The fees, side by side
| TEF Canada | TCF Canada | |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration version (four skills) | $390 at Alliance Française Vancouver | Usually CA$340–450, set by each centre |
| With a preparation package | $450 at Alliance Française Vancouver | Depends on the centre |
| Citizenship version | $200 (listening and speaking) | Depends on the centre |
| Member discount | 10% for Alliance Française Vancouver members | Depends on the centre |
| Cancellation | Final — no refund or credit (Vancouver) | Depends on the centre |
| Valid for IRCC | 2 years | 2 years |
For the full breakdown on the TCF side — including the costs candidates forget to budget for — see TCF Canada price in 2026.
The cost that actually decides: sitting it twice
A fee difference of a few tens of dollars disappears the moment you miss CLB 7 by a few points and have to register again. Add the wait for another session, and possibly another trip to the centre, and a retake easily costs more than the gap between the two tests.
One TEF Canada attempt — the real bill
- Registration (Vancouver)
- $390
- Travel to the centre
- $0–250
- Preparation
- $0–300
- Second attempt if one skill falls short
- $390
depends how far you live
+ waiting for the next session
The last line disappears if the first attempt is the right one.
Choose by format, not by fee
TEF Canada
- Listening: 40 questions in 40 minutes
- Writing: 2 sections — 80 words and 200 words minimum
- Speaking: 2 sections in 15 minutes, including persuading the examiner
TCF Canada
- Listening: 39 questions in 35 minutes
- Writing: 3 tasks in 60 minutes
- Speaking: 3 tasks in 12 minutes
Not sure which format suits you? TCF or TEF Canada: which one is easier? compares them profile by profile.
Four ways to spend less
- 1.Book after a full mock exam, not before. Paying for a sitting you are not ready for is the most expensive mistake.
- 2.Check member pricing if you already take courses at an Alliance Française — Vancouver offers 10% off the TEF.
- 3.Compare the preparation package with free and low-cost options before paying the difference.
- 4.Practise on real past papers so exam day is the second time you see the format, not the first.
Felix Academy practice packs
Pay for the exam only once
Full timed series with real past papers and marked production tasks cost a fraction of a second registration.
- 40 full series: listening, reading, writing, speaking
- Audio transcripts and detailed answer keys
- Writing and speaking topics with model answers
- AI writing simulator (15 sessions)
