In the Republic of the Congo, the official directory of test centres listed two TEF Canada venues on October 27, 2026: the Institut français du Congo in Brazzaville and in Pointe-Noire. No session was open: you have to contact the centre for dates. No recent fee is published, so ask for the exact price before paying.
Congo-Brazzaville or DRC: the right centre
This guide covers the Republic of the Congo, whose capital is Brazzaville. If you live in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, across the river, the centres and registration rules are different: the Institut français there runs the test in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Bukavu, with its own sessions and fees.
The mix-up is common, because both countries are called Congo and each has its own Institut français. Before paying anything, make sure the centre, the city and the country on your registration match your plans. A Kinshasa centre is not a Brazzaville centre.
Which TEF should you take from Congo?
For Express Entry, the only version of the TEF accepted is the TEF Canada, with its four tests taken on the same day. IRCC also accepts the TCF Canada on an equal footing. The TEF Québec (TEFAQ) only counts for Quebec programmes, and Canadian citizenship only requires the oral tests, at CLB 4.
Watch out for one label: the Institut français 2026 calendar in Brazzaville lists a “TEF Académique”, with a session on March 6. Nothing says it is the TEF Canada. Ask the centre which version it means: a TEF designed for studies is not accepted for Express Entry. Our TEF or TCF Canada comparison helps you choose.
Centres and fees in Congo-Brazzaville
The official directory of test centres, checked on October 27, 2026, shows both sites of the Institut français du Congo for the TEF Canada, each with the note “contact the centre for the next dates”.
| Centre | City | TEF Canada fee | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institut français du Congo | Brazzaville (place de la République) | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026; centre's 2026 calendar |
| Institut français du Congo | Pointe-Noire (avenue Kaat Matou) | 180,000 CFA francs, old price | Centre page last modified in February 2023, March 2021 sessions |
The only amount found, 180,000 CFA francs (about EUR 274 at the fixed rate of 655.957 CFA francs to the euro), appears on a Pointe-Noire page that still lists March 2021 sessions. It is very likely out of date. In Libreville, the Institut français du Gabon lists 210,000 CFA francs for its October to December 2026 sessions: check any fee with the centre.
Sessions and registration
In Brazzaville, the 2026 certification calendar does not mention the TEF Canada. It does list twelve TCF Canada sessions, from February to November 4, 2026, with registration for that last one closed on October 9. The website offers a pre-registration form for certifications, after which the certification office contacts you.
In Pointe-Noire, the TEF page, not updated since 2023, describes registration by appointment, with your passport number and a cash payment, no later than 8 days before the session. These arrangements may have changed: call the centre before you travel there.
If no TEF Canada session fits your timeline, you have two options: the TCF Canada in Brazzaville, or a TEF centre in a neighbouring country, such as the Institut français du Gabon in Libreville or the one in Kinshasa. Check the entry requirements for that country and add the trip to your budget.
French speakers in Congo: get used to the format before you pay
If you studied and work in French, your level is probably not the main risk. The real trap is the format: computer-based, timed tests, and a listening section of 40 questions in 40 minutes where each recording plays only once, with no going back.
In the writing test, you type in the “Paragraphe” software, using a virtual keyboard for é, è, ç and à, and you must reach 80 words in section A and 200 words in section B within the time limit. In the speaking test, the examiner sometimes gives half-answers in section A and never agrees in section B.
Failing for lack of practice is expensive: the price of a sitting, which can exceed 200,000 CFA francs in the region, plus at least 20 days before you can retake it. You already speak French: take a free listening comprehension mock test to experience the single playback, with a free account.
Common pitfalls in Congo-Brazzaville
- The wrong country. A Kinshasa centre is not a Brazzaville centre: check the city and country before paying.
- The wrong test. “TEF Académique”, TEFAQ or TEF IRN do not replace the TEF Canada for Express Entry.
- A copied price. The 180,000 CFA francs on a 2023 page are not a quote: only the fee the centre gives you counts.
- Your ID. Use the same passport for registration, on test day and in your application; our test day guide lists the documents.
- The “online TEF”. No remote sitting exists; a certificate sold online is worthless.
- A memorised text. Reciting one is treated as fraud: cancellation and a one-year ban.
Congo and immigration: useful figures
According to IRCC open data (file published on October 20, 2026, data as of August 31), 325 citizens of the Republic of the Congo became permanent residents of Canada in 2025, compared with 250 in 2023 and 230 in 2024. From January to August 2026, IRCC counts 150. These values are rounded to the nearest 5 and preliminary.
For a French-speaking candidate, French remains the main lever. IRCC issued 48,000 Express Entry invitations in the “French-language proficiency” category in 2025, then 55,500 in 2026 as of October 22, with CLB 7 required in every skill. These figures describe the past and guarantee no invitation.
Speaking French with your own background
In Congo, French is the official language, and the Constitution recognises two national languages: Lingala, mostly spoken in the north, and Kituba, or Munukutuba, mostly spoken in the south, along the Brazzaville–Pointe-Noire corridor. The Institut français even teaches Lingala in Brazzaville and Kituba in Pointe-Noire.
Every candidate has their own path, between the language of the family, of school and of work. The points below describe no one: they are things to watch for on exam day.
Pronunciation: vowels and intonation
Kituba has five vowels and Lingala seven, without the rounded vowels of French such as the [y] in “tu” or the [ø] in “deux”. If these languages are part of yours, practise pairs such as “pur” and “pour”, “deux” and “des” out loud.
Lingala is also a tonal language, where the pitch of a syllable can change the meaning of a word. In French, the melody of the whole sentence matters: your voice rises at the end of a question. Your accent is not a mistake; the examiner assesses clarity.
Everyday words and false friends
If you speak Lingala every day, “mbote” may come naturally as a greeting: it is the Lingala hello. In everyday life, there is nothing wrong with it. In the exam, the examiner may not know it: say “bonjour”, and keep to standard French that every French speaker understands.
Spoken phrases to avoid in the exam
In section A, you phone to ask for information: greet, use “vous” and ask complete questions, such as “Pourriez-vous me préciser les horaires ?”. In section B, the friend played by the examiner disputes everything: answer each objection with a full sentence, without slipping in words from another language.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take the TEF Canada in Brazzaville?
The official directory does list the Institut français du Congo in Brazzaville for the TEF Canada, but no session was open on October 27, 2026, and the centre's 2026 calendar does not mention this test. Contact the certification office for the next dates.
How much does the TEF Canada cost in Congo-Brazzaville?
No recent fee is published. The Pointe-Noire page states 180,000 CFA francs, but it has not been updated since February 2023. Ask the centre for the fee when you register; for comparison, Libreville lists 210,000 CFA francs for late 2026.
Can you take the test in Kinshasa from Brazzaville?
Yes, the Institut français in the DRC is an approved centre, but it is in another country: plan for border formalities and travel costs. The TCF Canada, offered in Brazzaville in 2026, is the other option IRCC accepts on an equal footing.
In short
For the TEF Canada in Congo-Brazzaville, contact the Institut français in Brazzaville or Pointe-Noire for an up-to-date date and fee, and check the exact name of the test. Meanwhile, get used to the format: a writing mock test trains you on both sections, and the subscription unlocks 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.