The TEF Naturalisation examination is recognised by the French Ministry for the Interior and is indispensable for anyone applying to the French State for naturalisation as a French citizen.
It is designed to measure the level of oral/written comprehension and oral/written expression in French.
Please note: it does not concern applications to emigrate to Quebec or Canada.
Remember, you can also provide confirmation of your level of competency in French with a Diploma in Professional French. Valid for life, these diplomas are also recognised by the Ministry for the Interior and will also be an asset on your CV.
TEF Naturalisation consists of four tests:
How do I prepare myself?
To discover the test and prepare yourself to the exam, you can train with our tutorial down below:
Start the test on computer
In this test you will have to read a document about daily life then answer the questions
In this test you will have to listen to an audio document about daily life then answer the questions
In this test, you will asked to express and justify your point of view (100 words approximately) from a short statement
This test is about role-play. You will have to read a short document (a commercial, an announcement) about daily life then exchange with a friend (the examiner) in order to convince him to participate. Several arguments will be asked.
The exam takes end after the four tests:
The testing centre cannot give you the results—only your attestation of results will be official
To register, please contact the nearest testing centre!
If you cannot find a centre that offers the TEF Naturalisation examination in your country, please contact us at the following email address: francais@cci-paris-idf.fr
Sessions are also offered on the Paris Île-de-France CCI premises, at 6 avenue de la Porte de Champerret (Paris 17th district).
The statements of results are in digital format.
After Le français des affaires has received and corrected your exam, you will be sent an email within 4 to 6 weeks, containing a link that will enable you to access your secure digital area and obtain your statement of results.
See an example of a certificate
The required level of linguistic competency for French naturalisation applications is Level B1 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 results have to meet the 3 following criteria:
From 15 April 2021
► The level B1 is achieved when your score is higher than or equal to 300 in at least 3 subtests AND your score is higher than or equal to 267 in each subtest.
► Your statement of result will also be valid for the 10 years French Resident Card application procedure if you achieved the level A2 or B1. To know more about it.
For further information, please consult the Decree of 30 December 2019 establishing the list of diplomas and certificates required by applicants for French nationality.
Yes, there are exemptions from the TEF Naturalisation requirement.
For further information, please consult the website of the Ministry for the Interior or the Decree of 30 Decembre 2019 establishing the list of recognised diplomas and certificates required for French nationality applications.
Information about the latest official provisions concerning French naturalisation application procedures is available on the Ministry for the Interior website.
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 to the TEF Naturalisation can download their certificate here. For more information : NOR : INTV2009412A du 17 juillet 2020
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.
When your register for the TEF Naturalisation examination, Le fançais des affaires will collect a certain amount of information in accordance with the French laws on naturalisation 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 naturalisation 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.