TEF Canada or TCF Canada? For immigration, both tests are accepted on an equal footing by IRCC, for Express Entry, and by Québec's immigration ministry. Neither one is rated more highly by the authorities. The right choice therefore comes down to three practical criteria: the format that suits you, the dates available near you and the price charged by the test centre.
Two tests recognized in the same way
According to IRCC (Express Entry page updated October 16, 2026), the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada can both be used to prove your level of French for permanent residence. Québec also accepts them for its programs. Choosing one or the other will neither favour nor penalize your application.
Watch out for similar names. For Express Entry, you need the TEF Canada: the TEF Québec (TEFAQ) is not accepted. France expects a different test: naturalisation and residence permits rely on the TEF IRN or the TCF IRN, and the TEF Canada is not listed in the required register. Our article on the TEF IRN and the B2 level sets out these rules.
The two tests also have important features in common. They can only be taken at an approved test centre, with no remote version of any kind. Their results remain valid for 2 years. And each one requires at least 20 days between two sittings: across all versions for the TEF, and between two TCF Canada sittings for the TCF.
The format compared, test by test
The differences lie mainly in the writing and speaking tests. Here is the comparison drawn up by our research from the official pages of the TEF's publisher, Le français des affaires (CCI Paris Île-de-France), and of France Éducation international, which designs the TCF.
| Criterion | TEF Canada | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 40 questions in 60 min, 5 parts | 39 questions in 60 min, increasing difficulty |
| Listening comprehension | 40 questions in 40 min, reading time before each recording | 39 questions in 35 min, question asked after listening |
| Writing | 2 sections in 60 min: at least 80 and 200 words, no maximum | 3 tasks in 60 min, with word ranges |
| Speaking | 2 role plays in 15 min | 3 tasks in 12 min, including 2 min of preparation |
| Total length | 2 h 55 min | 2 h 47 min |
| Scoring | 0 to 699 for each test | 0 to 699 for comprehension, 0 to 20 for writing and speaking |
| Results | 1 to 10 business days, digital certificate | 15 business days after receipt by France Éducation international, certificate issued by the centre |
In both tests, each listening comprehension recording is played only once. On the TEF Canada, the speaking test takes place in front of an examiner who plays the other person in the conversation: you ask them for information, then you try to convince them.
CLB 7 does not mean the same scores
CLB 7 (NCLC 7 in French) in each skill opens the door to the Express Entry draws reserved for French speakers. But each test has its own thresholds, published by IRCC. Comparing figures from one test to the other therefore makes no sense: the two tests do not measure on the same scale.
| Test | TEF Canada (certificate, out of 699) | TCF Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 434 | 453 out of 699 |
| Listening comprehension | 434 | 458 out of 699 |
| Writing | 428 | 10 out of 20 |
| Speaking | 456 | 10 out of 20 |
For the TEF Canada, one subtlety matters: in the Express Entry profile, IRCC asks for the “Équivalence ancien score” (old-score equivalent) column of the results certificate. Our article on CLB 7 on the TEF Canada explains which figure to enter for each test.
Price and dates, often the deciding factors
In many centres that offer both tests, the price is the same. Our research recorded these fees in October 2026; check them with the centre before you register.
| Centre | TEF Canada | TCF Canada | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institut français, Abidjan | 170,000 CFA francs | 170,000 CFA francs | Fees updated February 24, 2026 |
| Institut français, Dakar | 150,000 CFA francs | 150,000 CFA francs | November-December 2026 sessions |
| Institut français du Maroc | MAD 2,900 | MAD 2,900 | 2026 brochure |
| Institut français, Tunis | TND 720 | TND 880 | 2026 calendar |
| Institut français, Bamako | 200,000 CFA francs | 200,000 CFA francs | 2026 calendar |
| Alliance française, Toronto | CAD 390 | CAD 390 | 2026 pages |
The choice may also be dictated by where the centres are. In Algeria, the country's only TEF centre, Pigier – EDUCALGPRO, does not offer the TCF. In Burkina Faso, the official TEF directory listed no centre as of October 22, 2026. Our table of TEF Canada prices in 2026 covers the other countries.
Before you pay, try out the TEF format: start a reading comprehension mock test, with its 40 questions in 60 minutes. Mock tests marked “Free” are available with a free account. If the pace and the types of documents suit you, that is a good indication for your choice.
How to choose based on your profile
A few practical pointers, to adapt to your own situation:
- You like to write, and at length: the TEF Canada sets a minimum word count but no maximum, with a news story (fait divers) to finish and then an argument to build.
- You prefer short, clearly framed tasks: the TCF Canada sets word ranges across three tasks.
- You enjoy discussion and debate: the TEF speaking test is based on two role plays, one of them with a friend who never agrees with you.
- You are also aiming for Québec: both tests are accepted there, but the TEFAQ is not accepted for Express Entry.
- Your schedule is tight: compare the next sessions and the results turnaround in your city.
No official source says that one test is easier than the other. Our article Is the TEF easier than the TCF? lists the real differences, without preconceived ideas.
Frequently asked questions
Are the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada worth the same for Express Entry?
Yes. IRCC accepts both on an equal footing, with CLB thresholds specific to each test. The TEFAQ, on the other hand, is not accepted for Express Entry: it is used for Québec's programs.
Can you take both the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada?
Nothing in the rules reviewed by our research prohibits it. Each test has its own waiting-period rule: 20 days between two TEF sittings, across all versions, and 20 days between two TCF Canada sittings.
Which test should you choose for Québec?
Québec accepts the TEF Canada, the TEFAQ, the TEF and the TCF Canada. If you are also aiming for Express Entry, the TEF Canada covers both. Our article on the French level for the PSTQ and the PEQ gives the thresholds.
Can either test be taken online?
No. Both can only be taken at an approved test centre. An “online TEF” or a certificate bought on the internet has no value, as our article on taking the TEF remotely explains in detail.
In short
The TEF Canada and the TCF Canada open the same doors in Canada: choose based on the format, the dates and the price at your centre. To try the TEF's listening format, take a listening comprehension 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.