TCF Canada or TCF Tout Public?
There are several versions of the TCF, and they are not interchangeable. Booking the wrong one is an expensive mistake: a TCF Tout Public result will not work for Canadian immigration. Here is how to choose the right test.
In this guide
The short answer
- Immigrating to Canada outside Québec (for example through Express Entry)? Take TCF Canada (or TEF Canada).
- Immigrating to Québec? Check the program’s requirements: Québec accepts TCF Québec among its approved tests.
- Studying, working, or measuring your level in general? TCF Tout Public may be what you need.
- Residence permits or nationality in France? That is the TCF IRN.
All TCF versions are run by France Éducation international, the organisation behind the DELF and DALF.
The main TCF versions
| Version | What it is for | Accepted by IRCC for federal immigration? |
|---|---|---|
| TCF Canada | Canadian immigration and citizenship applications to IRCC | Yes |
| TCF Québec | Québec immigration programs | Not the IRCC test; it is for Québec |
| TCF Tout Public | General level test: studies, work, personal goals | No |
| TCF IRN | Residence permits and nationality in France | No |
TCF Canada vs TCF Tout Public: the differences
| TCF Canada | TCF Tout Public | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Canadian immigration | General: studies, jobs, personal goals |
| Tests | Four compulsory: listening, reading, writing, speaking | A compulsory core (listening, language structures, reading), with writing and speaking as optional extras |
| Results used by | IRCC, converted into NCLC levels | Institutions that accept it (some universities, employers and organisations), on the CEFR scale (A1–C2) |
| Accepted for Express Entry | Yes | No |
The language structures section (grammar and vocabulary) is part of the TCF Tout Public core. TCF Canada does not include it.
How to avoid booking the wrong test
- Start from your goal, not from the test date or price. Which organisation will receive your result?
- Check that organisation’s list of accepted tests. For federal immigration, IRCC lists TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French.
- Read the exact name on the booking page. Centres often offer several TCF versions on the same page.
- Ask the centre to confirm in writing if you have any doubt.
What the two TCF versions have in common
- They are both run by France Éducation international.
- Listening and reading scores are both reported out of 699.
- Results are valid for two years.
- Many preparation materials work for both, especially for listening and reading.
So if you have prepared for TCF Tout Public, most of your work is not wasted: you can adapt it to the TCF Canada format, especially the writing and speaking tasks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use TCF Tout Public for Express Entry?
No. For federal immigration, IRCC accepts TCF Canada and TEF Canada for French.
Is TCF Canada harder than TCF Tout Public?
Not necessarily, but it always includes all four skills, while writing and speaking are optional in TCF Tout Public.
Can TCF Canada be used for Canadian citizenship?
Yes. IRCC’s list of accepted language tests for citizenship includes the TCF (checked on 31 October 2026), along with TEF, TEFAQ, TCF Québec, DELF and DALF. This list is separate from the Express Entry list, so check it again on canada.ca before you apply.
I already took TCF Tout Public. Do I need to retake a test?
For Canadian immigration, yes: you need TCF Canada or TEF Canada results.