TCF Canada or TEF Canada: which French test should you take for PR?
IRCC accepts both. Neither test is easier by rule: IRCC turns each score into the same NCLC levels and gives the same points for each level. So choose the test you can sit soon, near your home, in a format that suits you. Questions at the end help you decide.
Checked on . PR means permanent residence. IRCC is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. FEI is France Éducation international, which owns the TCF. The CCI is the CCI Paris Ile-de-France, which owns the TEF. IRCC lists both tests as accepted for Express Entry (IRCC: Express Entry, language test results).
Side by side
| TCF Canada | TEF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | FEI, a French public body FEI | CCI Paris Ile-de-France (Le français des affaires) CCI |
| Compulsory tests | 4 FEI | 4: reading, listening, writing, speaking CCI |
| Listening | 39 questions, 35 min FEI | 40 questions, 40 min CCI |
| Reading | 39 questions, 60 min FEI | 40 questions, 60 min CCI |
| Writing | 3 tasks, 60 min. Word limits 60-120, 120-150, 120-180 FEI | 2 sections, 60 min. A: 25 min, 80 words minimum. B: 35 min, 200 words minimum CCI |
| Speaking | 3 tasks, 12 min, 2 of them to prepare FEI | 2 sections, 15 min: A 5 min, B 10 min CCI |
| Total time | 2 h 47 FEI | 2 h 55 (our sum of the four times) CCI |
| Who marks speaking | The examiner gives a first evaluation. The interview is recorded and FEI gives the second evaluation FEI | Two independent examiners: the test leader and a second one who uses the recording CCI |
| Score scale used by IRCC | Listening and reading up to 699. Speaking and writing up to 20 IRCC | Certificate shows a scale of 699, but IRCC wants the “Équivalence ancien score”: up to 360 listening, 300 reading, 450 speaking, 450 writing IRCC |
| Results time | FEI: within 15 working days after it receives the papers. Centres quote their own times FEI | About 2 weeks, by email CCI |
| Validity | 2 years from the day results are issued FEI | 2 years from the date of issue CCI |
| Sitting again | 20 days between two sittings FEI (French page) | 20 days between two tests CCI |
| Price and dates | Set by each approved centre FEI | Set by each centre CCI |
| Québec | FEI says the TCF Canada has also been recognised by the Québec ministry since the end of January 2022. FEI sells a separate TCF Québec FEI | The CCI sells a separate TEF Québec (TEFAQ) for immigration to Québec CCI |
Read on 13 Oct 2026. Links in the cells open the official page each cell comes from.
Minutes per test. A full bar is 60 minutes.
How each score becomes an NCLC level and points
NCLC (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is the Canadian scale for French, with levels 4 to 10 on the IRCC tables. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, IRCC asks for NCLC 7 in all four abilities. Each ability then gives points (IRCC): NCLC 7 = 4 points, NCLC 8 = 5 points, NCLC 9 or more = 6 points. The maximum for the first official language is 24 points. French as a second official language gives 4 points in total if you reach NCLC 5 in all four abilities.
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada | 10 | 458 | 453 | 10 |
| TEF Canada (“Équivalence ancien score”) | 310 | 249 | 207 | 310 |
Source: IRCC: Express Entry, language test results (English page, modified 2026-06-22), read on 13 Oct 2026. All levels for both tests are on our score tool (in French).
The score trap on the TEF certificate
A TEF certificate has two columns. IRCC wants only “Équivalence ancien score”. IRCC says not to enter the “Score / 699” column. The TCF has no such trap. The full explanation, with the IRCC wording, is on the TEF Canada guide.
Five questions to decide
- Which test does the nearest centre offer? Centres offer one test or both. Look at the centre’s own page.
- Which test has a seat soon? Dates and seats are set by each centre, and they change. If your IRCC deadline is close, the first free date can matter more than anything else.
- Which speaking format do you prefer? The TCF has 3 tasks in 12 minutes. The TEF has 2 sections in 15 minutes.
- When do you need the result? FEI says up to 15 working days after it receives the papers. The CCI says about 2 weeks. Ask the centre what it quotes.
- Could you sit again if you needed to? Both tests ask you to wait 20 days between two sittings.
None of these questions says that one test is easier. Both are accepted by IRCC.
Québec
Québec has its own rules. If you apply to Québec, check which tests its ministry accepts. FEI says the TCF Canada has been recognised by the Québec ministry (MIFI) since the end of January 2022. FEI also sells a different test, the TCF Québec, made for MIFI. You can choose to sit 1, 2, 3 or 4 of its tests (France Éducation international: TCF Québec). The CCI sells the TEF Québec (TEFAQ) for immigration to Québec (CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF candidate page). These Québec tests are not the same as TCF Canada or TEF Canada. Do not book one by mistake.
Sources, read on 13 Oct 2026
Every figure above comes from the pages below. We read each page on 13 Oct 2026.
- IRCC: Express Entry, language test results
- France Éducation international: TCF Canada
- CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF Canada, the tests
- France Éducation international: how a TCF session runs (page in French)
- CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF Canada, your results
- CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF Canada
- France Éducation international: TCF Canada (page in French)
- CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF Canada, the certificate
- CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF Canada, registration
- CCI Paris Ile-de-France: TEF candidate page
- France Éducation international: TCF Québec