The TCF Canada is the French test IRCC accepts for immigration and citizenship. It is set by France Éducation international (FEI) and taken at approved test centres around the world. It has four compulsory tests (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking), lasts 2 hours 47 minutes in all, and each test is scored on its own. You register and pay with the centre, not with FEI.
- Four tests, 2 h 47 in all, at an approved centre, never at home.
- Register with an FEI-approved centre; each centre sets its own fee.
- Bring the same photo ID you registered with, and your convocation.
- Results within 15 working days, valid for 2 years.
- Retake after at least 20 days, with no limit on sittings.
What are the four tests?
| Test | Format | Time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening (Compréhension orale) | 39 four-option questions, each recording played once | 35 min | 100–699 |
| Reading (Compréhension écrite) | 39 four-option questions | 60 min | 100–699 |
| Writing (Expression écrite) | 3 tasks: 60–120, 120–150 and 120–180 words | 60 min | /20 |
| Speaking (Expression orale) | 3 tasks face to face with an examiner | 12 min | /20 |
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken as a group, on paper or on computer. On computer, the test runs in an app installed at the centre, not online. Speaking is always individual and face to face with an examiner, and it is recorded for a second marking. Listening and Reading questions get harder from A1 up to C2, and a wrong or blank answer scores 0.
Is it the TCF Canada, TCF Québec or TCF Tout Public?
Book the TCF Canada. The TCF Tout Public and the TCF Québec share the name and the handbook, but they differ in timing, word counts and scoring. For French, IRCC accepts two tests: the TCF Canada and the TEF Canada. If you are choosing between those two, read TCF Canada vs TEF Canada.
How do you register for the TCF Canada?
- Find an approved centre. FEI approves the centres; most are Alliances françaises, universities and language schools. FEI's website lists them.
- Choose a session. Seats are limited and popular dates fill quickly, so book well before any Express Entry or citizenship deadline.
- Register and pay. Some centres register online, others in person. Use the identity document you will show on test day: FEI requires the same one.
- Read your convocation. It gives the date, the arrival time and the address. Speaking may be at a different time, or on a different day.
How much does the TCF Canada cost?
There is no single price. Each approved centre sets its own fee, so it varies from one city and country to another. Before you pay, ask the centre what the fee includes, whether all four tests are in one booking, and its policy if you need to change your date.
What happens on test day?
- Bring an original, valid photo ID (the same one you registered with; centres usually refuse photocopies) and your convocation.
- Arrive before the time on your convocation. Centres can refuse late candidates once the test has started.
- Leave your phone, smartwatch and other devices with your belongings; they are not allowed in the room.
- Listening: each recording is played once, and the question comes after it.
- Writing: do the three tasks in order within the 60 minutes, and stay inside each word range.
- Speaking: 12 minutes with the examiner, including 2 minutes to prepare Task 2. Draft paper is allowed for the TCF Canada.
Results, validity and retakes
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When do results arrive? | Within 15 working days of FEI receiving the session material |
| How long are they valid? | 2 years from the date results are issued |
| When can I retake? | At least 20 days after the previous sitting, with no limit on sittings |
| Can Writing or Speaking be re-marked? | Re-marking is suspended for sessions from 1 September 2026, and FEI plans to resume it in autumn 2027 |
IRCC needs your results to be under two years old both when you create your Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence, so plan your date with both in mind.
How is the TCF Canada scored?
Listening and Reading are scored from 100 to 699, and Writing and Speaking are marked out of 20. There is no overall score. IRCC converts each result to an NCLC level; the full conversion is in the TCF Canada score chart. For Express Entry, NCLC 7 means at least 458 in Listening, 453 in Reading and 10/20 in Writing and Speaking.
How should you prepare?
- Take a full mock first to see your estimated NCLC in each test.
- Work on your lowest test. It decides your NCLC for Express Entry.
- Practise Listening and Reading by level, and each Writing and Speaking task on its own.
- Finish with timed mocks so test day holds no surprises.
The step-by-step version, with 8-week and 12-week plans, is in How to prepare for the TCF Canada. You can start with a free TCF Canada mock test. Exam Hero is an independent preparation platform, not affiliated with FEI or IRCC.
