing organization before you submit anything.

Step-by-Step: Adding Your TEF Canada Score to Your Express Entry Profile

IRCC describes the process in a few short steps. Take them in order and keep your attestation open next to your screen.

The official steps, in plain language

Step	What to do	Source detail
1	Book your test with an IRCC-approved agency and pay the fee	TEF Canada is one of the accepted tests, along with TCF Canada, CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core
2	Enter your results in your Express Entry profile	If the system asks, also provide the test result form or certificate number and the test PIN
3	Use only the "Équivalence ancien score" column	Enter the score for each language ability from that column; do not use "Score / 699"

Keep your certificate number and PIN handy

IRCC notes that the system may ask you for the test result form or certificate number and the test PIN. Locate them on your attestation before you start so you do not have to interrupt your session. Save a copy of the attestation as a PDF in a folder dedicated to your immigration file; you will need it again if you are invited to apply.

Did you take the test between December 11, 2023 and May 6, 2024?

IRCC includes a specific note for candidates who took TEF Canada between December 11, 2023 and May 6, 2024. If the scoring change made by the Paris Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry affected your results, you should update your profile with the new scores. If you are in that window, compare your attestation with the latest version available from the test center.

What Your TEF Canada Scores Mean: NCLC Levels Explained

Before entering anything, it helps to know which levels you are aiming for. Most Express Entry candidates target NCLC 7 in all four skills, because it is the level at which French starts to count meaningfully for your CRS score. The IRCC chart for TEF Canada tests taken after December 10, 2023 lists these ranges (scores out of 699).

IRCC conversion chart for TEF Canada (tests after December 10, 2023)

NCLC	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
10	546-699	558-699	546-699	556-699
9	503-545	512-557	503-545	518-555
8	462-502	472-511	462-502	494-517
7	434-461	428-471	434-461	456-493

Use this table to understand where you stand, not as a substitute for the column IRCC tells you to enter in the profile. The profile itself asks for the "Équivalence ancien score" figures. If you want a quick check of your level, you can also use our free NCLC and CRS calculator.

Accepted tests and the two-year rule

IRCC requires that your results be less than two years old both when you complete your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. Applications with expired results are refused. If you passed your test early in your process, count the months carefully. A result that is valid today may not be valid by the time you receive an invitation to apply, so many candidates plan their exam date to leave a comfortable margin.

What Your French Score Is Worth in CRS Points

Once your profile is correct, your French works for you in two ways. First, it earns core points as a second official language: 3 points per skill at NCLC 7 or 8, and 6 points per skill at NCLC 9 or higher, up to a maximum of 24 points (22 if you have a spouse or partner). Second, there is an additional bonus: 50 points if you reach NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills and CLB 5 or higher in English, or 25 points if your English is CLB 4 or lower.

CRS impact at a glance

Situation	Points
Second language, NCLC 7-8 in a skill	3 points per skill
Second language, NCLC 9 or higher in a skill	6 points per skill (maximum 24, or 22 with a spouse)
French bonus: NCLC 7+ in all skills and CLB 5+ in English	50 points
French bonus: NCLC 7+ in all skills and CLB 4 or lower in English	25 points

Why accuracy matters so much

A single skill entered one level too low can cost you both core points and, worse, the 50-point bonus if it drops a skill under NCLC 7. That is the difference between feeling stuck and feeling ready. Double-check every line before saving.

Special Cases and Final Checks Before You Submit

If you could not complete a section because of a disability

IRCC explains that if you could not complete one or more sections because of a disability, you can obtain averaged scores through IRCC's language averaging tool for those abilities, unless the testing organization already gave them to you. You then enter those scores in your profile, and IRCC verifies them along with your test results.

A short checklist

Before you click submit, confirm that you copied the "Équivalence ancien score" figures and not the "Score / 699" ones, that the four skills are in the right fields (reading, writing, listening, speaking), that your certificate number and PIN match your attestation, that your results will still be valid when you apply, and that you saved a copy of everything. If any detail is unclear, rely on the official IRCC page rather than a forum post.

How Talk French Canada Can Help

If your attestation shows that you are a few points short of NCLC 7 in one skill, you do not have to guess what to fix. At Talk French Canada, our certified instructors work 1-on-1 with Express Entry candidates, and our Light plan at $299 CAD is a good starting point for targeted practice on a single weak skill. Visit Talk French Canada to see which format fits your timeline.

Sources officielles :
IRCC — Language test for Express Entry
IRCC — Language test equivalency charts
Le français des affaires — TEF Canada