In Québec, the French level required in 2026 depends on the program: oral level 7 and written level 5 for Stream 1 of the PSTQ, oral level 7 for the PEQ and oral level 4 for an accompanying spouse, according to the Government of Québec. On the TEF, level 7 starts at 400 out of 699 in each test, according to Québec's immigration ministry (MIFI, November 29, 2024).
French thresholds by program in 2026
The Québec Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) sets a threshold for each stream, and the Québec Experience Program (PEQ) has its own rules. “Oral” covers listening and speaking; “written” covers reading and writing. The scores apply to each test separately, according to the official correspondence table of the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI).
| Pathway | Required level | Minimum TEF score per test (out of 699) |
|---|---|---|
| PSTQ Stream 1; Stream 3 for TEER 0 to 2 jobs | Oral 7, written 5 | Oral 400, written 300 |
| PSTQ Stream 2; Stream 3 for TEER 3 to 5 jobs | Oral 5 | Oral 300 |
| PSTQ Stream 4 (exceptional talent) | No requirement | – |
| Accompanying spouse (PSTQ and PEQ) | Oral 4 | Oral 260 |
| PEQ | Oral 7 (+ written 5 in the graduates stream) | Oral 400 (+ written 300) |
| Temporary workers (CAQ after 3 years on a permit) | Oral 4, checked for applications from December 17, 2028 | Oral 260 |
Sources: Government of Québec (June 25, 2026); for the PEQ, Order in Council (décret) 898-2026 in the Gazette officielle du Québec of June 17, 2026; for the Québec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ), Order in Council 1340-2025 in the Gazette officielle of November 19, 2025. The TEF scores come from the MIFI table linked from the PSTQ page: for the PEQ and the CAQ, have them confirmed.
PEQ: a time-limited reopening
Under Order in Council 898-2026, the PEQ is open again from July 2, 2026 to July 2, 2028, but applications are only received until October 31, 2026. If that date has passed, check the Government of Québec's official website to see whether a new period has been announced.
Be careful with the spouse threshold: the PEQ page expresses it on the old TEF Canada scale (145 out of 360 in listening, 181 out of 450 in speaking), while the MIFI table works on a 699-point scale. If this concerns your spouse, have the MIFI confirm the expected score before you apply.
From the Québec level to the TEF score
The MIFI links its scale of 1 to 12 to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and to test scores. For the TEF, the TEF Québec (TEFAQ) and the TEF Canada, the same grid applies to each test, scored out of 699. Here is its table of November 29, 2024.
| Québec level | CEFR | TEF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada (out of 699) | TCF, reading and listening (out of 699) | TCF, writing and speaking (out of 20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | A1 | 100–199 | 101–199 | 1 |
| 3 | A2 | 200–259 | 200–259 | 2–3 |
| 4 | A2 | 260–299 | 260–299 | 4–5 |
| 5–6 | B1 | 300–399 | 300–399 | 6–9 |
| 7–8 | B2 | 400–499 | 400–499 | 10–13 |
| 9–10 | C1 | 500–599 | 500–599 | 14–17 |
| 11–12 | C2 | 600–699 | 600–699 | 18–20 |
Québec level 7 therefore starts at 400 out of 699, a lower bar than the federal CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) required for Express Entry's French-language draws: 434 in reading and listening, 428 in writing and 456 in speaking on the certificate, according to IRCC (instructions amended June 23, 2026). Our article on CLB 7 on the TEF Canada explains which score to enter in Express Entry.
Before you book a test date, measure the gap between your level and that 400 threshold. Take a listening comprehension mock test: 40 questions in 40 minutes, each recording played only once, then an estimated score out of 699. Mock tests marked “Free” are available with a free account.
TEF Canada, TEFAQ or TEF: which test to choose?
The MIFI accepts the TEF Canada, the TEF Québec (TEFAQ) and the TEF; the TCF Canada is accepted on an equal footing, and our TEF or TCF Canada comparison will help you choose. According to the test publisher (TEF Québec page, 2026) and the MIFI, a TEF Canada result is valid for Québec if it is no more than 2 years old on the date of your application.
The TEFAQ has one advantage: its tests are modular, from 1 to 4 depending on the program, so a spouse or a Stream 2 candidate may take only the oral tests. But it is not accepted for Express Entry: if you are also aiming for a federal program, choose the TEF Canada, which requires all 4 tests on the same day.
The TEFAQ is often priced per test. In Montréal, McGill's 2026 calendar lists CAD 145 per oral test and CAD 73 per written test. The Institut français de Côte d'Ivoire lists 42,500 CFA francs per test (fees updated February 24, 2026). Each centre sets its own prices, so check them with the centre.
Being a native French speaker does not exempt you from the test. According to the Government of Québec (page of November 28, 2025), there are exceptions, for example for the French baccalauréat, the Belgian CESS or the Swiss maturité. If your diploma is not one of them, plan on a recognized test that is no more than 2 years old when you apply.
Québec in figures: invitations and admissions
According to the PSTQ “Invitations” pages, the MIFI sent 2,887 invitations in 2025, starting on July 17, 2025, then 14,796 from January 1 to September 24, 2026. These figures describe the past: they guarantee no invitation, selection or admission for future candidates.
For admissions, the MIFI's 2020-2024 statistical compendium counts 52,809 people admitted to Québec in 2023 and 59,426 in 2024, a preliminary figure. Of the people admitted in 2024, 72.5% know French. Our research did not find final figures for 2025.
According to the same compendium, 49.2% of the people admitted in 2024 were born in Africa, compared with 41.2% in 2023. Cameroon is the leading country of birth, with 9,127 admissions (15.4%). The compendium also counts 4,045 people born in Tunisia, 3,650 in Algeria, 3,095 in Morocco, 2,195 in Haiti, 1,546 in Côte d'Ivoire and 946 in the DRC.
Be careful with comparisons: the MIFI classifies admitted people by country of birth and IRCC by country of citizenship, so the two series cannot be compared directly. Our article on permanent residents from 13 countries presents the federal figures; the one on Francophone immigration outside Québec covers the targets set outside Québec.
Looking ahead, Québec's 2026 Immigration Plan and the 2026-2029 orientations provide for about 45,000 admissions a year, within a range of 43,000 to 47,000, with a target of 76% of admitted people knowing French in 2026, then 77%. A target remains a goal, not a promise.
Frequently asked questions
What French level do you need for PSTQ Stream 1?
Level 7 in oral skills and level 5 in written skills, according to the Government of Québec (June 25, 2026). On the TEF, that means at least 400 out of 699 in listening and in speaking, and at least 300 in both written tests, according to the MIFI table.
Is the TEF Canada accepted in Québec?
Yes, if it is no more than 2 years old on the date of the application, according to the test publisher and the MIFI. The reverse is not true: the TEFAQ is not accepted for Express Entry. If you are aiming for both, the TEF Canada is the simplest choice.
Is the PEQ still open?
Under Order in Council 898-2026, the PEQ is open again until July 2, 2028, but applications are only received until October 31, 2026. After that date, check the Government of Québec's official website to find out whether a new period has been announced.
In short
In Québec, aim first for oral level 7, meaning 400 out of 699 in listening and in speaking: it is the threshold for PSTQ Stream 1 and for the PEQ. To work on it, prepare with a speaking mock test, then check the subscription prices: a subscription unlocks the other mock tests and the simulated examiner.
Réussir Mon TEF is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), which designs the TEF, or with any immigration authority. Our mock tests are original: they are not official test papers.