For Québec applicants
French tests for Québec immigration
Québec selects its own skilled workers and sets its own French requirements. The good news: it accepts more tests than IRCC does, including both federal tests.
Tests Québec accepts
For the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), Québec’s immigration ministry lists:
| From France Éducation international | From CCI Paris Île-de-France |
|---|---|
| TCF-Québec | TEFAQ (TEF Québec) |
| TCF Canada | TEF Canada |
| TCF | TEF |
| DELF and DALF |
- Validity: results must be two years old or less on the date you apply for permanent selection.
- Approved centres only: only results issued by France Éducation international or CCI Paris Île-de-France, from a centre they approve, are accepted.
- Levels: the level you need depends on the program and stream; Québec uses its own scale of French levels. Check the program page on quebec.ca.
Québec-only tests or federal tests?
- TEFAQ and TCF Québec are modular: you take only the tests your program needs. A complete TCF Québec has the same format as TCF Canada.
- But IRCC doesn’t accept TEFAQ for immigrating to Canada.
- TEF Canada and TCF Canada work for both Québec and IRCC while they’re valid. If there’s any chance you’ll need a federal step too, one federal test can save you a second booking.
Compare the two TEF versions: TEF Canada vs TEFAQ. Practise with our reading and listening sets.
Questions people ask
+Which French tests does Québec accept for immigration?
For the Skilled Worker Selection Program: TCF-Québec, TCF Canada, TCF, DELF, DALF, TEFAQ, TEF Canada and TEF, from approved centres.
+How old can my French test results be for Québec?
Two years or less on the date you apply for permanent selection.
+Can I use TEFAQ for federal immigration later?
No. TEFAQ isn’t recognized by IRCC for immigrating to Canada. TEF Canada and TCF Canada are accepted by both.
Sources
- Knowledge of French: Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) (Gouvernement du Québec, quebec.ca) · checked October 26, 2026
- TEF Québec (TEFAQ): learn more (Le français des affaires) · checked October 26, 2026
- Lettre Diplômes et tests no 4, mars 2022: 39 items en compréhension (France Éducation international) · checked October 26, 2026
- Express Entry: language test results (IRCC, canada.ca) · checked October 26, 2026
Updated October 26, 2026. Not affiliated with CCI Paris Île-de-France (TEF), France Éducation international (TCF) or IRCC.
Keep going
- TEF Canada vs TEFAQTEF Canada vs TEF Québec (TEFAQ): same section formats, but TEFAQ is modular and isn’t accepted by IRCC, while TEF Canada counts for both IRCC and Québec.
- TCF Canada: the complete guideTCF Canada explained: four compulsory tests, 39-item reading and listening, writing and speaking out of 20, booking at an approved centre, 2-year validity.
- TEF Canada: the complete guideTEF Canada explained: the four tests, timing, the 0–699 score and NCLC levels, how booking works, results in 1–10 business days, and 2-year validity.
- TEF Canada vs TCF CanadaTEF Canada vs TCF Canada side by side from the official formats: question counts, timing, scoring, retake waits, citizenship tests and results timing.