TEF Canada is one of the two French tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry, and it also counts for citizenship. It’s run by Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France) and has four sections taken on the same day, about 2 h 55 in total. IRCC uses the Équivalence ancien score on your results, not the /699 score, and results are valid for two years.
What is TEF Canada?
TEF Canada stands for Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada. It checks your French in listening, reading, writing and speaking.
IRCC accepts it for Express Entry, other federal immigration programs and citizenship. The other accepted French test is TCF Canada. IRCC treats them the same, so NCLC 7 on one is worth exactly the same as NCLC 7 on the other.
Official information: Le français des affaires — TEF Canada
What’s in the TEF Canada exam?
There are four sections. You take all of them on the same day, and the whole test takes about 2 hours 55 minutes.
| Section | What you do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 40 multiple-choice questions | 40 min |
| Reading | 40 multiple-choice questions | 60 min |
| Writing | A: continue a news article (80+ words). B: argue a point of view (200+ words) | 25 + 35 min |
| Speaking | A: ask questions to get information. B: persuade the examiner | 5 + 10 min |
The speaking section is with an examiner and lasts about 15 minutes. For a section-by-section walk-through, read the TEF Canada exam format guide.
Writing and speaking are where most points are won or lost. TEF Canada writing and speaking explains each section, and you can rehearse under real timing with the writing practice timer and the speaking practice timer.
How is TEF Canada scored?
Your results sheet shows two numbers for each skill: a score out of 699 and an Équivalence ancien score. IRCC only uses the ancien score. The TEF Canada score chart shows the ancien score for every NCLC level.
| Skill | Ancien score out of |
|---|---|
| Listening | 360 |
| Reading | 300 |
| Writing | 450 |
| Speaking | 450 |
Each skill converts to an NCLC level on its own. There’s no averaging, so one weak skill sets your lowest level. The table below is IRCC’s official chart.
Not sure where you stand yet? The French level self-assessment gives a rough estimate, CEFR vs NCLC vs CLB explains how the scales line up, and the study hours calculator shows how long reaching CLB 7 might take.
| NCLC | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 316–360 | 263–300 | 393–450 | 393–450 |
| 9 | 298–315 | 248–262 | 371–392 | 371–392 |
| 8 | 280–297 | 233–247 | 349–370 | 349–370 |
| 7bonus line | 249–279 | 207–232 | 310–348 | 310–348 |
| 6 | 217–248 | 181–206 | 271–309 | 271–309 |
| 5 | 181–216 | 151–180 | 226–270 | 226–270 |
| 4 | 145–180 | 121–150 | 181–225 | 181–225 |
Source: IRCC language test equivalency charts. TEF uses the “Équivalence ancien score”: listening /360, reading /300, writing & speaking /450.
How much does TEF Canada cost?
Each centre sets its own fee, so prices change from place to place. Here’s what we’ve seen in 2026:
| Where | Approximate fee |
|---|---|
| Canada | Roughly CA$390–436 for all four sections |
| India | About ₹26,000 incl. GST (e.g. AF Mumbai) |
| Nigeria | ₦750,000 at AF Port Harcourt |
| Elsewhere | Check the centre’s own page |
Fees are usually non-refundable once you register, so pick your date carefully.
How long are TEF Canada results valid?
TEF Canada results are valid for two years from your test date. They must still be valid on the day you create your Express Entry profile and on the day you submit your PR application.
If there’s a long gap between those two steps, you may need to sit the test again. The result validity checker shows your exact expiry date.
How do you book TEF Canada?
You book directly with a test centre, usually an Alliance Française or a university. Each centre runs its own calendar and its own sign-up process.
- 1Pick a few centresChoose every centre you could realistically travel to. More centres means more chances at a seat.
- 2Set up your account earlyMany centres ask you to create an online account before you can book. Do it days before, not on the day.
- 3Have your ID and payment readyKeep your passport details and card next to you. Seats can go in minutes.
- 4Book on the official pagePay only on the centre’s own website. Fees are usually non-refundable.
Popular centres sell out fast, and each one releases seats in its own way. A few examples from our directory:
- McGill in Montréal opens registration about three weeks before each exam and closes it at noon on the Thursday six days before the Wednesday test.
- AF Lagos runs a computer-based E-TEF Canada with no postponement or refund. Ibadan also lists TEF Canada; contact it for dates.
- AF Toronto has no waitlist. Returned places simply reappear on the booking page.
That’s why refreshing one page by hand rarely works. Read the sold-out strategy guide for what to do when every date is full.
To see what’s coming up, the TEF Canada exam dates page lists every session we know of, soonest first, with what’s open now. Popular ones: TEF Canada dates in Canada, in India and in Nigeria. City guides explain how booking works in Mumbai, Montréal and Toronto.
- Live seat count. Publishes each session with a seats-left counter. Returned or unpaid places can reappear.
- Registration window. Announces the date and time registration opens, then fills first-come, first-served.
- Email waitlist. Collects names by email and offers seats in order.
- Unannounced drops. Posts new sessions without warning.
Where can you take TEF Canada?
We monitor 43 centres that run TEF Canada in 19 countries. Pick a country to see each centre’s dates and how it releases seats.
Looking for the next free date anywhere? See every upcoming TEF Canada session, try the earliest seat finder or browse all centres.
Questions people ask
Yes. IRCC accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada for Express Entry and other federal programs. TEF Québec is not accepted for those, though it is on the wider citizenship list.
Only the “Équivalence ancien score”: listening out of 360, reading out of 300, writing and speaking out of 450. Don’t enter the /699 score in your profile.
Using the ancien score: listening 249, reading 207, writing 310 and speaking 310. You need NCLC 7 in every skill for the French bonus points.
About 2 hours 55 minutes. All four sections are taken on the same day, and speaking takes about 15 minutes with an examiner.
Two years from the test date. They must be valid when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your PR application.
IRCC treats them the same, and neither is officially easier. The formats differ, so pick the one that suits you, or the one with a seat first. The TEF or TCF quiz can help.
Usually not. Most centres don’t refund once you register, and some (like AF Lagos) don’t allow postponement either. Check the centre’s policy before paying.