The TEF Carte de résident serves as a confirmation of A2 level written and oral competency for purposes of obtaining a resident card from the French government.
Remember, you can also provide confirmation of your level of competency in French with a Business French Diploma. Valid for life, these diplomas are also recognised by the Ministry for the Interior, and will be an asset on your CV as well. For more info.
It comprises 4 mandatory examinations:
All tests must be completed during the same session.
|
Test |
Description |
Duration |
|
Written comprehension |
13 questions |
30 minutes |
|
Oral comprehension |
17 questions |
10 minutes |
|
Written expression |
Write a text |
20 minutes |
|
Oral expression |
Communicating orally |
10 minutes |
Total test duration: 1 hr. 10 mins.
Session dates and registration periods are determined by the testing centre. TEF registration fees are also determined by the testing centre. All registrations are binding and irrevocable.
To register, contact the nearest authorised centre!
If you cannot find a centre, contact us at the following address francais@cci-paris-idf.fr.
Does your situation require special arrangements? Notify the testing centre prior to your registration.
To learn more about the test and prepare for your examination, you may practice using our tutorial below (in French):
You will receive a statement of results by email within 4 to 6 weeks.
This statement is an official document that can be presented to the competent authorities as part of your administrative procedures.
You may sit the test several times, but you must:
See an example of a certificate
The level of linguistic competency required for an application to the 10 years French Resident Card is level A2 of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Before 15 April 2021
To achieve the level of linguistic competency required by the Prefecture, your scores’ average over the 4 subtests must be higher than or equal to 200.
Yes, there are exemptions from the TEF Carte de résident requirement.
For further information, please consult the website of the Ministry for the Interior or the Decree of 21 Februar 2018 establishing the list of recognised diplomas and certificates.
This statement is recognised and accepted by the Prefectures. There is no need to present an official statement of results on paper. You can simply print out your electronic statement.
Le français des affaires is committed to serving test takers with disabilities or health-related needs. Candidates with special needs have to provide a certificate to the exam centre: the certificate has to be filled out by a medical doctor (MD) and has to indicate the type of disability.
If the disability allows the candidate to sit for the test, the MD has to indicate which accommodations should be provided to the candidate (Braille version, Extended Test Time, Assistance, etc). Le français des affaires will send the testing centre all the necessary material to put in place those accommodations.
Candidates taking the TEF « carte de résident » must get their certificate at the Prefecture. Please notice that only the certificate delivered by the Prefecture will be accepted. For more information.
Information about the latest official provisions concerning French Carte de résident application procedures is available on the Ministry for the Interior website.
When your register for the TEF Carte de résident examination, Le français des affaires will collect a certain amount of information in accordance with the French laws on Carte de résident applications.
If you obtain the required level, your data will be made available to the French authorities. If you object to the transmission of this information or if you modify or delete this data, the French authorities will be unable to process your Carte de résident application.
Le français des affaires will keep your data on file for 10 years. The data transmitted to the French authorities will be kept on file in accordance with French laws.
You have the right to access your personal data, and the right to modify or delete these data by contacting francais@cci-paris-idf.fr.