The TEF Intégration, Résidence, Nationalité is recognised by the French Ministry for the Interior and is indispensable for anyone applying to the French State for a resident card or a naturalisation. Candidates must be at least 16 years old.
It is designed to measure the level of oral/written comprehension and oral/written expression in French.
The TEF IRN consists of four mandatory examinations: Written comprehension, Oral comprehension, Written expression, Oral expression.
 WRITTEN COMPREHENSION |
💻 Computer-based 13 multiple choice questions (30 minutes). |
 ORALCOMPREHENSION |
💻 Computer-based 17 multiple choice questions (10 minutes). |
 WRITTENEXPRESSION |
💻 Computer-based 2 topics to be covered in 30 minutes. |
 ORAL EXPRESSION |
👥 Face to face with an examiner 2 topics to be covered in 5 minutes each, 10 minutes in total. |
Total test duration: 1 hr. 120 mins.
Session dates and registration periods are determined by the testing centre. TEF registration fees are also determined by the testing centre. To register, please contact the nearest testing centre.
Sessions are also offered on the Paris Île-de-France CCI premises, at 5 rue Armand Moisant (Paris 15th district). To register
To discover the test and prepare yourself to the exam, you can train with our tools down below:
• A training tutorial to familiarise yourself with the oral comprehension and expression sections (in French only).
• For the written et oral expression, sample papers are available below (in French):
• Register for training online in collaboration with PrepMyTEF.
The TEF IRN measures your french level up to B1 on Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe.
| A1 level not reached / per examination |
A1 level / per examination |
A2 level / per examination |
B1 level / per examination |
| 0 to 99 points | 100 to 199 points | 200 to 299 points | 300 points and more |
The statements of results are in digital format. You will receive a statement of results by email within about 2 to 4 weeks.
This statement is an official document that can be presented to the competent authorities as part of your administrative procedures. Results are valid for two years.
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.
► The level A2 is achieved when your score is higher than or equal to 200 in at least 3 subtests AND your score is higher than or equal to 167 in each subtest.
For further information, please consul the Decree of 21 Februar 2018 establishing the list of recognised diplomas and certificates.
The required level of linguistic competency for French naturalisation applications is Level B1.
► 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.
For further information, please consult the Decree of 30 December 2019 establishing the list of diplomas and certificates required by applicants for French nationality.
For further information, please consult the website of the Ministry for the Interior.
Le français des affaires is committed to serving test takers with disabilities, health-related needs or in a computer-illiteracy situation. Candidates with special needs have to contact the exam center before registering to submit their request.
To obtain special arrangements, the candidat must 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).
In case of computer-illiteracy, acknowledged by the exam center, support solutions or test accomodations should also be provided to the candidate, such as the option of taking the written expression test on paper.
Candidates that are applying for the French Resident Card must get their certificate at the Prefecture. Please notice that only the certificate delivered by the Prefecture will be accepted. For more information.
Candidates that are applying for the French 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.
Results are valid for two years. Your certificate will still be accepted by the prefecture within this time period.
When your register for the TEF IRN examination, Le français 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. They are not transferred to another party.
The data collected may also be processed for the purpose of carrying out studies and surveys, in order to improve our services. In this case, the data collected during surveys will be kept for a period of one year and will not be passed on to third parties.
According to the Data Protection Act of January 6th, 1978, as amended by Law 2018-493 of June 20th, 2018, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as adopted by the European Parliament on April 14th, 2016, you have at any time, a right of access to and rectification or deletion of all of your personal data.
If you wish to exercise this right and gain access to your personal data, please write to francais@cci-paris-idf.fr.