Once you register, TEF Canada and TCF Canada fees are almost always non-refundable. Some centres let you move to another date for a fee if you ask early enough (AF Toronto charges CA$100 to reschedule TCF Canada, up to 15 or 30 days before), others allow no changes at all, and a no-show normally loses the whole fee. Each centre sets its own rules, so read them before you pay.
Key takeaways
- Refunds after registration are very rare. Treat the fee as spent the moment you pay.
- Some centres allow a paid date change before a deadline; others allow none.
- Missing the exam without an accepted reason usually means losing the full fee.
- Centres enforce a gap between attempts: 20 days at AF Toronto and AF Delhi in 2026.
- Policies are set per centre. Read the terms on the booking page before you pay.
On this page
Assume you won’t get your money back. TEF Canada and TCF Canada fees are almost always non-refundable once you register. What varies is whether you can move to another date, how much that costs, and how early you must ask. Each centre decides this itself.
What do real centre policies look like?
#| Centre | Refund | Change of date | Gap between attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| AF Toronto (TCF Canada) | No refunds "under any circumstances" | Allowed for a CA$100 admin fee: up to 15 days before (computer) or 30 days (paper) | 20 days minimum |
| AF Toronto (TEF Canada) | No refunds | See the centre’s FAQ | 20 days minimum |
| AF Delhi (TCF Canada) | Usually non-refundable | Ask the centre | 20 days minimum (June 2026) |
| AF Lagos (E-TEF / E-TCF) | No refund once registered | No postponement | Ask the centre |
What can you do in your situation?
#- Check the deadline first. Changes are usually allowed only weeks before the exam, not days.
- Ask in writing (email) and keep the reply.
- Expect a fee. At AF Toronto it is CA$100 for TCF Canada.
- Ask what date you’d move to. A transfer only helps if a later session has room.
Some centres consider a transfer with a medical certificate or proof of emergency, sometimes even after the normal deadline. It is at the centre’s discretion, not a right. Contact them before the exam, not after.
A no-show normally loses the whole fee and the seat. If you had a serious documented reason, write to the centre the same day and ask whether they can offer anything. Then look for a new seat straight away.
Cancelling rarely returns money. If your centre allows a paid date change, moving is usually better than cancelling, even to a date far away: you can often transfer again later, depending on its rules.
How soon can you retake TEF or TCF Canada?
#There is no limit on how many times you can take either test, but centres enforce a minimum gap between two attempts. AF Toronto and AF Delhi both state 20 days in 2026. Book a retake too soon and the centre can cancel it without a refund.
In practice, the bigger limit is finding a seat. If you might need a retake before a deadline, start watching centres the day you finish your first attempt. Your first result usually takes 2–4 weeks: see TEF and TCF result times.
What should you check before you pay?
#- Myth
If I cancel early enough, I get my money back.
FactMost centres don’t refund at all once you register. Early notice may only buy a paid date change.
- Myth
I can retake TCF Canada the following week.
FactCentres enforce a minimum gap between attempts, 20 days at AF Toronto and AF Delhi in 2026.
- Myth
A missed exam can be moved for free.
FactA no-show normally forfeits the fee. Contact the centre before the exam if something comes up.
Check yourself
1 of 3.At AF Toronto, what does it cost to reschedule a TCF Canada exam?
2 of 3.What usually happens if you don’t show up?
3 of 3.What minimum gap between attempts do AF Toronto and AF Delhi state in 2026?
Questions people ask
Almost never once you have registered. Some centres allow a paid date change before a deadline. Check your centre’s terms before paying.
Sometimes. AF Toronto allows it for a CA$100 fee up to 15 days before a computer session or 30 days before a paper session. Other centres allow no changes. Ask your centre in writing.
You normally lose the fee and the seat. If you had a serious documented reason, contact the centre immediately; any exception is at its discretion.
There is no limit on attempts, but centres enforce a minimum gap. AF Toronto and AF Delhi both state 20 days between two attempts in 2026.
Only if the centre agrees, and many won’t. IRCC does not accept TCF Québec for Express Entry, so contact the centre right away.
Terms in this guide
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- Alliance Française de Toronto: TCF Canada information
- Alliance Française de Toronto: TEF Canada
- Alliance Française de Delhi: TCF Canada schedule 2026
- Alliance Française de Lagos: E-TEF Canada
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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