In the Maghreb, the French tests IRCC accepts are run by the Institut français network. In Morocco, Casablanca and Rabat offer both the TCF Canada and the TEF Canada at 2,900 dirhams each. In Tunisia, the Institut français listed the TCF Canada at 880 dinars and the TEF Canada at 720 dinars on 20 October 2026. In Algeria, the Institut français d'Algérie offers the TCF Canada, booked through VFS Global; we found no TEF Canada there.
Many candidates from the region studied in French, which changes the strategy. NCLC 7 is the entry ticket, but if your French is strong, NCLC 9 or higher is where your CRS score jumps. This guide covers centres, fees, how booking works in each country, the Mobilité francophone work permit, and why aiming high pays.
Which test is available where
Both tests count the same for IRCC. Your NCLC level decides your points, not the test's name. Our comparison of TCF Canada vs TEF Canada explains the format differences.
| Country | Centres | Test(s) | Fee (full test) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Institut français de Casablanca | TCF Canada, TEF Canada | 2,900 DH each |
| Morocco | Institut français de Rabat | TCF Canada, TEF Canada | 2,900 DH each |
| Algeria | Institut français d'Algérie (Alger, Annaba, Constantine, Oran, Tlemcen) | TCF Canada | Not readable on the site; check the booking form |
| Tunisia | Tunis, El Mourouj 1, Nabeul-Hammamet, Béja, Sousse, Sfax, Kébili | TCF Canada | 880 DT |
| Tunisia | Tunis, Sousse, Sfax | TEF Canada | 720 DT |
For seat status and booking details, see our pages for Casablanca and Rabat, or browse every centre on the test centre finder. Live dates are on the TCF Canada exam dates and TEF Canada exam dates calendars. To compare Morocco's fee with other countries, see TCF Canada fees by country and centre.
Morocco: online booking, seats capped
The Institut français du Maroc has 12 institutes across the country and says it is the only operator in Morocco offering the certifications of France Éducation international (TCF) and the CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF).
How it works in Casablanca and Rabat:
- Online only. The network asks TCF and TEF candidates to register exclusively online, on the website of the institute where they want to sit.
- Seat counts are shown on the booking pages, and online registration closes a few days before each exam.
- Have an ID document and a passport-style photo ready. Both are needed to register.
- No refunds. You can change your date only while registration for the new session is still open.
- Rabat's exam room is not at the main building. Go by the address on your convocation.
Other Institut français du Maroc cities (Fès, Marrakech, Tanger, Agadir and more) run courses and certifications, but their pages don't confirm TCF Canada or TEF Canada sessions. Check the certifications page of the institute nearest you before planning on it.
Algeria: TCF Canada through VFS Global
The Institut français d'Algérie has branches in Algiers, Annaba, Constantine, Oran and Tlemcen. Its "Tests et examens" section lists the TCF Canada (all four tests compulsory, 2 h 47 in total), alongside TCF tout public and TCF DAP. The "register" button for TCF sessions leads to a VFS Global form, so expect to create an account there and pay before your booking is confirmed.
We did not find a TEF Canada on the Institut français d'Algérie website. If you prefer the TEF, use Le français des affaires' official centre finder (in the sources).
Tunisia: book online, register on site
The Institut français de Tunisie publishes the clearest rules in the region:
- Book an appointment online, then complete registration in person. Someone else can register for you with a photocopy of your ID.
- Places are limited. Registrations are open "dans la limite des places disponibles".
- Payment: cheques are suspended for now. Tunis takes cash or card; El Mourouj 1, Nabeul-Hammamet, Béja and Sousse take cash only.
- Fees are not refundable. For force majeure, you can ask for a postponement with proof within 48 hours.
- Results: the TCF Canada page says about 5 weeks after the test.
- Retakes: the institute states 30 days between two TCF or TEF sittings.
The institute also sells a 20-hour preparation workshop. The TCF Canada with the workshop was 1,100 DT and the TEF Canada with the workshop 940 DT when we checked.
Results, retakes and validity
Centre rules can be stricter than the test owners'. Le français des affaires says TEF Canada results come within 1 to 10 business days and sets a 20-day wait between sittings. France Éducation international says TCF Canada results take 15 working days after it receives the session material, and its current TCF Canada page also says 20 days between sittings. Tunisia still states 30 days and about 5 weeks for results, so plan with your centre's figures.
Results are valid for two years. For Express Entry they must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application.
Exam date planner
Pick your test and date to see your countdown, when to sit full mock tests, and the key dates after the exam.
Choose a test date to build your timeline.
Results delays and retake rules come from the test owners; your centre may differ. Mock-test dates are our suggestion.
Strong French? Aim for NCLC 9, not just NCLC 7
If you studied in French or use it at work, NCLC 7 may be within easy reach. Stopping there leaves points on the table.
