Which French tests does IRCC accept? (Only two, for Express Entry)

People spend months on a French qualification that does their PR profile no good at all. For Express Entry, IRCC accepts exactly two French tests - the TEF Canada and the TCF Canada. A DELF or DALF diploma, a university transcript, or an app score does nothing for your CRS, however good your French is. If your goal is tcf canada immigration points, that shortlist is the whole game.

We coach candidates for these exams and are not affiliated with IRCC or the boards. The accepted-test list is set by IRCC and can change, so confirm the current one on canada.ca before you book anything.

Which French tests does IRCC accept for Express Entry?

Two, and only two:

• TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français), administered for the Canadian immigration context.
• TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français), the Canadian version of the TCF.

Both report results that IRCC converts to the NCLC scale, which is how your French becomes CRS points. If you want to see how a raw result maps to a level, the score converter does the conversion, and the TEF vs TCF comparison helps you pick between the two.

What about Quebec - are the tests different?

Quebec runs its own immigration programs and accepts a broader set of French proofs, including the TEFAQ and TCF pour le Québec (TCFQ) variants, and often DELF/DALF diplomas depending on the program. That is a separate system from federal Express Entry. Do not assume a Quebec-accepted proof works for Express Entry, or the reverse - the lists genuinely differ.

Treat this table as a map, not a ruling - confirm the current lists for your specific program on canada.ca and on Quebec’s immigration site.

Why does not DELF or DALF count for Express Entry?

DELF and DALF are diplomas that certify a CEFR level for life; they do not expire and they are not built around IRCC’s two-year validity and NCLC reporting. Express Entry needs a standardised, time-limited result it can convert to NCLC on a known scale, and only the TEF Canada and TCF Canada are set up to deliver that federally. It is an administrative fit, not a judgement on how good your French is.

What about Duolingo, the DCL or a language certificate?

None of them work for Express Entry French. The Duolingo English Test is an English test and, where accepted, is used on the English side - it has no French equivalent that IRCC reads for the French bonus. The DCL (Diplôme de compétence en langue), the DELF/DALF diplomas, university French courses and workplace certificates all certify French in their own way, but none of them report on the NCLC scale IRCC needs for economic PR. If a qualification is not the TEF Canada or the TCF Canada, assume it earns you zero CRS points until canada.ca says otherwise.

This trips up people who already have strong, documented French. A DALF C1 is a genuine achievement, but on an Express Entry profile it is invisible. The only way to convert that French into points is to sit one of the two accepted tests and let it report your level in NCLC.

How long is a result valid, and what does that mean for booking?

For Express Entry, a TEF Canada or TCF Canada result is valid for two years, and it must still be valid at the moments IRCC checks it - typically at invitation and again at final submission. That two-year clock is the reason timing matters: sit too early and a strong score can expire mid-process; sit too late and you leave no room for a re-sit. Confirm the current validity rule on canada.ca, since it is an IRCC policy the boards do not control.

Which of the two should you take?

Neither is easier in a way that reliably raises your score - they test the same abilities and convert to the same NCLC scale. The choice comes down to format preferences, centre availability and how each section is delivered. Our TEF vs TCF comparison breaks down the differences, and once you have a target level in mind, the NCLC level you need post tells you how high to aim.

Do you have to re-sit if you switch between federal and Quebec?

Possibly, and this catches people out. A result taken for Quebec (a TEFAQ or a TCF pour le Québec) is not automatically usable for federal Express Entry, and a federal TEF Canada or TCF Canada may not be what a given Quebec program wants either. If your immigration plan crosses between the two systems, check early which exact test each side requires - discovering the mismatch after you have paid and sat is an expensive way to learn the lists differ. When in doubt, confirm the accepted test for your specific program on canada.ca or Quebec’s immigration site before booking.

What do you need to remember?

• Express Entry French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada only.
• Quebec: a wider list, including TEFAQ, TCFQ and sometimes DELF/DALF.
• Results are valid two years for Express Entry - book with that in mind.
• Always confirm the current accepted-test list on canada.ca before paying.

The list is short on purpose. Choose one of the two accepted tests, aim at the NCLC level your program needs, and do not spend a cent on a qualification IRCC will not read.