Booking the test
How long a language test result stays valid
Enter the date of your test, or better the date printed on your report: the calendar shows the last day it counts for IRCC and how many days are left.
Your report counts for IRCC until
September 25, 2028
| Days of validity left today | 700 |
| Results sent at the latest (1 to 10 working days) | October 9, 2026 |
| Earliest new sitting (more than 20 days later) | October 17, 2026 |
Working days skip weekends only, not public holidays. IRCC asks for results less than two years old both when you create the Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence.
For Express Entry, a language result counts for 2 years, and IRCC checks it twice: the results must be less than 2 years old on the day you create your profile and again on the day you submit your application for permanent residence. A report that is valid when you enter the pool can therefore expire before you apply, and then you need a new test. The test bodies use the same length: the CCI Paris Île-de-France says a TEF Canada report is valid 2 years from its issue date, and the TCF candidate manual gives 2 years for the TCF Canada. Citizenship works differently: IRCC accepts language results even if they have expired, as long as the test is on its list and shows NCLC 4 in listening and speaking. In France, the attestation used for a naturalisation application is also valid 2 years. The calendar above takes your test or report date and shows the last day the report counts for IRCC, the days left today and, if you give a deadline, the last test date whose results would arrive in time. It counts working days without public holidays, so keep a margin.
How long my test stays valid
Months left
9
| Validity for IRCC | 2 years |
| Citizenship | expired results accepted |
Charts, converters and questions by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How charts and questions are built
One rule, two checks for Express Entry
The IRCC language requirements page is precise: your results must be less than 2 years old when you create your Express Entry profile, and still less than 2 years old when you submit your application for permanent residence. The second check is the one that catches people out, because time passes between the two: waiting in the pool for an invitation, then gathering documents before applying. Look at your report's date before you create the profile and ask yourself whether it will still be valid on the day you expect to apply.
| Purpose | How long results count | When it is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry | less than 2 years | at profile creation and at the permanent residence application |
| Canadian citizenship | expired results accepted | when you apply |
| TEF Canada report (CCI) | 2 years from issue | stated on the CCI results page |
| TCF Canada report (manual) | 2 years | stated in the candidate manual |
| France, naturalisation attestation | 2 years | rules in force since 1 January 2026 |
Which date to start from
The CCI results page counts the TEF Canada validity from the issue date of the report. The TCF candidate manual gives 2 years for the TCF Canada report. The calendar above has two date fields for this reason: the test date, always known, and the date printed on the report. If you only enter the test date, the end date shown is the earliest possible one, which is the safe side. Once you have the report, enter its date for the exact figure.
Citizenship: an old result can still serve
For a citizenship application, the IRCC language proof page says expired results are accepted. Applicants aged 18 to 54 need NCLC 4 in listening and speaking, shown by an accepted test such as the TEF Canada or TCF Canada at CEFR B1 or above, or the CELPIP-General at level 4 or above. A report from your permanent residence application years earlier may be enough. The citizenship language page lists every accepted proof.
France: the attestation for naturalisation
For a French naturalisation application filed since 1 January 2026, the language attestation must show level B2 and is valid 2 years, according to Service-Public. The validity rules for residence cards are not covered on this page. The naturalisation page explains the tests and the diplomas that can replace them.
Planning a new test before expiry (our suggestion)
If your report will expire before your expected application date, work backwards. Enter that date as your deadline in the calendar: it shows the last test date whose results arrive in time, counting 10 working days for the TEF or 10 for the TCF on computer. Then add your own margin, because the calendar skips weekends but not public holidays, your centre's session dates may not fit, and you may want time for a second attempt (the TEF forbids repeating a test within 20 days, the TCF asks 30 days between sittings). The registration page covers booking, and the results page the delays in detail.