Declare French as your first official language. When French is your stronger language, IRCC's CRS grid pays much more per skill than for a second language:
| French level per skill | Points per skill (single) | Four skills |
|---|---|---|
| NCLC 7 | 17 | 68 |
| NCLC 8 | 23 | 92 |
| NCLC 9 | 31 | 124 |
| NCLC 10 or more | 34 | 136 |
Moving from NCLC 7 to NCLC 9 in all four skills adds 56 points here alone, and it also unlocks the higher tier of skill transferability points when combined with your education or foreign work experience. Our guide to NCLC 9 on the TCF and TEF works through the full maths.
Then add English. If French is your first language, English becomes your second. CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills raises the French bonus from 25 to 50 points and earns up to 24 second-language points. Even a moderate English score is worth testing.
Here are the TCF Canada scores for each level. The NCLC 9 row is highlighted:
| NCLC | Listening /699 | Reading /699 | Writing /20 | Speaking /20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10+ | 549–699 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 16–20 |
| 9 | 523–548 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 503–522 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 458–502 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 398–457 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 369–397 | 375–405 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 331–368 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 4–5 |
TCF Canada: listening and reading out of 699, writing and speaking out of 20. Source: IRCC equivalency table.
On the TEF Canada, NCLC 9 is 298 in listening, 248 in reading and 371 in speaking and writing, read from the "Équivalence ancien score" column, never the score out of 699. Check any result with the NCLC score converter.
Where fluent speakers lose points
Native-level reading and listening don't guarantee NCLC 9 in writing and speaking. The tests reward structure, register and timing:
- TCF writing has maximum word counts. A task outside its word range can be rated "A1 non atteint". Fluent writers often overshoot.
- TEF speaking section B asks you to convince a friend who never agrees. It rewards organised arguments, not just fluency.
- Register matters: the TEF section A phone call is formal, and TCF task 2 sets roles you must respect.
A couple of timed mock tests, like our free TCF Canada practice test, usually show where the gaps are.
A six-week plan for confident French speakers
If your French is already strong, you don't need a long course. You need to learn the test. A focused plan before your seat:
- Week 1: baseline. Sit a full timed mock in the format you booked and score each skill against the NCLC table above.
- Weeks 2–3: writing. Write one task a day under time pressure. On the TCF, count words every time; on the TEF, practise typing French with accents. Our writing phrases give you ready-made openings, transitions and conclusions.
- Weeks 3–4: speaking. Record yourself on each speaking task with a timer. For argument tasks, prepare a bank of three or four reasons you can adapt to any topic. The speaking questions bank has prompts to rehearse with.
- Week 5: listening and reading speed. On the TCF, questions get harder as the test goes on, and both tests weigh scores by question difficulty. Practise finishing with time to spare.
- Week 6: second full mock, then light review and rest before test day.
Candidates with weaker written French, for example those schooled mainly in Arabic, should allow more time for writing and grammar. Our French study plan tool turns your weekly hours into a calendar.
Mobilité francophone: work first, PR later
If you have a job offer outside Quebec, Mobilité francophone lets you get an employer-specific work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment. The language bar is NCLC 5 in speaking and listening only. Canadian work experience gained this way can later help in Express Entry.
Find out which French-friendly pathway fits your situation:
Which French path fits you?
Answer three questions. We'll show the French-friendly routes that fit today and what each one still needs.
Pick an answer to each question to see your paths.
A first map, not legal advice. Each program has other rules (work experience, education, funds). Checked on canada.ca and quebec.ca, 6 October 2026.
Our Mobilité francophone guide covers the job, employer and document rules, and the Mobilité francophone checklist lists what to gather.
French-category draws
IRCC lists French-language proficiency first among its Express Entry categories. You need NCLC 7 in all four abilities. From February to mid-October 2026, French-category cut-offs ranged from 382 to 435, far below the 507 to 523 of Canadian Experience Class rounds (IRCC round data, rounds #394 to #450).
Track every round on the French draw tracker.
Québec is different
If you plan to settle in Québec, the province runs its own selection and accepts more French tests, including the TCF Québec and the TEFAQ. Those don't work for federal Express Entry. If you are unsure which test to book, pick your goal here:
Which French test do I need?
Pick your goal to see which tests count for it.
Choose a goal to see the accepted tests.
From IRCC, Québec and test-owner pages checked on 6 October 2026. Not legal advice: confirm on the official page before you book.
Other country guides
Booking, fees and strategy differ a lot from one country to the next. We have the same guide for India, Nigeria, francophone Africa and Latin America. For every centre and upcoming session worldwide, use our test centre finder.
Our take
In the Maghreb, getting a seat takes planning, but for many candidates the bigger opportunity is the score itself. If your French is strong, prepare for the format, aim for NCLC 9 in every skill, declare French as your first official language and add an English test. Depending on your profile, that combination can be worth more than 100 CRS points over NCLC 7 alone.