In Madagascar, the TEF Canada is taken at five approved Alliances françaises: Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga and Toamasina. No fee had been published as of October 27, 2026: ask the centre before you pay. If you studied in French, your real risk is not the language but the format of the test. Get used to it before you register.
Which TEF should you take from Madagascar?
For Express Entry, only the TEF Canada is accepted, with its four tests taken on the same day. The TCF Canada is accepted on an equal footing. The TEF Québec (TEFAQ) is only valid for Quebec programs, and Canadian citizenship only requires the oral tests. Our comparison of the TEF and TCF Canada can help you choose.
For a Canadian project, the threshold that matters is NCLC 7 in each ability. On the certificate, that means at least 434 in reading and listening, 428 in writing and 456 in speaking. The TEF IRN, for its part, is used for procedures in France.
Test centres and fees in Madagascar
The official directory of Le français des affaires, checked on October 27, 2026, lists five TEF Canada test centres in Madagascar. For each one, it says to "contact the centre for upcoming dates".
| Centre | City | TEF Canada fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance française d'Antananarivo | Antananarivo (Andavamamba) | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026 |
| Alliance française d'Antsirabe | Antsirabe | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026 |
| Alliance française de Fianarantsoa | Fianarantsoa | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026 |
| Alliance française de Mahajanga | Mahajanga | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026 |
| Alliance française de Tamatave | Toamasina | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026 |
The website of the Alliance française d'Antananarivo presents the TEF, its two-year validity and its use for Canada and Quebec, but showed neither fees nor a calendar on October 27, 2026. The fee in ariary must therefore be checked with the centre. Be wary of amounts shared without a date or a source.
As a regional benchmark, the Alliance française de l'Île Maurice lists EUR 280 for the TEF Canada on its 2026 registration form. This is not the Malagasy fee: each centre sets its own. Our table of TEF Canada prices in 2026 compares the fees recorded elsewhere.
Registration and sessions
Each Alliance sets its own dates. Contact the centre nearest to you to find out the next session, the closing date and the documents required. According to the test designer, the centre must register you at least one week before the test, but many centres close their lists earlier.
Registration is final and non-refundable. If you miss the test for a documented reason, the test designer allows a single postponement, within six months. Use the same ID at registration, on test day and in your immigration file: a passport is the safest choice.
Results arrive within 1 to 10 working days according to the test designer, sometimes longer depending on the centre. The certificate is digital: you receive an email link to an online vault. Our article on results timelines explains when the wait gets longer.
Already a French speaker? The format is the real trap
Many Malagasy candidates have studied or worked in French. What usually costs points is the format: a computer-based test, timed section by section. In listening comprehension, each audio starts on its own and plays only once, with no going back, for 40 questions in 40 minutes.
Writing is typed in the "Paragraphe" software, with an on-screen keyboard for é, è, ç and à. Each section has a minimum: 80 words in section A, 200 in section B. In the speaking test, the examiner plays a role: in section B, they never agree with you, and you have to convince them.
Failing for lack of practice costs a new registration and at least 20 days of waiting before you can retake the test. You already speak French: get used to the format before you pay. Take a free listening comprehension mock test; all you need is a free account.
Common pitfalls
- The wrong test. The TEFAQ is not accepted for Express Entry: make sure you ask for the TEF Canada.
- Copied prices. A fee without a date or a source is worthless: only the centre's figure counts.
- The "online TEF". No remote test exists; a certificate bought online has no value.
- The gap between attempts. The test designer requires at least 20 days, and some centres announce more: check your centre's rule.
- Memorised texts. Reciting a memorised text is treated as fraud: cancellation and a one-year ban.
Madagascar and Canada: the useful figures
According to IRCC open data (file published on October 20, 2026), 820 Malagasy citizens became permanent residents of Canada in 2025, compared with 695 in 2024 and 345 in 2023. From January to August 2026, IRCC counts 520. These values are rounded and provisional.
On the selection side, IRCC issued 55,500 invitations in the Express Entry draws reserved for French speakers in 2026, as of October 22. These figures describe the past and guarantee no invitation. Our review of the French-language draws gives the details.
Speaking French with your own landmarks
In Madagascar, Malagasy is the national language, and both Malagasy and French are official languages. Many candidates switch between the two depending on the situation. Every path is different: the points below describe no one in particular. They are simply things to watch on exam day.
Pronunciation: a few vowels to work on
French has vowels that do not exist in Malagasy, such as the "u" in "tu" or the nasal vowels in "vent", "vont" and "vin". Confusing "tu" and "tout", or "dessus" and "dessous", can change the meaning of a sentence. Practise telling them apart out loud.
Your accent is not a mistake. The examiner assesses clarity, precision and how you react, not where your accent comes from. Speak at a steady pace and pronounce the ends of your sentences clearly.
Agreement: gender and number in writing
In Malagasy, nouns carry neither grammatical gender nor a plural marker. In French, these markers are everywhere, and often silent when spoken: "les décisions importantes", "elle est arrivée". In the writing test, keep a few minutes to check your agreements, sentence by sentence.
Mixing languages on exam day
In everyday life, Malagasy and French are often mixed; the mix even has a name, "variaminanana". On exam day, stay entirely in French. If a word escapes you, describe it with other words rather than switching to Malagasy.
Preparing for the four tests from Madagascar
After listening, test your reading: a reading comprehension mock test follows the exam conditions, 40 questions in 60 minutes. Then a writing mock test gets you used to the timing and the word minimums.
Then work on the tests one by one. Our article on the exam day and the documents to bring helps you avoid surprises, and a speaking mock test prepares you for the two role plays.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the TEF Canada cost in Antananarivo?
No fee had been published as of October 27, 2026, either in the official directory or on the website of the Alliance française d'Antananarivo. Ask the centre for the exact fee when you register.
Can I take the TEF Canada outside the capital?
Yes. The official directory also lists the Alliances françaises of Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga and Toamasina. Contact the one you are interested in to find out its next dates.
I speak French: do I still have to take the test?
Yes. For Express Entry, IRCC requires a test result, even from someone who has spoken French since childhood. Your score determines your NCLC level, and therefore your points.
Can I retake just one test?
No, not for immigration: the TEF Canada is retaken with all four tests. Wait at least 20 days between two attempts, or your centre's timeline if it is longer. Our article on retaking the TEF Canada explains the rule.
In short
To take the TEF Canada in Madagascar, choose one of the five approved Alliances françaises, ask it for the fee and the dates, and use the same ID from start to finish. Before you pay, practise in the real format: start with a listening mock test, 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.