In the UK, TCF Canada is run by the Institut français du Royaume-Uni at 14 Cromwell Place, South Kensington. It is paper-based, costs £260 from 1 July 2026, and you register online before a deadline that falls about 4–6 weeks before each exam. We know of no TEF Canada centre in the UK; the nearest we track is the Alliance française de Paris.
Key takeaways
- One UK centre for TCF Canada: Institut français, 14 Cromwell Place, London SW7.
- Paper-based exam, £260 from 1 July 2026, candidates 16 and over.
- Registration closes about 4–6 weeks before each exam, and sessions can sell out before that.
- Results and certificate on the France Éducation international platform about 15 working days after.
- No TEF Canada centre in the UK that we know of. Paris runs it for €245.
On this page
If you live in the UK and need French for Express Entry, your realistic option at home is TCF Canada at the Institut français du Royaume-Uni in South Kensington. It runs roughly once a month, on paper, and its deadlines fall a month or more before the exam. That one fact shapes everything else: in London you book a session well before you would expect to.
- £260
- TCF Canada, 4 tests (from 1 July 2026)
- 4–6 weeks
- Before the exam, registration closes
- ~15 working days
- From test to results online
Where is TCF Canada held in London?
#| Details | |
|---|---|
| Centre | Institut français du Royaume-Uni, Language Centre (Centre Molière) |
| Address | 14 Cromwell Place, London SW7 2JR |
| Nearest station | South Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly lines) |
| Format | Paper-based |
| Fee | £260 (previously £256) |
| Age | 16 or over |
| Contact | examination.centre@institut-francais.org.uk, 020 7871 3535 |
What are the next TCF Canada dates in London?
#| Session | Exam date | Registration deadline |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 20 Nov 2026 | 12 Oct 2026 (closed) |
| January 2027 | 15 Jan 2027 | 16 Dec 2026 |
| February 2027 | 2 Feb 2027 (booking system says 5 Feb) | 2 Jan 2027 |
| April 2027 | 23 Apr 2027 | 18 Mar 2027 |
| May 2027 | 21 May 2027 | 15 Apr 2027 |
| June 2027 | 28 Jun 2027 | 21 May 2027 |
| July 2027 | 9 Jul 2027 | 3 Jun 2027 |
| September 2027 | 10 Sep 2027 | 6 Aug 2027 |
| October 2027 | 22 Oct 2027 | 16 Sep 2027 |
| November 2027 | 5 Nov 2027 | 30 Sep 2027 |
A deadline is the latest you can register, not a promise of a seat. When we checked in late September, the November 2026 and January 2027 sessions were already shown as sold out in the booking system, weeks before their deadlines. Sessions are mostly on Fridays, with gaps around winter and summer. Every date we track is on TCF Canada dates in the UK.
How do you book?
#- 1Pick a session and note its deadlineWork backwards from the date you need results (see the timeline below).
- 2Register through the pageThe registration section is at the bottom of the Institut français TCF Canada page. Book all four tests.
- 3Pay £260Use your name exactly as it appears on the ID you will bring on the day.
- 4Sit the exam at Cromwell PlaceArrive early with your ID. The exam-day list is in documents for exam day.
- 5Collect your results onlineResults and the certificate are on the France Éducation international platform about 15 working days after the test.
Booking backwards from a target date
- 8–10 weeks before you need resultsChoose your sessionPick the exam date that gets you results in time, and check it isn’t already sold out.
- 4–6 weeks before the examRegistration deadlineThe latest you can register. Popular sessions fill before this, so book as soon as you decide.
- Exam dayPaper-based TCF CanadaAll four skills at 14 Cromwell Place, usually on a Friday.
- About 15 working days laterResults onlineDownload your attestation from the France Éducation international platform and enter the scores in your Express Entry profile.
Not sure what score to aim for? The target score calculator tells you the minimum per skill for NCLC 7 or the French bonus, and the CLB calculator converts results once you have them. TCF Canada has no pass mark, so what counts is the level your application needs. To test yourself first, try the TCF Canada mock exam.
Can you take TEF Canada in the UK?
#Not that we know of. The Institut français in London runs TCF Canada only, and we haven’t found an approved TEF Canada centre anywhere in the UK. If you specifically want TEF Canada, or London has nothing in time, the nearest centre we track is the Alliance française de Paris, a Eurostar ride from St Pancras.
- Institut français, South Kensington
- Paper-based
- £260
- Age 16+
- Results about 15 working days after
- Deadline 4–6 weeks before the exam
- Alliance française, 101 bd Raspail
- Sold online when dates are available
- €245
- Age 18+ at this centre
- Digital certificate within about 10 days
- Log in to the AF Paris site to see all dates
Both exams are accepted by IRCC and convert to the same NCLC levels, so the choice is about format and dates, not value. Compare them in TEF vs TCF Canada. If you go to Paris, check whether your passport needs a visa for France, book the exam seat before travel, and bring an original ID to every part of the test.
- Myth
If the deadline is next week, I still have a week to book.
FactSessions can sell out weeks before the deadline. The November 2026 and January 2027 sessions did.
- Myth
A paper TCF scores differently from the computer one.
FactBoth are TCF Canada and give the same NCLC conversion. Only the delivery differs.
- Myth
The UK has TEF Canada centres too.
FactWe know of none. The nearest TEF Canada centre we track is in Paris.
Need TEF Canada in Europe? See passer le TEF Canada en France: Alliance française de Paris and the other approved centres.
Check yourself
1 of 3.How is the TCF Canada delivered in London?
2 of 3.You need results by mid-March 2027. Which session is the latest safe bet?
3 of 3.Where is the nearest TEF Canada centre we track for UK candidates?
Results stay valid for 2 years from the test date. If you miss your target, read the retake rules and book the next London session straight away, given how early they close.
Questions people ask
At the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, 14 Cromwell Place, London SW7 2JR, near South Kensington station.
£260 from 1 July 2026. It was £256 before.
No. The Institut français says the exam is paper-based.
Registration closes about 4–6 weeks before each exam, for example 16 December 2026 for the 15 January 2027 session. Sessions can sell out earlier, so book as soon as you decide.
We know of no TEF Canada centre in the UK. The nearest one we track is the Alliance française de Paris, which charges €245.
On the France Éducation international platform, about 15 working days after the test. You then type the scores into your Express Entry profile yourself.
Terms in this guide
- Institut français
- FEI
- Alliance Française
- Exam session
- Attestation
- Result validity
- CRS French bonus
- Express Entry
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- Institut français du Royaume-Uni: TCF Canada
- Institut français du Royaume-Uni: Visit & Contact Us
- Institut français du Royaume-Uni: FAQ
- Alliance française de Paris: TEF Canada
- IRCC: Language testing for Express Entry
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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