Do I need a French residency document to register?

No. Indian candidates register in India with their Indian passport or a government issued photo ID. Residency only matters once you take the result to a French administration.

Can I take the TCF outside the Alliance Française network in India?

The Alliance Française network is the official partner for India and the body that actually delivers sessions. The Institut français en Inde coordinates the network from Delhi but does not itself run exams. Other private institutes can only prepare you, not deliver the exam.

TCF · Eligibility

Who can sit which TCF version.

The rules are simple but get conflated by training centres. Here is the short version anchored in the published eligibility from France Éducation International.

Eligibility by version

Version	Who can register	Typical use case
TCF Tout Public	Aged 16 or above, non native French speaker	University admission (Bachelor through DAP, Master's), employer evaluation
TCF IRN	Aged 16 or above, foreign national applying for a French residency or nationality file	Carte de résident, naturalisation, OFII civic pathway
TCF Canada	Anyone applying for Canadian economic immigration	Express Entry, Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class
TCF Québec	Anyone applying for Québec immigration	PRTQ and other Québec specific tracks

What to bring on the day

Reach the centre 30 to 45 minutes before the listed start time. Late candidates are turned away once the audio for the listening section begins.

Allowed

Original government issued photo ID (Indian passport or Aadhaar with the same name as on registration)
Printed confirmation email or registration slip
Two HB pencils, an eraser and a sharpener for the paper version
A small bottle of water

Not allowed

Mobile phones, smart watches, fitness trackers (kept by the centre)
Any dictionary, paper or electronic
Headphones other than the centre's own
Pencil cases (loose items only on the desk)

Accepted ID for Indian candidates

Most Alliance Française centres in India accept these in order of preference:

Indian passport (the safest choice, accepted everywhere)
Aadhaar card with a clear photograph (accepted at most centres, confirm at registration)
PAN card with the matching name (accepted at some centres as a backup, never alone)

The name on your ID must match the name on the registration to the letter. A spelling mismatch is the most common reason candidates are refused at the door. Fix it during registration, not on the morning of the exam.

Frequently asked questions

Answers anchored in the published rules from France Éducation International and the French government.

No. The TCF Tout Public and TCF IRN are reserved for candidates aged 16 and above. Younger candidates should look at the DELF Prim (children) or DELF Junior/Scolaire versions instead.

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