TEF Canada & TEFAQ Exam Rules: Registration and Test-Day Conditions
Before registering for a TEF Canada or TEFAQ examination, candidates should carefully review the registration requirements, identification rules, examination procedures, cancellation conditions, and other applicable policies.
These conditions apply to all versions of the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF), the Diplômes de français professionnel (DFP), and the Civic Examination.
By submitting a pre-registration or registration request, or by attending an examination session, the candidate confirms that they have read and accepted the following conditions.
1. Pre-registration and Payment
A seat is officially reserved only after payment has been received. Without payment, the registration cannot be finalized.
The Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry cannot be held responsible when a registration is not completed between the candidate and the examination centre.
2. General Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- No previous diploma or qualification is required
- Be able to read and understand simple written instructions in French
Candidates who require special testing arrangements must contact the examination centre before registering.
3. TEF Canada Registration
For Canadian federal immigration
Candidates are normally required to complete the following four tests during the same examination session:
- Reading comprehension
- Listening comprehension
- Written expression
- Oral expression
For Canadian citizenship
Only the following tests may be required:
- Listening comprehension
- Oral expression
Important: Candidates are responsible for confirming the requirements applicable to their own immigration or citizenship application with the relevant government authority.
4. Identity Verification
On the examination date, the candidate must present an official photo identification document matching the information provided during registration.
For TEF Canada, this should normally be the same identification document used for the candidate’s immigration or citizenship application.
The candidate agrees:
- To have their identity verified
- To have their photograph taken
- To sign the attendance record
- To be recorded during the oral expression test
For the TEF, the candidate’s photograph and signature may appear on the official results certificate.
Any attempt to have another person take the examination on the candidate’s behalf will be treated as serious fraud.
5. Verification of Personal Information
Before or during the examination session, candidates must carefully verify:
- Their last name
- Their first name
- Their date of birth
- The information shown on their identification document
Any error must be reported to the examination centre no later than the day of the examination.
The Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry may refuse any correction requested after the examination or after the results certificate has been issued.
If a correction shows that the candidate completed the same test within a period of 20 days or less, the results certificate may not be issued and no refund will be provided.
6. Mandatory 20-Day Waiting Period
Candidates must wait at least 20 days before taking the same TEF test again, regardless of the TEF version.
This rule also applies when the tests are taken at different examination centres.
Any registration that does not comply with this waiting period may be cancelled without a refund.
7. Examination Rules
Candidates must follow all instructions provided by the examination centre and its staff.
During the examination, candidates must not:
- Communicate with another candidate
- Look at or copy another candidate’s answers
- Allow another candidate to view their answers
- Use a telephone, smartwatch, electronic device or communication tool
- Access the Internet
- Consult unauthorized notes, books or documents
- Photograph, record, copy or reproduce any examination material
- Remove or share examination questions, images, text or audio
- Recite a fully memorized text instead of producing an original response
Personal materials may not be used unless prior authorization has been granted.
Candidates must behave respectfully. Insults, threats, discriminatory comments and conduct that disrupts the examination will not be tolerated.
A candidate may be immediately removed from the examination room in the event of serious misconduct or repeated failure to follow instructions.
8. Fraud and Falsification
Cheating, attempted fraud, identity substitution, document falsification or unauthorized distribution of examination content may result in:
- Cancellation of the candidate’s results
- Refusal to issue a certificate or diploma
- Loss of the registration fee
- Temporary suspension from future examinations
- Notification of the relevant authorities
- Legal proceedings, where applicable
The usual suspension period may be:
- One year for cheating or fraud during the examination
- Two years for identity substitution or falsification of a results certificate
The candidate will be informed of the disciplinary procedure and will have an opportunity to submit comments within the period indicated in the notification.
The candidate may challenge the decision within the applicable legal time limit.
9. Confidentiality of Examination Content
All examination materials are strictly confidential.
Candidates must not reproduce or distribute any question, image, text, audio recording or other examination content, in whole or in part, including through the Internet or social media.
The Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry reserves the right to cancel results, prohibit the candidate from taking future examinations and take any other appropriate action.
10. Special Testing Arrangements
Candidates with disabilities or specific needs must contact the examination centre before registering.
A medical certificate describing the candidate’s needs and recommending appropriate arrangements may be required.
Subject to approval, arrangements may include:
- Additional time
- Adjusted audio volume
- Specific assistance
- A handwritten version of a written test
- The presence of an assessor
- Another authorized accommodation
Candidates who have difficulty using digital equipment may also be offered assistance or alternative arrangements when the need is confirmed by the centre.
All accommodations must be approved by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The examination centre cannot guarantee that a request will be accepted.
For the TEF, TEFAQ and TEF Canada, candidates who receive an exemption may be charged only for the tests they actually complete, where applicable.
11. Examination Results
Only the results shown on the official certificate or diploma issued by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry are valid.
The certificate will show only the tests for which the candidate was officially registered.
A certificate or diploma will be issued only when:
- The candidate attended the required tests
- The session was completed correctly
- No irregularity or anomaly was identified
- All required checks have been completed
Validity periods
- TEF certificate: two years from the date of issue
- DFP diploma: valid for life
- Civic Examination certificate: no expiry date
Additional verification may delay the release of results. The local examination centre does not control the final processing or issuance timeline.
If an irregularity is identified after a certificate has been issued, the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry may notify the relevant authorities and take appropriate action.
12. Additional Verification
When an irregularity or concern is identified, the candidate may be asked to:
- Copy a written text
- Participate in a recorded interview
- Retake one or more verification tests
- Provide additional information or documents
If the candidate refuses, the results certificate may not be issued and no refund will be provided.
13. Cancellation, Absence and Transfer
Registrations are normally final.
No refund will be provided for an unjustified absence, withdrawal or voluntary departure during the examination session.
A justified absence may exceptionally qualify for a transfer when:
- The request and supporting documents are submitted within one month after the original examination date
- The reason is approved by the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry
When a transfer is approved:
- Only one transfer is allowed
- The new session must take place within six months of the original date
- No additional transfer fee should be charged
- A candidate who is absent again must submit and pay for a new registration
The examination centre’s own administrative, cancellation or rescheduling policies may also apply before the examination date, provided they do not conflict with the rules of the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
14. Appeals and Complaints
A candidate may submit an appeal when a serious technical problem or irregularity was reported during the examination session.
The request must normally be submitted within 30 days of the date on which the results certificate or diploma was issued.
The appeal is free of charge and must be submitted through the candidate’s user account or through the method indicated on the official website.
The review may include:
- Reports submitted by the examination centre
- Available recordings
- Computer activity logs
- Documents related to the examination session
When a serious irregularity is confirmed, the candidate may be offered a free retake of the affected test within the applicable time limit.
Once the retake has been accepted and completed, the previous scores and certificate will be permanently cancelled, even when the new results are lower.
Because examination content is confidential, candidates cannot receive:
- A copy of their written response
- A copy of their oral recording
- The examination questions
- A detailed correction or scoring report
Written and oral expression tests are systematically assessed by two evaluators.