Learning French in your country of departure

You will find it useful to acquire a good knowledge of French in your country of departure.

To help you do so, several agreements with language schools exist around the world, some with local Alliance française schools.

The lessons given in these schools will also help you better understand Québec society thanks to document collections, a collection of documents especially designed for that purpose. Tuition fees are your responsibility.

However, since April 1, 2009, the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles is reimbursing up to C$1500 to immigrants holding a Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ – Quebec selection certificate) who took French language courses abroad after October 22, 2008.

Do you want to apply for immigration?

Québec considers knowledge of French an important selection criterion for immigrants.

Immigration candidates with insufficient knowledge of French to be selected may be referred to certain language schools.

After you make your decision to immigrate to Québec, enroll in a recognized French language school and increase your chances of being selected.

Proficiency in French

Effective December 6, 2011, all new skilled worker candidates (principal claimants and spouses) who wish to obtain points for their French proficiency must demonstrate this proficiency by enclosing with their immigration application the results of a French evaluation test issued by one of the two organizations recognized by the Ministère, specifically:

• the Test d’évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec (TEFAQ) of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris (CCIP);
  
• the Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCFQ) of the Centre international d’études pédagogiques (CIEP);
  
• the Test d’évaluation du français (TEF) of the CCIP;
  
• the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) of the CIEP;
  
• the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) of the CIEP;
  
• the Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) of the CIEP.

Candidates who choose to present a TEF or TCF must enclose the results of the oral comprehension test and the oral expression test. Note that written proficiency is not evaluated when applying for a Québec Selection Certificate.

The current list of TEF, TEFAQ, TCF, TCFQ, DELF and DALF accredited centres can be consulted on the respective websites of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris and the Centre international d'études pédagogiques.

Please consult the table (in French - PDF, 182 Kb) for a detailed description of these French tests.

Are you waiting for your visa?

Learning a language takes time. You and members of your family should start learning French as soon as possible. The time spent studying the language before your departure will help you integrate more quickly in Québec.

Are you a refugee?

If you can, enroll in a French course before you arrive in Québec. Members of your family will also benefit from acquiring knowledge of French as soon as possible.

	USEFUL INFORMATION
	You can find out which countries and schools have agreements with the Québec government. List of agreements with language schools

To learn more Several good reasons to learn and master French