Updates as of September 22, 2026
Since 1 January 2026 the French language level required to acquire French nationality has risen to B2 in both written and oral French, for naturalisation by decree and for declaration by marriage. The French embassy network states the change applies not only to applications lodged after that date but also to incomplete files submitted before it, and that Enic-Naric comparability certificates ceased to be valid on 1 January 2026.
France DiplomatieThe TCF ANF, long treated as the nationality test, no longer exists. The French national certification register records the TCF ANF entry RS1644 as inactive since 31 December 2021, replaced by the TCF IRN. Candidates still being told to book an ANF sitting are being pointed at a withdrawn certification; the correct product for a residence or nationality file is the TCF IRN.
France CompetencesThe current TCF IRN registry entry, RS6643, was registered on 31 May 2024 and runs to 31 May 2027. It places candidates from A1 to B2, with A2 to B2 treated as certifying levels, and the register notes the B2 band at 400 to 499 points was pending publication of the implementing decree. That extension to B2 is what makes the test usable for the new nationality threshold.
France CompetencesApproved centre fees for 2026 differ sharply by version. A Paris centre price list dated January 2026 shows TCF Tout Public on computer at 160 euros for the compulsory tests and 260 euros with both optional papers, TCF Canada at 220 euros for its four inseparable tests, and TCF IRN at 220 euros, with the separate civic examination at 60 euros.
Examens Paris centre price list (approved centre, not FEI)Fees are set by each approved centre, not nationally. The Cours de Civilisation Francaise de la Sorbonne centre lists TCF Tout Public at 110 euros for the compulsory tests, 150 euros with writing, 170 euros with speaking and 210 euros complete, and TCF IRN at 160 euros. Universite Paris Nanterre lists its computer-based TCF Tout Public at 102 euros with a 29 euro written expression supplement.
CCFS SorbonneWhichever version is taken, a TCF result is a test score and not a diploma: it is valid for two years from the date of the session. DELF and DALF, by contrast, are diplomas held for life. A candidate whose administrative timetable is likely to slip beyond two years should weigh a DELF B2 against a TCF result that will expire.
CCFS SorbonneWhich TCF version does which job
| Version | Used for | Tests | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCF Tout Public | General proof of level, study and employment files | Three compulsory computer-based MCQ tests; writing and speaking optional | 2 years |
| TCF IRN | French residence card and French nationality files | Four compulsory tests, inseparable: listening, reading, writing, speaking | 2 years |
| TCF Canada | IRCC permanent residence, work and study applications | Four inseparable tests | 2 years |
| TCF Quebec | Quebec immigration programmes | Modular, one to four tests as required | 2 years |
| TCF ANF | Withdrawn; do not book | Superseded by the TCF IRN | Inactive since 31 December 2021 |
The TCF IRN structure is fixed by the French certification register: listening 15 minutes and 20 MCQs, reading 20 minutes and 20 MCQs, written expression 30 minutes and 3 tasks, oral expression 10 minutes and 3 questions in an individual interview. The four parts cannot be taken separately. TCF Tout Public is the only version where the productive papers are genuinely optional.
Dates and windows
| What | When | Status |
|---|---|---|
| TCF IRN sessions | Rolling — book on demand at an approved centre | Rolling |
| TCF Tout Public sessions | Rolling — book on demand at an approved centre | Rolling |
| B2 required for French nationality | In force since 1 January 2026, including for incomplete files lodged earlier | Confirmed |
| Enic-Naric comparability certificates accepted | No longer valid from 1 January 2026 | Closed |
| TCF ANF certification | Inactive since 31 December 2021, replaced by TCF IRN | Closed |
| TCF IRN register entry RS6643 | Registered 31 May 2024, valid to 31 May 2027 | Confirmed |
| Validity of any TCF result | Two years from the session date | Confirmed |
| Sessions at a given centre | Centre-dependent; KLF advises booking three to four weeks ahead as places are limited | Rolling |
The TCF has no national sitting calendar. Sessions are organised by each approved centre and booked on demand, which is why the live variables are the version, the centre fee and the seat availability rather than a date. Some centres cluster sessions into intake windows; CCFS Sorbonne describes spring, summer and autumn periods.
Source: France Diplomatie · CCFS Sorbonne TCF centre
What this means for your preparation
Almost every wasted TCF fee comes from booking the wrong version rather than from failing the test. The four live versions are not interchangeable, prefectures and IRCC each accept only their own, and a result in the wrong version cannot be converted. A second, newer trap is level: the bar for French nationality moved to B2 on 1 January 2026, so a B1 result that was sufficient in 2025 no longer is.
Match the version to the receiving authority
TCF IRN is the version built for French administrative files: residence cards and nationality. Its four papers are inseparable, which is precisely why prefectures accept it, since a nationality file needs evidence of both comprehension and production. TCF Canada is recognised by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and TCF Quebec by the Quebec immigration ministry; neither substitutes for the other and neither substitutes for IRN. TCF Tout Public is the general-purpose version and is the only one where you can pay for comprehension alone, which makes it cheapest and also makes it useless for any file that requires a speaking or writing score. Decide the receiving authority first, then book.
