The TEF Canada is the French test that IRCC accepts as proof of French for Express Entry and Canadian citizenship. In Nigeria, the official directory lists three centres: Alliance Française de Lagos, Alliance Française de Port Harcourt and Institut français du Nigéria in Abuja. The two Alliances list a regular fee of NGN 750,000 in 2026. Check the price and the dates with the centre before you pay.
What is the TEF Canada?
TEF stands for Test d'évaluation de français. Created in 1998 by Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), it has been recognised by IRCC since 2002. The TEF Canada version covers reading, listening, writing and speaking, all on the same day. Results are valid for 2 years, and the test is only taken in an approved centre, never online.
Do not confuse it with the TEF Québec (TEFAQ), which is not accepted for Express Entry, or with the TEF IRN, used in France. For permanent residence through Express Entry, you need the TEF Canada with its four tests.
TEF meaning: not the Tony Elumelu Foundation
In Nigeria, "TEF" also refers to the Tony Elumelu Foundation and its entrepreneurship programme, which has nothing to do with the French test. For a move to Canada, the TEF you want is the Test d'évaluation de français, in its TEF Canada version.
Why French can be a shortcut in Express Entry
French is optional for most Nigerian candidates, but it can change your profile. Since 2023, IRCC has run Express Entry draws reserved for candidates with at least CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) in all four skills. According to IRCC's rounds of invitations data, updated on October 16, 2026, these draws issued 48,000 invitations in 2025 and 55,500 in 2026 as of October 22.
The minimum score in those French draws ranged from 379 to 481 points, against 507 to 547 for the Canadian experience category over the same years. French also adds points: 50 with CLB 7 in all four French skills and at least CLB 5 in English, or 25 if your English is at CLB 4 or below.
Nigeria is already one of the main sources of new permanent residents. According to IRCC open data (file posted on October 20, 2026, rounded and provisional figures), 16,355 Nigerian citizens became permanent residents in 2025, the 5th country of citizenship, after 20,395 in 2024. From January to August 2026, IRCC counts 14,180. These figures describe the past and guarantee no invitation.
TEF Canada or TCF Canada?
IRCC accepts the TCF Canada, designed by France Éducation international, on an equal footing with the TEF Canada. The TEF has two tasks in writing and speaking, the TCF three. We did not check TCF Canada sessions in Nigeria: ask France Éducation international. Our TEF or TCF Canada comparison goes further.
The target score: CLB 7 in every skill
You need CLB 7 in each skill, not on average: on a TEF Canada certificate, at least 434 in reading and listening, 428 in writing and 456 in speaking, out of 699. In your Express Entry profile, IRCC asks for the "old score equivalence" column: 207, 249, 310 and 310. Our article on CLB 7 at the TEF Canada explains which number to enter.
The format: what surprises candidates
Many candidates lose points on format rather than on French. The test lasts 2 h 55 min; reading, listening and writing run on a computer.
| Test | Content | Time | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 40 multiple-choice questions | 60 min | You can go back to earlier questions |
| Listening | 40 multiple-choice questions | 40 min | Each recording plays only once, with no going back |
| Writing | Section A (80 words minimum) and section B (200 words minimum) | 60 min | Typed in the "Paragraphe" software, with a virtual keyboard for é, è, ê, ç and à |
| Speaking | Section A (5 min) and section B (10 min) | 15 min | Face to face with an examiner who plays the other person |
Wrong answers cost no points, so answer every question. In speaking section A, you ask around ten questions about an advert, formally. In section B, you try to convince a friend, played by the examiner, who disagrees with everything. Reciting a memorised text is treated as fraud: cancellation and a one-year ban.
