TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada) is a four-part French test from France Éducation international, built for Canadian immigration. Yes, it is accepted: IRCC names TCF Canada as one of two approved French tests for Express Entry. Other TCF versions, including TCF Québec and TCF Tout Public, do not count for Express Entry, so the exact name matters.
Key takeaways
- Full form: Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada.
- Run by France Éducation international (FEI), a French public body. IRCC only uses the results.
- TCF Canada is accepted for Express Entry. TCF Québec and TCF Tout Public are not.
- All four parts are compulsory: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- Listening and reading are out of 699, writing and speaking out of 20.
On this page
Most confusion about this exam comes from one fact: "TCF" is not one test. It is a family of tests, and Canada's federal immigration department accepts only the one with Canada in its name. Get that right and the rest is straightforward.
What is the full form of TCF Canada?
#Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada. In English: French knowledge test for Canada. You will often see it written as TCF Canada, and you may also see "TCF-Canada" on centre websites. They refer to the same exam.
France Éducation international (FEI) runs it. FEI is a public body under France's education ministry, and it also coordinates the other TCF versions. In 2025, FEI announced that its partnership with IRCC on TCF Canada had been renewed until 2030, and it reported nearly 80,000 TCF Canada candidates in 2024.
Is TCF accepted for Canada immigration?
#It depends which TCF you hold and which door you are knocking on. Federal and Québec immigration use separate lists.
| Test | Express Entry (IRCC) | Québec selection | Parts |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada | Yes | Yes | All 4 compulsory |
| TCF Québec | No | Yes | Choose 1 to 4 |
| TCF Tout Public | No | Yes | Core tests, with writing and speaking optional |
| TCF Intégration, Résidence et Nationalité | No | Not covered here | Built for residency and naturalisation in France |
The other accepted French test for Express Entry is TEF Canada, which comes from a different organisation. IRCC treats the two as equal: a given NCLC level earns the same points on either. Citizenship has a wider list of accepted proof, explained in our citizenship guide.
- Myth
A high score on any TCF can be converted for Express Entry.
FactNo. Express Entry takes TCF Canada results for French. A strong TCF Tout Public result doesn't transfer.
- Myth
TCF Canada is an online test I can take from home.
FactYou must sit it in person at an approved centre. Many centres use computers, which is a different thing from remote testing.
- Myth
I need TCF Canada to get Canada PR.
FactNot necessarily. Express Entry can run on an English test alone. See whether French is required.
TCF Canada vs TCF Québec: what is the difference?
#- For federal immigration, and accepted by Québec too
- All four tests compulsory, no exemptions
- Results convert to NCLC for CRS points
- Keeps both federal and Québec routes open
- For applications to Québec's immigration ministry (MIFI)
- Take 1, 2, 3 or 4 tests, as your file requires
- Gives no Express Entry points
- Useful only if Québec is your one and only plan
The rule of thumb: if there is any chance you will use a federal route, book TCF Canada. The full Québec comparison covers the edge cases, and the PSTQ guide shows which levels Québec asks for.
What is on the TCF Canada test?
#Four sections, about 2 hours 47 minutes of test time in total. Speaking is the short one, a face-to-face exchange of around 12 minutes.
- 39 Qs · 35 min
- Listening, scored out of 699
- 39 Qs · 60 min
- Reading, scored out of 699
- 3 tasks · 60 min
- Writing, scored out of 20
- 3 tasks · ~12 min
- Speaking, scored out of 20
The speaking section runs through an interview, a role-play and then a point of view you argue. Writing also has three tasks. We go through each one in the TCF Canada exam format guide, with examples in the writing and speaking guides. You can also try a timed run on the TCF Canada mock test.
How does TCF Canada scoring work?
#There is no overall mark and no pass or fail. Each of the four skills converts to an NCLC level by itself. The thing that catches newcomers is that two different scales sit side by side:
- Listening and reading use a wide scale out of 699, so a level spans many points. NCLC 7 starts at 458 for listening and 453 for reading.
- Writing and speaking use a narrow scale out of 20, so a single point can change your level. NCLC 7 starts at 10. A 9 is NCLC 6.
That single point can decide your French bonus, because the +25 or +50 CRS and French draw eligibility need NCLC 7 in every skill. See the TCF Canada score chart for every band and the passing score guide for what to aim for. If you already have numbers, the score converter gives you your levels.
Who should take TCF Canada?
#Take it if you want French to add to your CRS score or to qualify for French draws. It's an equal alternative to TEF Canada. If you've no strong preference, the exam with the earliest seat near you is often the sensible choice. Our TEF vs TCF comparison can help you decide.
TCF Canada works, and so does TCF Québec, which may let you take fewer tests if your stream only needs some skills. TCF Canada costs you the option of skipping tests, but keeps Express Entry possible.
Programs such as Francophone Mobility and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot set their own levels, and TCF Canada can show them. Always check the current program page for which results it takes.
TCF Canada is the wrong product. Look at TCF Tout Public or the version your institution names.
What does it cost, and how do you book?
#You book through a test centre, not through FEI or IRCC. Centres set their own prices. As a guide, a full TCF Canada costs about ₹26,000 including GST in India, and roughly CA$390–436 in Canada, with Alliance Française de Toronto listing CA$390. Confirm the amount with your centre, as fees change. More figures and refund rules are in the fees guide.
Seats are the harder part. Start with the test centre directory and read the booking guide. You can retake the test as often as you like, leaving at least 20 days between attempts. Results usually take about 2 to 4 weeks, and they are valid for 2 years for Express Entry.
Questions people ask
TCF Canada is a French language test from France Éducation international, made for Canadian immigration. It has four compulsory parts (listening, reading, writing and speaking), and IRCC accepts it for Express Entry.
Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada, which means French knowledge test for Canada.
TCF Canada is accepted for Express Entry. TCF Québec and TCF Tout Public are not, although Québec accepts them for its own selection programs.
TCF Canada has four compulsory tests and is accepted by both IRCC and Québec. TCF Québec lets you take 1 to 4 tests and is for Québec applications, so it earns no Express Entry points.
It stands for Test de connaissance du français. In a Canadian immigration context, people usually mean TCF Canada, the version accepted by IRCC.
No. Express Entry requires an approved language test, and that can be in English. You need TCF Canada or TEF Canada only if you want your French to count.
Terms in this guide
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- IRCC: Language test requirements for Express Entry
- France Éducation international: TCF Canada renewed for 5 years (2025)
- France Éducation international: TCF Canada
- France Éducation international: TCF Québec
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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