TEF Canada Results Validity: How Long Do They Last?

You worked hard for those scores. You booked the exam, survived the speaking test, waited for your results, and finally reached the level you needed. Then a worrying question appears: will your results still be good when the invitation to apply arrives? TEF Canada results validity is one of the most overlooked details in an Express Entry plan, and it is also one of the easiest ways to lose months of progress. The rule itself is simple, but the timing can be tricky, especially if you are waiting in the pool for a draw that fits your profile. In this guide we walk through what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says about validity, when your scores must be valid, what the TEF Canada thresholds look like, and what to do if time is running out. No panic needed: let's plan this properly.

TEF Canada results validity: the two-year rule

What IRCC says

According to IRCC's language testing page for Express Entry, your language test results must be less than two years old at two key moments: when you complete your Express Entry profile, and when you submit your permanent residence application. The clock starts from your test date, and IRCC checks it at both stages. That means a score that looked perfectly fine when you created your profile can become a problem later if the application is submitted after the two-year mark.

What happens if your results expire

IRCC is clear on this point: if you use expired results, your application will be refused. The department also describes your options if your results will expire before you can apply. You can retake the test, apply before the results expire, or, if you have already been invited, decline the invitation and return to the pool. Deciding early between these options is far less stressful than discovering the problem on submission day.

Your situation	What IRCC advises
You have been invited to apply	Confirm that your results will still be valid on the day you plan to apply
You have not been invited yet	Check that your results will stay valid for the whole time you expect to remain in the pool
Your results will expire first	Retake the test, apply before they expire, or decline the invitation and return to the pool
You submit with expired results	The application will be refused

How to plan your TEF Canada results validity window

Count back from your realistic timeline

The smartest approach is to work backward. Let's say you plan to submit your permanent residence application within a few months of an invitation, and you expect the process to take a while to gather documents, such as police certificates and medical exams. Your results must still be under two years old on submission day, not only on the day you receive your invitation. Build a buffer. A candidate living in Toronto who tests in January should not assume that a draw in the following December leaves plenty of room: add the time needed to prepare the application.

Remember how long results take to arrive

The official TEF Canada website states that results are sent within approximately two weeks after the test. Keep that delay in mind when you schedule a retake. If your current scores are close to expiring, book the new session early enough so that the new results arrive before you need them. Waiting until the last month is the classic mistake.

TEF Canada scores and NCLC thresholds you need to hit

The four tests, each scored out of 699

The TEF Canada has four mandatory sections: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Your certificate shows a score for each section on a scale out of 699. IRCC converts these scores into NCLC levels using a table that depends on the date of your test. For tests taken after December 10, 2023, the table below shows the thresholds for NCLC 7 (the usual target for Express Entry candidates) and NCLC 9, as published by IRCC.

NCLC level	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
NCLC 7	434-461	434-461	428-471	456-493
NCLC 9	503-545	503-545	512-557	518-555

Which score do you enter in your profile?

One more detail that matters for validity and accuracy: IRCC notes that the results statement includes a "Score / 699" column, and that entering those figures directly in your profile may lead to a wrong NCLC equivalence. IRCC instructs applicants to enter only the scores from the "Équivalence ancien score" column. Double-check this before you submit, because a profile built on the wrong numbers creates problems even when your results are still valid.

What to do when your TEF Canada results are about to expire

Option 1: retake and aim higher

If you must retake, treat it as an opportunity. Use the extra time to push beyond the minimum. According to IRCC's reference, French as a second language earns 3 points per skill at NCLC 7 or 8 and 6 points per skill at NCLC 9 or higher, so a stronger retake can raise your Comprehensive Ranking System score. You can estimate the effect with our free NCLC / CRS calculator.

Option 2: act before the deadline

If your results are still valid and you have been invited, the quickest solution may be to submit your application before they expire. Prepare your documents in advance so that you are never forced to choose between a complete file and a valid score.

Option 3: decline and return to the pool

If the timing simply does not work, IRCC allows you to decline the invitation and return to the pool. It is not an ideal scenario, but it is better than submitting an application that will be refused.

The key takeaway is that TEF Canada results validity is a calendar issue as much as a language issue. Write your test date and the two-year deadline in a place you will see every week. If you reach the six-month mark with no invitation yet, start thinking about a retake instead of hoping for a draw. Many candidates also decide to retake because their score is just below the level they need, and in that case the retake solves two problems at once.

A simple checklist to stay safe

Write down your test date and add two years to it. Check that date against your expected submission date, not your invitation date. Confirm that you will enter the correct column of scores in your profile. Finally, if there is less than a comfortable margin, book a retake now rather than later: you will have the new results in roughly two weeks, according to the official TEF Canada website, and your timeline will be protected.

How Talk French Canada can help

If your results are close to expiring, or you are one skill short of NCLC 7, you do not have to prepare alone. At Talk French Canada, our certified instructors run live 1-on-1 sessions focused on exactly the skill holding you back. Our Light coaching plan at $299 CAD is a good fit if you only need a targeted tune-up before a retake, while the self-paced platform starts with the Bronze plan at $29.99 USD if you prefer to practise on your own schedule. Start by checking your level with our free calculator and build your timeline from there.

Official sources:
IRCC – Language testing (Express Entry)
IRCC – Language test equivalency charts
Le français des affaires – TEF Canada