The B2 threshold and what it means in practice
France Diplomatie states that from 1 January 2026 applicants for French nationality by decree or by declaration through marriage must show B2 in written and oral French, and that the requirement bites on incomplete files lodged before that date as well as on new ones. The French certification register lists the TCF IRN as placing candidates A1 to B2, with the 400 to 499 point band corresponding to B2 pending publication of the implementing decree. In practice that means a candidate must now reach the top band of the IRN scale rather than the B1 band at 300 to 399 that previously sufficed, a jump of a full CEFR level.
Do not book an ANF sitting
The TCF ANF, Acces a la nationalite francaise, is the version most often named in older guidance and by some employers and lawyers. The French national certification register records it as entry RS1644, targeted at B1 and consisting of only two oral papers, listening with 29 MCQs over about 25 minutes and a 12-minute interview, and marks it inactive since 31 December 2021, superseded by the TCF IRN. Because the ANF never tested reading or writing, it could not evidence the written half of the requirement that now applies. If a centre offers you an ANF booking, treat that as a warning sign about the centre.
Price the whole product, not the headline fee
There is no national TCF price. A January 2026 Paris centre list shows TCF Tout Public at 160 euros for compulsory tests and 260 euros complete, with TCF Canada and TCF IRN both at 220 euros. CCFS Sorbonne lists Tout Public at 110 euros rising to 210 euros complete and IRN at 160 euros. Universite Paris Nanterre lists 102 euros plus 29 euros for the written supplement. Spreads of this size across centres in the same country are normal, so compare the total including any optional paper your file requires, and note that IRN and Canada have no cheap comprehension-only option because their papers are inseparable.
Two-year validity should drive your sequencing
A TCF result is a score report, not a diploma, and is valid for two years from the session. DELF and DALF are national diplomas with no expiry. If the administrative process you are feeding is slow or likely to be resubmitted, sitting a TCF early can mean paying twice. The sensible sequence is to assemble the rest of the file first, confirm the version the authority wants in writing, then book the session. Where the timetable is genuinely open-ended and the level required is B2, a DELF B2 that never expires is often the better purchase than a TCF that does.
Common questions
Which TCF do I need for French nationality in 2026?
The TCF IRN, not the TCF ANF and not the TCF Tout Public. The ANF entry in the French certification register has been inactive since 31 December 2021 and was replaced by the IRN. Since 1 January 2026 the level required for naturalisation by decree and for declaration by marriage is B2 in written and oral French, and the IRN registry entry covers A1 to B2 with A2 to B2 as certifying levels. Confirm the accepted evidence with the authority handling your file before paying.
How long is a TCF result valid?
Two years from the date of the session, for every version. This is the core difference between the TCF and the DELF or DALF, which are diplomas awarded for life with no expiry. The two-year clock is one reason not to sit the test long before the rest of an application is assembled: if the file is delayed or has to be resubmitted, an expired score report has to be replaced at full cost, whereas a DELF B2 obtained once remains usable indefinitely.
What does the TCF IRN actually consist of?
Four inseparable papers, according to the French certification register entry RS6643: oral comprehension of 15 minutes with 20 multiple-choice questions, written comprehension of 20 minutes with 20 multiple-choice questions, written expression of 30 minutes with three tasks covering description, narration and opinion, and oral expression of 10 minutes with three questions in an individual interview with an examiner. Because the four cannot be taken separately, there is no cheaper comprehension-only booking for the IRN.
How much does the TCF cost?
It depends on the centre, not on a national tariff. A January 2026 Paris centre price list shows TCF Tout Public on computer at 160 euros for compulsory tests and 260 euros with both options, with TCF Canada and TCF IRN each at 220 euros. CCFS Sorbonne lists Tout Public from 110 to 210 euros and IRN at 160 euros, and Universite Paris Nanterre lists 102 euros plus 29 euros for the written supplement. Always confirm the price with your chosen centre.
Is there a fixed TCF exam calendar?
No. The TCF is booked on demand through approved examination centres, each of which sets its own session schedule, and some group sessions into intake periods; CCFS Sorbonne describes spring, summer and autumn windows. Seats are finite, and the KLF centre network advises booking three to four weeks in advance. Because there is no national sitting date, the variables to check are the version offered at that centre, the fee, and the next available seat.
Can I use a TCF Canada result for a French nationality file, or the reverse?
No. TCF Canada is the version recognised by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence, work and study applications, while TCF IRN is the version built for French residence and nationality procedures. TCF Quebec serves Quebec immigration programmes separately. The versions differ in structure and reporting and are not interchangeable, so a result in one cannot be reused for a file that specifies another. Check the required version with the receiving authority before booking.
