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TEF Canada and TCF Canada in Toronto: how to get a seat

Toronto opens a whole quarter at once. Be there at 10:00.

By the French Exam Alert teamUpdated 6 min readHow we fact-check

Short answer

In Toronto, Alliance Française de Toronto runs both TEF Canada and TCF Canada at four GTA exam centres (Spadina, North York, Mississauga and Oakville). It releases TEF Canada and TCF Canada sessions a quarter at a time at 10:00 a.m. Toronto time, about a month before each quarter, and TCF Canada costs CA$390 with no refunds. Sessions sell out fast, so have your account ready and log in before the opening time.

Key takeaways

  • AF Toronto runs TEF Canada and TCF Canada across four GTA exam centres.
  • Registration opens quarterly; Q1 2027 sessions open Dec 1, 2026 at 10:00 ET (per AF Toronto).
  • TCF Canada is CA$390; no refunds, reschedule only with a CA$100 fee.
  • You must leave at least 20 days between two attempts.
  • Returned places reappear on the booking page. There is no waitlist.
On this page
  1. When does TEF and TCF registration open in Toronto?
  2. How do you book at AF Toronto?
  3. What are AF Toronto’s rules on refunds, rescheduling and retakes?
  4. Toronto is full. Where else can you test?

Toronto has one provider, Alliance Française de Toronto, running both TEF Canada and TCF Canada at four GTA exam centres: Spadina (downtown), Jim Doak (North York), Mississauga and Oakville. TEF and TCF sessions are released a quarter at a time at 10:00 a.m. ET, and TCF Canada costs CA$390. Seats go fast.

CA$390
TCF Canada fee (AF Toronto, 2026)
20 days
Minimum gap between attempts
10:00 ET
Quarterly release time (TEF + TCF)

When does TEF and TCF registration open in Toronto?

#

AF Toronto publishes TEF Canada and TCF Canada sessions in quarterly blocks, with registration opening at 10:00 a.m. Toronto time about a month before each quarter. On its site, Q1 2027 (January–March) opens on December 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET, and later quarters open in early March, late May and mid-August 2027. Confirm the exact date on the AF Toronto site, because it can change. For how to plan around openings like these, see when to book TEF or TCF Canada.

AF Toronto registration openings (as published, Sep 2026)

  1. Dec 1, 2026, 10:00 ETQ1 2027 sessionsJanuary to March exam dates.
  2. Mar 2, 2027Q2 2027 sessionsApril to June exam dates.
  3. May 20, 2027Q3 2027 sessionsJuly to September exam dates.
  4. Aug 17, 2027Q4 2027 sessionsOctober to December exam dates.

Outside Toronto? Convert the opening time to where you are:

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Get an alert when Toronto seats open or come backWe watch AF Toronto’s booking page and alert you by email and WhatsApp/SMS when a TEF or TCF Canada place appears.
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How do you book at AF Toronto?

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  1. 1Create your AF Toronto account nowRegistration is done entirely online through your Alliance Française account. Test your login before opening day, and run through the registration-day checklist.
  2. 2Choose the exam and a siteSpadina, North York, Mississauga or Oakville. Being flexible on site gives you more sessions to choose from.
  3. 3Log in 10 minutes early, one tabPick the session, pay in one go. A place is only yours once payment goes through.
  4. 4Missed it? Keep watchingThere is no waitlist. Returned or unpaid places reappear on the booking page, often without notice.

Our registration day playbook has the minute-by-minute version. For other cities, see booking a French exam across Canada.

What are AF Toronto’s rules on refunds, rescheduling and retakes?

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  • No refunds. Once registered, you cannot cancel for your money back.
  • Rescheduling (TCF Canada): possible for a CA$100 admin fee, up to 15 days before a computer session or 30 days before a paper session.
  • Retakes: at least 20 days between two attempts. You can retake as often as you like after that.
  • ID on the day: a valid photo ID showing your date of birth, such as a passport, driver’s licence or national ID card.
  • Results (TCF Canada): about 2 weeks for computer sessions and 4 weeks for paper, by email.

Policies change and differ between TEF and TCF, so read the current FAQ on AF Toronto’s site before you pay. More on this in rescheduling, cancellation and refunds.

Toronto is full. Where else can you test?

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Alternatives within reach of the GTA (our directory, Sep 2026)
CentreExamsWhy consider it
AF OttawaTEF + TCFAbout 4–5 hours by car or train
McGill, MontréalTEF CanadaLarge TEF centre; opens ~3 weeks before each date
UQAM, MontréalTEF CanadaSeats-left counter per session
AF HalifaxTEF + TCFOnline store; recent batches on sale up to ~12 weeks ahead
AF Manitoba, WinnipegTEF + TCFLists dates as Available or Sold Out; form, then payment
Alternatives within reach of the GTA (our directory, Sep 2026)

A flight to Halifax or Winnipeg can cost less than waiting another quarter. See Ottawa and Montréal, or every TEF Canada date and TCF Canada date in Canada.

  • Myth

    AF Toronto keeps a waitlist, so I’ll be called if a seat frees up.

  • Myth

    I can retake TCF Canada next week if I miss NCLC 7.

  • Myth

    Opening several tabs helps you grab a seat faster.

Quiz

Check yourself

  1. 1 of 2.How does AF Toronto open registration?

  2. 2 of 2.What does AF Toronto charge to reschedule a TCF Canada session?

If your work permit is running out, every week counts. Here is the plan for PGWP holders using French to reach PR.

Planning on an Ontario nomination? Read the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream closure first.

Watch Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal togetherPick every centre you can reach and get email and WhatsApp/SMS alerts the moment one opens. From $19/month.
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Questions people ask

CA$390 at Alliance Française de Toronto in 2026. It is non-refundable; rescheduling costs a CA$100 admin fee within the deadlines.

AF Toronto runs sessions at four GTA exam centres: Spadina downtown, Jim Doak in North York, Mississauga and Oakville. Your session page shows the site. For other cities, see all test centres in Canada.

Quarterly, about a month before each quarter, at 10:00 a.m. ET, for both TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Q1 2027 sessions open December 1, 2026 according to AF Toronto.

AF Toronto says about 2 weeks for computer-based sessions and 4 weeks for paper-based sessions, sent by email.

No. It can only be taken in person at an exam centre. IRCC does not accept any at-home version.

More booking questions in the FAQ

Terms in this guide

Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.

Sources

Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.

Your next step

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