TEF Canada for Citizenship: Which Modules, Which Level, Which Version to Book

IRCC's help centre says you need level 4 or higher to apply for citizenship, and that it uses your documents to decide whether you reached that level for speaking and listening in English or French (help-centre answer). Reading and writing are not part of the language check.

The requirement applies if you sign your application when you are between 18 and 54 years old (IRCC adult forms and documents page, Page details 2026-04-21).

A test is one way to show your level. IRCC accepts other proof too, such as a secondary or post-secondary program taught in French. This guide is only about test results. Read IRCC's language-proof page for the full list before you decide.

This page reflects IRCC's pages as of November 2026. Rules and forms change, so check IRCC again the day you book.

IRCC's step-2 page on test results (Page details 2025-09-26) lists these French tests: Test d'Évaluation de Français (TEF) Canada and Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada. It also lists CELPIP-G, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English. It says IELTS Academic is not accepted. See the IRCC page.

For TEF Canada, the level is set per skill: B1 or higher in listening and B1 or higher in speaking. A strong listening result does not make up for a weaker speaking result.

The TCF Canada row gives one level and does not say which skills it covers. The language requirement itself is about speaking and listening, so those are the skills to prepare. If your TCF Canada result is close to B1, ask IRCC or an immigration professional how it will read your certificate.

Not in the same way as for Express Entry. IRCC's step-2 page tells you to send a copy of your test results even if they are expired. Its adult forms page also says, in the TEF row, "We accept expired TEF results."

That is useful if you took the TEF Canada for permanent residence years ago. Look at your old certificate first. If it shows B1 or higher in listening and speaking, you may already have your proof. The two-year validity rule is explained in our results-validity guide, and it applies to Express Entry, not to this step.

• Find the certificate. If you lost it, IRCC says to contact the test provider.
• Check the date. A TEF Canada taken on or after July 1, 2012 is judged on B1. Older results are judged on level 3.
• Check the skills. Look at your listening and speaking results, not your total.

IRCC reads two skills, and some centres sell a TEF Canada with just those two. In our fees guide, we recorded these listening-and-speaking prices from the centres' own pages (checked 2 November 2026):

Centres change prices, and not every centre offers this option. Compare with the full exam at the same centre. In the same guide, Alliance Française centres in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver each listed $390 for the full TEF Canada.

Before you pay, ask the centre two things in writing: what the certificate is called, and whether it is the version IRCC accepts for citizenship. Then check the test name against IRCC's list above.

Do not book the two-module option if you also plan to use the result for Express Entry or another program that checks reading and writing. Those programs need all four skills.

According to the organiser, Le français des affaires, the TEF Canada listening comprehension test takes 40 minutes on a computer. The oral expression test is face to face and recorded, and lasts 15 minutes in total: Section A (5 minutes) is about getting information, and Section B (10 minutes) is about expressing an argument to convince (official TEF Canada page).

The organiser also says all tests must be taken on the same day for your certificate to be recognised by the Canadian authorities. If you book a version with two modules, ask the centre to confirm both are on one day.

Our TEF Canada exam format guide gives the full timing and question counts. Centres may describe the speaking timing a little differently, so use your centre's own booking page for the exact schedule.

With two skills to prepare, you can spend all your study time where IRCC looks. A calm plan:

1. 1Find your starting point. Do a short listening task and record yourself answering one speaking prompt. Note where you get lost.
2. 2Train your ear every day. Listen to short French audio, then try to say back what you heard. Our TEF reading and listening guide covers how the audio is played once.
3. 3Practise Section A out loud. Ask 8 to 10 polite questions about a short advertisement. Use the phrases in our TEF Canada speaking guide.
4. 4Practise Section B with objections. Give an opinion, give a reason, and answer a "but" from the examiner. Short, clear sentences are enough.
5. 5Rehearse the whole oral test once. Time yourself for 15 minutes with no stops, then listen to the recording.

Frenchly's speaking practice gives you feedback on grammar, vocabulary, clarity and structure from a transcript of what you say. It does not score pronunciation. Any level it shows is an estimate; only your official certificate counts for IRCC.

• Booking the two-module test for the wrong goal. It does not cover reading and writing, so it is not enough for Express Entry.
• Not checking old results. A TEF Canada result you already hold may meet the citizenship level, even if expired.
• Reading the total instead of the skills. IRCC asks for listening and speaking at the level, one by one.
• Assuming every centre sells the same thing. Names, prices and options differ. Ask first.
• Skipping the official list. IRCC only accepts the tests it names. Another test, or the wrong version, can leave you without proof.