How to book the TCF Canada, step by step
- Check that you need the TCF Canada. IRCC accepts the TCF Canada and the TEF Canada for immigration. The TCF tout public is a different test and is not accepted.
- Find an approved centre. Only centres approved by France Éducation international run the test: use its list of TCF Canada centres. No intermediary can sell you a TCF result.
- Watch the registration window. Most centres open bookings for a short period before each session, and seats go fast: in October 2026, every listed session at the Alliance française in Edmonton (late October to mid-November) and in Vancouver (December) was already sold out.
- Register and pay online. Most Canadian centres only accept online bookings. Have your passport number ready; some centres only take a credit card issued in Canada.
- Prepare your ID. Bring the ID you registered with. Some centres ask for two: the Alliance française in Calgary refuses entry without two valid photo IDs.
- Wait for your schedule, then your results. The exact time usually arrives a few days to a week before the exam. Results take from 1 to 6 weeks depending on the centre (see below).
Where to book in Canada: prices and rules
| Centre | Price | How to book | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University (Montréal) | $392 | Online; credit card issued in Canada only; no refunds | 2 weeks (up to 6 from July 20 to Sept. 10) |
| Centre Yves-Thériault (Montréal) | $395 | In person only, 1:30 to 3 p.m. | 2 to 4 weeks |
| UQÀM (Montréal) | $400 | With the centre | Check with the centre |
| Alliance française de Toronto | $390 | Online only; quarterly sessions, registration opens one month before; no refunds | 2 weeks on computer, 4 on paper |
| Alliance française d'Ottawa | Not published | Dates online only (none given by email or phone) | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Alliance française de Vancouver | $390 | Online only; registration is final | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Alliance française de Calgary | $400 | Online only; 14 seats per session; no refunds | Up to 6 weeks |
| Alliance française d'Edmonton | $400 | Online only, during each registration period | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Alliance française du Manitoba (Winnipeg) | $400 | With the centre; no refunds or transfers | 4 weeks |
Sources: each centre's official page, checked between September 25 and October 25, 2026 (for example Concordia). Prices are in Canadian dollars and change: confirm on the centre's site before paying. Full list: TCF Canada test centres (in French).
Booking from outside Canada
- Algeria (Algiers): bookings go through the VFS Global platform of the Institut français d'Algérie. The official site is if-algerie.com; if-algerie.fr is a scam that sells certificates without an exam. Guide: TCF Canada in Algiers (in French).
- Morocco: book online on the « Certifications » page of the Institut français in your city; the IF Agadir lists 2,900 DH. Guide: TCF Canada in Morocco (in French).
- Cameroon: booking is only on TLScontact for the Institut français du Cameroun (Yaoundé, Douala): 210,000 FCFA, to be paid online within 45 minutes of choosing a slot; results in about 5 weeks. Guide: TCF Canada in Cameroon (in French).
- Benin: the Institut français du Bénin charges 166,000 FCFA for residents (200,000 for non-residents). Guide: TCF Canada in Benin (in French).
Results, retakes and validity
- Results: from 1 to 2 weeks (Edmonton) to up to 6 weeks (Calgary, or Concordia in summer); about 5 weeks in Cameroon.
- Retakes: wait at least 20 days between two attempts, whichever centre you use.
- Validity: IRCC needs results less than 2 years old when you create your Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence.
While you wait for a seat, practise in the real format: our free TCF mock exam and the first 3 series of each section are free, and the TCF Canada score chart shows the score you need for each NCLC level.
