Drafted from the official pages listed under Sources, last read on 26 October 2026. Rules, fees and thresholds change: check the official page before you act. This is not legal advice and does not guarantee any outcome.
Overview
The Campus France brochure read for this guide describes DELF and DALF as official certifications issued by the French Ministry of National Education. They are based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and assess four skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Levels and versions
- DELF: A1, A2, B1, B2.
- DALF: C1, C2.
- Tout public (from age 16): A1 to C2.
- Junior (ages 12 to 17): A1 to B2. The brochure says it has the same value as the DELF tout public.
- Prim (ages 7 to 11): A1.1, A1 and A2.
Format and scoring
- At levels A1 to C1 there are four tests. Three are taken together in one sitting (listening, reading, written production). The speaking test is taken individually.
- Each test is marked out of 25 and the final mark is out of 100. To pass you need at least 50 out of 100 and at least 5 out of 25 in each test.
- For C2 the brochure states a minimum of 10 out of 50 per test.
Validity
The brochure states that the diplomas are valid without a time limit, so they do not expire.
To help you plan: unofficial, approximate figures
To help you plan, we added practical figures collected from reliable independent sources, each shown with its date. Treat them as a guide: they are approximate and can change, so confirm the final figure with the official source or the organisation concerned before you act.
- Level needed for French procedures (from 1 January 2026). Integration France, a commercial site (3–4 June 2026): first multi-year residence card A2 (DELF A2, TCF IRN or TEF IRN); resident card B1 (DELF B1, TCF IRN or TEF IRN); naturalisation B2 (DELF B2, TCF or TEF at B2). It says these requirements do not apply to renewals and that the DALF (C1, C2) is not required but is useful for a level above B2. A law firm blog, Deloitte Société d’Avocats (14 November 2025), gives the same rise: B1 for the resident card (was A2) and B2 for naturalisation (was B1). Walter Learning, a commercial site (21 October 2026), says DELF B2 and DALF are accepted for naturalisation and DELF B1 is not. The sources differ on whether the TCF/TEF for naturalisation is the “IRN” or the “ANF” version: ask the préfecture which one it accepts.
- Fees. Université de Lorraine (DéFLE, 2026–2027): DELF B1 or B2 €140 (€110 for its students), DALF C1 €180 (€150), DALF C2 €200 (€170). Université Clermont Auvergne (page modified 15 October 2026): DELF A1 €130, A2 €130, B1 €160, B2 €200, DALF C1 €220. Fees are set by each centre and country.
- Exam dates. Université Clermont Auvergne (page modified 15 October 2026): 1–3 December 2026 (A1 to C1); 12–13 January 2027 (A1, A2); 16–18 March 2027 (A2 to C1); 25–26 May 2027 (A2, B1); 16–17 June 2027 (B1 to C1). Other centres have their own calendars. Walter Learning counts about four DELF B2 sessions a year.
- Duration. Digischool (16 July 2026): the three collective written tests take about 1 h 20 (A1), 1 h 40 (A2), 1 h 45 (B1) and 2 h 30 (B2). The individual oral takes 5 to 7 minutes (A1), 6 to 8 (A2), about 15 (B1) and about 20 (B2), after 10 minutes of preparation (30 for B2).
- Validity. DELF and DALF do not expire. The TCF and TEF versions used for residence and nationality are valid for 2 years according to the commercial sites.
Worth checking next: DALF test durations, fees outside France, and whether visas for study, work or family accept DELF or DALF and at which level. The official sources remain the authority and the exam centre.
What to do next
Registration is through an organising centre, such as the Institut français in your country (the brochure points to the Institut français du Maroc for candidates in Morocco). Several sessions are held each year. Buying a service on this platform does not register you for an exam.
Four tests: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Three are taken together; speaking is individual. Each test is out of 25; pass mark 50/100 with at least 5/25 per test (levels A1 to C1).