IRCC says your test results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your PR application. It does not say when the 2 years start. The test operators count from the day the attestation is issued. Plan from your test date: it is the earlier date, so it is the cautious reading. If your result is too old at either moment, you need a new test.
Key takeaways
- IRCC's wording: results must be less than 2 years old. It names no start date.
- Plan from your test date. It is earlier than the issue date, so it is the cautious reading.
- They must be under 2 years old when you create your profile AND when you submit PR.
- Plan your retest months before expiry, because seats can take time to find.
On this page
TEF Canada and TCF Canada results must be less than 2 years old at two moments, IRCC says: when you complete your Express Entry profile, and again when you submit your PR application. Too old at either point means you need a new test. This guide counts from your test date, the cautious reading.
Most people only think about the first date. The second one is the one that catches people out.
When do my results expire?
#Plan on 2 years from the day you sat the exam. That is the cautious reading, not an official rule. IRCC's page says only that results must be "less than 2 years old". Le français des affaires says the TEF attestation is valid for 2 years from its issue date, and AF Toronto says the same of TCF Canada results. The issue date comes after the test date, so counting from the test date keeps you safe on either reading. Don't rely on the extra days without asking IRCC.
Want to save the dates or check several tests? The result validity checker does the same thing with more detail.
What are the two dates IRCC checks?
#- 1Date 1: when you create your Express Entry profileYour test result must be valid on the day you enter it into your profile. An expired result cannot be used to enter the pool.
- 2Date 2: when you submit your PR applicationAfter an invitation, your result must still be valid on the day you submit your application. Being valid when you were invited is not enough on its own.
What happens in real situations?
#Here are common situations, using a test taken on March 10, 2025. We would plan around March 10, 2027.
| Situation | Is it OK? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Create profile Oct 2026, submit PR Jan 2027 | Yes | Both dates fall inside the 2 years. Keep going. |
| Create profile Oct 2026, invited Feb 2027, submit Apr 2027 | No | Under 2 years at profile creation, over 2 years from the test at submission. Get a new result in time to submit. |
| Create profile in Apr 2027 | No | Past 2 years from the test. Retest before creating the profile. |
| Profile in the pool, expiry coming up in 4 months | Risky | Book a retest now so a new result is ready if you get invited late. |
These are simple examples. Your own timing depends on when you enter the pool and when you are invited, which nobody can predict exactly. That uncertainty is the reason to plan early: a result with plenty of time left takes a lot of stress out of the invitation stage, when you already have many other documents to gather.
How do I keep my result valid the whole way through?
#Think of your result as having a quiet countdown, and run it from test day to be safe. Work backwards from that end date, not forwards from today.
- 1Write down your end dateTest date plus 2 years. Put it in your calendar with a reminder several months before.
- 2Create your profile while you have time leftEntering the pool with only a few weeks of validity left gives you almost no room if you are invited.
- 3Set a "retest line" in your calendarPick a date well before expiry. If you are still in the pool on that date, start looking for a new seat.
- 4Update your profile with the new resultWhen your new attestation arrives, update your Express Entry profile so the valid result is the one on file.
This is the same for TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Neither exam lasts longer than the other, and both follow the same 2-year rule.
Your result's life, from test day to PR
- Day 0Test dayStart your 2-year planning clock today. Operators count from the issue date, but this is the safer date.
- After resultsCreate or update your profileEnter the result while it has plenty of time left. It must be valid on the day you enter it.
- Months before expiryYour retest lineStill in the pool? Start watching for a new seat now. Some centres publish dates only a few weeks ahead; the earliest seat finder shows the soonest sessions.
- After an invitationSubmit your PR applicationThe result must still be valid on the day you submit. Valid at invitation is not enough on its own.
- Test date + 2 yearsYour planning limitTreat this as the last safe day to enter the pool or submit a PR application.
When should I book a retest?
#Earlier than feels necessary. In busy cities, sessions can sell out in minutes, and some centres only publish dates a few weeks ahead. Results also take time to arrive after the test. The result timing estimator gives a likely date for your sitting.
- Know how your centre releases seats. McGill opens registration about 3 weeks before each exam. AF Toronto releases TEF and TCF sessions quarterly at 10:00 a.m. ET, about a month ahead. AF Delhi posts a full-year calendar but seats fill fast.
- Leave room for the unexpected. A missed session or a lower score means another booking cycle. Check when the next sessions are well before your result gets close to expiry.
- Watch more than one centre. A short trip can beat a long wait. Our sold-out strategy guide explains how.
Does the TEF scoring change affect validity?
#No, it does not change the 2-year rule. But if you took TEF Canada between Dec 11, 2023 and May 6, 2024, CCI Paris Île-de-France changed scoring temporarily and later reverted it. Affected candidates were emailed updated scores and must update their Express Entry profile. Also double-check you are using the ancien score, not the /699 score.
A quick validity check
#Check yourself
#Check yourself
1 of 4.You sat TCF Canada on June 5, 2026 and got results on July 10, 2026. What is the cautious date to plan around?
2 of 4.At which moments must your result be valid?
3 of 4.Your result was valid when you were invited, but expires before you submit. What now?
4 of 4.Does TEF Canada stay valid longer than TCF Canada?
Questions people ask
IRCC wants results less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your PR application. Plan on 2 years from your test date. The same rule applies to TEF Canada.
IRCC does not say. Le français des affaires says the TEF attestation runs 2 years from its issue date, and AF Toronto says the same of TCF Canada. We plan from the test date because it is earlier, so it is safe on either reading.
Your result must be valid when you submit your PR application. If it has expired by then, you need a new valid test result before you can submit.
Yes. You can book a new test at any time, subject to your centre's own rules. Some centres, like AF Delhi, set a minimum gap between attempts.
Terms in this guide
- Attestation
- Result validity
- Exam session
- Le français des affaires
- Alliance Française
- ITA
- Ancien score
- Express Entry
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- IRCC: Language testing for Express Entry
- Le français des affaires: TEF Canada
- Alliance Française de Toronto: TCF Canada information
- IRCC: Language test equivalency charts
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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