Centres and fees in Nigeria
The official directory of Le français des affaires, consulted on October 27, 2026, lists three TEF centres in Nigeria. For all three, it says to "contact the centre" for the next dates.
| Centre | City | TEF Canada fee | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Française de Lagos | Lagos (Mike Adenuga Centre) | NGN 750,000; NGN 650,000 for AF students | Centre's TEF Canada page, updated August 31, 2026 |
| Alliance Française de Port Harcourt | Port Harcourt (Herbert Macaulay Street) | NGN 750,000; NGN 700,000 for AF students | "TEF exams fees 2026", page updated June 17, 2026 |
| Institut français du Nigéria | Abuja (Wuse 2) | Not published | Official directory, October 27, 2026 |
The student rate applies after 180 hours of French classes with the Alliance Française network in Nigeria during the 12 months before the test, with proof of registration. Prices can change without notice: check with the centre before paying. Our TEF Canada prices in 2026 table compares fees in other countries.
Registration and 2026 sessions
In Lagos, registration and payment go through the centre's online portal: you create a student profile, choose a date and upload the biodata page of your international passport and a passport photograph. On October 27, 2026, the portal listed DELF and DALF sessions but no TEF Canada session, so contact the centre for the next date.
In Port Harcourt, the centre published a provisional 2026 calendar of 11 TEF dates, from January 22 to July 28, each with a registration deadline about one week earlier. No later date appeared on that page on October 27, 2026. In Abuja, the Institut français's terms and conditions, updated on October 14, 2026, state that registrations are made at its reception desk.
Pitfalls and contradictions
- No refund. Registration is final: Alliance Française de Lagos states there is no postponement or refund once you have registered.
- The wait before a retake. The publisher requires at least 20 days between two sittings, but all three Nigerian centres announce 30 days or one month.
- The time to get results. The publisher announces 1 to 10 business days; Alliance Française de Lagos says 4 to 6 weeks. The certificate arrives by email.
- Your passport. Use the same passport at registration, on test day and in your immigration file.
- The "online TEF". No remote version exists. Read our article on taking the TEF online.
Speaking French with your own bearings
In Nigeria, English, Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and hundreds of other languages live side by side, and every candidate has their own path with French. These points describe no one: they are things to watch on exam day.
English-French false friends
English helps you recognise many French words, but some lead you astray. "Actuellement" means "currently", not "actually", which is "en fait". "Éventuellement" means "possibly". A "librairie" is a bookshop, while a library is a "bibliothèque". "Assister à" means to attend, and "attendre" means to wait. In section B, these slips can change your argument.
Pronunciation and rhythm
Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa are tonal languages, where pitch can change the meaning of a word. In French, the melody belongs to the whole sentence: it rises at the end of a question. Also practise silent final letters, as in "petit" or "ils parlent", and the nasal vowels of "vent", "vont" and "vin". Your accent is not a mistake: the examiner assesses clarity, not origin.
Pidgin and English words at the exam
A word like "abeg" or "oya" can slip out by reflex in a tense moment: in the exam, say "s'il vous plaît" or "allez". If a French word escapes you, rephrase in French rather than switching to English.
Measure your level before you pay
At NGN 750,000 per attempt, find out where you stand first. Take a reading comprehension mock test in exam conditions: 40 questions in 60 minutes. Mock tests marked "Free" are available with a free account.
Then try a listening mock test to get used to hearing each recording once. The subscription unlocks the other mock tests when you are ready.
Frequently asked questions
What does TEF mean?
For Canadian immigration, TEF means Test d'évaluation de français, designed by Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France). In Nigeria, the acronym also refers to the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which is unrelated to the French test.
How much is the TEF Canada exam in Nigeria?
Alliance Française de Lagos and Alliance Française de Port Harcourt both list NGN 750,000 at the regular rate, with a lower rate for their students. Institut français du Nigéria had not published its fee on October 27, 2026. Always confirm with the centre.
Do Nigerians need French for Express Entry?
No. English alone is enough to apply. French is an extra: CLB 7 in all four French skills gives you access to French-language draws and up to 50 additional points. It is a strategy, not a guarantee of an invitation.
In short
In Nigeria, the TEF Canada is taken in Lagos, Port Harcourt or Abuja, for around NGN 750,000. CLB 7 in French can open the French-language draws. Before you pay, take a free reading mock test.
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.