DELF, DALF, TCF, FIDE: Which exam should you choose?

The right French exam depends on what you need it for: the DELF or the DALF if you want a diploma that is valid for life, the TCF or the TEF for an administrative procedure in France or Canada, and the FIDE if you live in Switzerland. These exams don't have the same purpose, and that's what creates the confusion.

In this article, I present each of them, then help you choose according to your situation.

Diploma or test: the first difference

Before comparing names, you need to distinguish two families.

A diploma certifies a specific level. You choose the level you sit, for example B1. If you pass, you get the diploma for that level. The DELF and the DALF are diplomas.

A test measures your level on the day of the exam. Everyone takes the same exam, and the result places you on the CECRL¹Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues (in English: CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages): the grid that describes the levels, from A1 to C2 grid. The TCF and the TEF are tests. Their certificate is valid for two years.

The FIDE is a special case: it is Switzerland's official test.

The DELF and the DALF

The DELF and the DALF are diplomas from the French Ministry of National Education. They are managed by France Éducation international.

• the DELF covers levels A1, A2, B1 and B2;
• the DALF covers levels C1 and C2.

Their advantage: they are valid for life. Once you've obtained it, your DELF B2 remains a DELF B2.

They are also accepted for certain procedures in France, such as the multi-year residence permit or the resident card, if their level matches the one required.

The TCF

The TCF, or Test de connaissance du français (French knowledge test), is also managed by France Éducation international. It comes in several versions, depending on your goal:

• the TCF tout public (general public), to find out and certify your level;
• the TCF IRN, for administrative procedures in France. IRN stands for Intégration, Résidence, Nationalité (integration, residence, nationality). Since May 12, 2025, it assesses up to level B2;
• the TCF Canada and the TCF Québec, for immigration procedures in Canada and Quebec.

The TCF certificate is valid for two years.

The TEF

I'm adding it, even though it's not in the title: the TEF, or Test d'évaluation de français (French assessment test), does the same job as the TCF. It has been issued by the CCI Paris Île-de-France since 1998. It also comes in several versions:

• the TEF Études, to enter a school or university in France or in another French-speaking country;
• the TEF IRN, for administrative procedures in France, like the TCF IRN;
• the TEF Canada, for immigration or citizenship in Canada;
• the TEF Québec, for immigration to Quebec.

Like the TCF, the TEF certificate is valid for two years.

The FIDE, for Switzerland

The FIDE is Switzerland's official language test. It was developed by the SEM²Secrétariat d'État aux migrations (State Secretariat for Migration): the Swiss authority in charge of foreign nationals and asylum. It exists in French, German and Italian, and its situations come from everyday life in Switzerland.

The FIDE assesses levels A1 to B1. Speaking and writing are assessed separately: you can get a different result for each, and you don't have to take both parts.

Some requirements, according to the official FIDE website:

• for naturalization : B1 in speaking and A2 in writing. Cantons may require more;
• for the C permit, in the ordinary procedure: A2 in speaking and A1 in writing.

In principle, recognized certificates are valid for life. However, the authorities may ask for a new assessment if they have doubts about your current level.

What France requires since 2026

Since January 1, 2026, French language requirements have increased in France. For a first application:

• multi-year residence permit (carte de séjour pluriannuelle): level A2;
• resident card (carte de résident): level B1;
• naturalization : level B2, in speaking and in writing.

For these procedures, the TCF and the TEF are accepted, with a certificate less than two years old. Some diplomas are also accepted, including the DELF and the DALF for residence permits.

Since the same date, an examen civique³an exam on the values, institutions and life in France, separate from the language exam has been added for several of these procedures.

These rules change, and every situation has its exceptions. Before you register, always check the accepted documents on service-public.gouv.fr, the official website of the French administration.

How to choose?

My advice is simple: choose according to what you need. Here are a few situations:

1. You're applying for a residence permit or naturalization in France : the TCF IRN or the TEF IRN, or a diploma at the required level.
2. You want to study in France : check with your school or university. They tell you which diploma or test they accept.
3. You're moving to Canada or Quebec : the TCF Canada, the TCF Québec, the TEF Canada or the TEF Québec, depending on the procedure.
4. You live in Switzerland : the FIDE.
5. You want proof of your level that doesn't expire : the DELF or the DALF, valid for life.

If you're hesitating between two exams, ask yourself two questions. Who is going to read your result? And how long will it need to remain valid?

I prepare you for these exams

I prepare my students for the DELF, the DALF, the TCF and the FIDE, in writing as well as speaking. They take an exam for different reasons: a residence permit, studies, naturalization.

To know which level to aim for, see the levels page. For lesson lengths and prices, see the pricing page. And if you don't know which exam to choose, write to me from the contact page.

In upcoming articles, I'll come back to each of these exams in detail.