TEF Canada results arrive within 1 to 10 business days, according to the publisher's candidate page. Some test centres, however, announce much longer wait times, up to 4 to 6 weeks at the Institut français de Côte d'Ivoire. The results certificate is digital only: you receive an email with a link to a secure online vault.
The announced wait time, source by source
Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), which designs the TEF, announces 1 to 10 business days and says it cut this wait by 3 days in 2025. But its handbook for test centre managers mentions 2 to 3 weeks for the table of results sent to the centres. The centres themselves give wait times that vary.
| Source | Announced wait time |
|---|---|
| TEF publisher, candidate page | 1 to 10 business days |
| Handbook for test centre managers (2025) | 2 to 3 weeks for the table sent to the centres |
| Lyon Exam, CSA Montréal | 1 to 10 business days |
| Institut français de Côte d'Ivoire | 4 to 6 weeks |
Our research also found centres announcing up to 4 to 8 weeks, and sometimes two different wait times on the same page. If your immigration timeline is tight, ask your centre how long it actually takes before you register, and keep a safety margin.
A fully digital certificate
According to the publisher, you do not receive a paper certificate. An email gives you access to a digital vault where the certificate is stored. The publisher keeps it there for 10 years, even though its validity for immigration purposes is only 2 years.
The certificate bears your photo, taken on the day of the test, and your signature. For each test, it gives a score, a level and a description of that level. Check the spelling of your name when you register and on the day of the test: according to the publisher, it cannot be corrected afterwards.
Reading your scores
Each test is scored from 0 to 699. This calibrated score takes the difficulty of the questions into account: in the comprehension tests, your number of correct answers is not your final score. Here is the publisher's correspondence chart with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
| Score out of 699 | 0–99 | 100–199 | 200–299 | 300–399 | 400–499 | 500–599 | 600–699 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEFR level | Below A1 | A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
The certificate also shows a Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level, used in Canada. CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) starts at 434 in reading and listening comprehension, 428 in writing and 456 in speaking. Our article on CLB 7 on the TEF Canada details the two columns of the certificate.
Using your results in Express Entry
For Express Entry, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) asks you to enter the certificate's “Équivalence ancien score” (old-score equivalent) column, not the score out of 699. According to IRCC (October 16, 2026), entering the score out of 699 may produce an incorrect CLB.
The profile also asks for a certificate number and a PIN. Both can be read from the certificate's number, at the bottom left: the certificate number is the part before the hyphen, and the PIN is the part after the hyphen.
Keep the 2-year rule in mind: your results must remain valid until you submit your permanent residence application. Our article on TEF Canada validity will help you plan these dates.
Challenging a result: what is possible
The publisher's conditions do not provide for any access to your marked answers. A free appeal is possible within 30 days, but only for an irregularity that occurred on the day of the test, in the way one of the tests was run.
If the appeal is accepted, you retake that test free of charge within 3 months, and the previous score is cancelled. A disappointing score is not enough to open an appeal: in that case, the only option is to retake the test.
If your score is not enough
Start by reading your certificate test by test: a single score below the threshold is enough to miss CLB 7. Then work on that test first, before retaking the full exam, after a wait of at least 20 days. Our article on retaking the TEF Canada explains the rules.
To check your progress before paying for a new registration, take a reading comprehension mock test: you get an estimated score out of 699, to compare with the thresholds on your certificate. Mock tests marked “Free” are available with a free account.
Frequently asked questions
Do you receive a paper TEF Canada certificate?
No. According to the publisher, the certificate is stored in a digital vault, which you access through a link sent by email. It is kept there for 10 years.
How long do TEF results take in Abidjan?
The Institut français de Côte d'Ivoire announces 4 to 6 weeks, while the publisher announces 1 to 10 business days. Our guide to TEF Canada prices in 2026 gives the fee charged by this centre.
Can you see your answers or ask for a re-mark?
No. The publisher's conditions do not provide for any access to your marked answers. Only an appeal for an irregularity on the day of the test is possible, within 30 days.
Do TCF Canada results arrive faster?
Not necessarily. For the TCF Canada, France Éducation international announces 15 business days after it receives the session, and the certificate is issued by the centre. Our TEF or TCF Canada comparison presents the other differences between the two tests.
In short
Allow 1 to 10 business days according to the publisher, but check your centre's actual wait time and keep a margin. To arrive ready and take the test only once, train on a speaking mock test, then look at the subscription, which gives access to the other mock tests.
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.