TCF Canada

The TCF Canada (Test de Connaissance du Français pour le Canada) assesses French proficiency for immigration purposes.
Recognized by IRCC, it serves as official proof for permanent residency and Canadian citizenship applications.

This exam is only available in person at one of our exam centres—Toronto, North York, Mississauga, or Oakville. No diploma is required to take the exam.

The TCF exam requires a solid level of French and careful preparation. Reading the information below is essential to ensure you are well-prepared for the exam day. 
Please see the FAQs for the details you need, and if you require further assistance, contact your nearest centre by email (addresses at the bottom).

General Information

The TCF Canada (Test de Connaissance du Français) is an official French language proficiency test recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is used for immigration applications to Canada, including Canadian citizenship applications.

The TCF Canada is designed for candidates who wish to assess and prove their level of French for Canadian immigration and citizenship purposes.

The TCF Canada evaluates four mandatory language skills. Each module is scored individually:

  • Reading: 60 mins, multiple-choice format, 39 questions, scored on a 0–699 pt scale
  • Listening: 35 mins, multiple-choice format, 39 questions, scored on a 0–699 pt scale
  • Writing: 60 mins, 3 written tasks, scored on a 0–20 pt scale
  • Speaking: ~12 mins, 3 oral tasks, scored on a 0–20 pt scale

Candidates receive a score for each module as well as a language proficiency level (A1–C2) on their official certificate.

TCF Canada results are valid for two (2) years from the date they are issued.

Your results must still be valid when you submit your immigration or citizenship application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Results older than two years are usually not accepted for immigration purposes.

Registration and Fees

The total cost of the TCF Canada exam is CAD $390.

No. The TCF Canada is not available online. It can only be taken in person at one of our exam centres: Toronto, North York, Mississauga, or Oakville.

Our registration process is conducted entirely online. Registrations are not accepted in person or over the phone.

To register:

  1. Create an Alliance Française account here.
  2. Select your exam date.
  3. Complete the questionnaire and pay the exam fee ($390).

⚠️ Important Registration Rules:

  • You may hold only one active registration at a time in any of the four AFT exam centers.
  • A minimum of 20 days must separate two exam sessions for the same candidate.
  • Duplicate registrations within this period will be automatically cancelled without refund.
  • There is no waiting list for fully booked sessions.

No. The TCF Canada must be taken as a complete exam; you cannot register for individual components. The full test includes four components:

  • Reading
  • Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking

Cancellations, Transfers, and Contacts

Yes, you may cancel your registration:

  • for a computer session: up to 15 days before the exam date
  • for a paper session: up to 30 days before the exam date.

A non-refundable $100 administration fee applies to all cancellations.
After this deadline, cancellations are not possible. To reschedule after this period, you must register again and pay the full exam fee.

To cancel:

Send an email to the exam coordinator at your registered campus:

You may transfer your registration:

  • for a computer session: up to 15 days before the exam date
  • for a paper session: up to 30 days before the exam date.

A $100 administrative fee applies. After this deadline, no transfers are possible.

To proceed with the transfer:

  1. Log in to your Alliance Française account.
  2. Click on “Transaction and Payment History.”
  3. Click “Withdraw” beside your exam and confirm.
  4. Once your registration is cancelled, a credit will be issued to your account. You must re-register for another session within 6 months. After 6 months, your exam fee will expire.

Please contact your exam centre by email:

Exam Day Information

A valid photo ID showing your date of birth (passport, driver’s license, or national ID card).

Yes. A photo will be taken before the exam as part of official identification procedures.

Yes. Candidates must have basic computer skills, including how to use a mouse

  • During the multiple-choice sections (approx. 1h35), no exits are permitted.
  • During the Writing component (60 minutes), exits are not allowed unless there is an emergency or a documented health issue with a valid medical certificate provided in advance.
  • During the Speaking component (~12 minutes, one-on-one with the examiner), leaving is not allowed except in exceptional circumstances.

No. Communication between candidates during the exam is strictly prohibited

Late candidates will not be admitted once the exam starts. It will be considered an absence, and you must re-register and pay the full exam fee

Any candidate found guilty of misconduct may:

  • Be immediately removed from the exam room, and
  • Receive a temporary or permanent ban from future tests, as determined by CCI Paris Île-de-France.

Results and Retakes

You will receive your official certificate by email:

  • 2 weeks after the exam for computer-based sessions
  • 4 weeks for paper-based sessions

The certificate includes your score, the level achieved, and a commentary on your French proficiency.

Yes, as often as you wish. However, there must be a minimum 20-day gap between two sessions.

Exam Conditions and Special Needs

A standard English (US) QWERTY keyboard will be provided. The exam software also includes a virtual keyboard for accented letters.
If you require a personal keyboard for specific needs, please refer to the Specific Needs question below

Yes. Headsets are provided and required for all candidates. If you need to use your own headset for accessibility reasons, please refer to the Specific Needs section.

Accommodations are only available for paper-based TCF Canada exams. They cannot be provided for the computer-based version.

Check with IRCC first to see whether you may be fully or partially exempt from the language exam.

If no exemption is granted:

  • Contact the exam coordinator at least 2 months before the exam.
  • Provide an official medical certificate specifying the accommodations required for each exam component:
    • Issued within the last 2 years
    • In English or French
  • AFT reserves the right to verify the authenticity of the certificate.
  • If your needs involve specific equipment (e.g., personal headset or keyboard), include this information in your request. Requests will be reviewed case by case.
    Please note: AFT cannot guarantee compatibility of personal devices with the exam system.

Language Level and Preparation

For most Canadian immigration programs, candidates are expected to reach NCLC 7 (CLB 7), approximately B2.8 on the Alliance Française scale.

At this level, learners can:

  • Communicate effectively and fluently in most everyday and professional contexts
  • Express opinions and arguments clearly
  • Understand detailed spoken and written French on a variety of topics

To reach NCLC 7 / B2.8, a learner typically progresses from beginner level (A1.1) through all intermediate stages, requiring around 576 hours of group classes following a standard learning path.

Reaching NCLC 5 (around B1.4), a level at which candidates can manage basic communication but may not yet earn full immigration points, generally takes about 384 hours of study.

Keep in mind that progress varies depending on individual learning pace, study habits, and exposure to French outside the classroom.

Prepare for TCF Canada!

To set yourself up for success, we recommend the following:

We’re happy to support you every step of the way!

Register for TCF

Contact

Please contact your test center by email, clearly stating the subject of your request. If it requires urgent attention, please add 'URGENT' to the subject line of your email.