DELF to CEFR Converter
Pick your DELF or DALF level, see the matching CEFR level (the mapping is one to one by design), and instantly check what your French diploma unlocks for citizenship, university study, and work in France and across the francophone world.
Your DELF / DALF Level
Pick the level shown on your DELF or DALF diploma. Each diploma covers exactly one CEFR level.
DELF and DALF ARE the CEFR, certified
Unlike TCF and TEF (numeric tests aligned to CEFR), DELF and DALF were designed as level-specific diplomas, one diploma per CEFR level. The conversion is the identity function.
Find your DELF or DALF level
It is printed in large type on your diploma: DELF A1, A2, B1, or B2; DALF C1 or C2. There is no numeric score above the diploma level.
The CEFR level is the same letter
DELF A1 = CEFR A1. DELF A2 = CEFR A2. DELF B1 = CEFR B1. DELF B2 = CEFR B2. DALF C1 = CEFR C1. DALF C2 = CEFR C2. There is no rounding, no half-step, no per-section CEFR.
Verify per-use-case acceptance
For French citizenship since 2020: DELF A2+ (rising to B1 in January 2026). For French undergraduate admission (DAP): typically DELF B2. For Quebec immigration: typically DELF B2 in oral comprehension and oral expression. For Canadian PR (Express Entry): DELF / DALF is NOT accepted, use TEF Canada or TCF Canada instead.
DELF, DALF, and the CEFR
Two things to understand before reading either result.
DELF / DALF: official, lifetime, level-specific
The DELF / DALF is administered by France Education International on behalf of the French Ministry of National Education. Six diplomas, one per CEFR level (A1 through C2). Lifetime validity. Recognised in over 174 countries. The pass rule is 50/100 overall plus at least 5/25 in each of the four skills.
Use the DELF / DALF Score Calculator to check your pass / fail status under the strict 50/100 + 5/25 per-skill rule for any of the six levels.
CEFR: the European reference framework
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages defines six broad levels of language proficiency, A1 through C2, used by employers, universities, and immigration authorities across Europe and beyond. DELF / DALF is the most direct CEFR-aligned French diploma; TCF and TEF report on numeric scales (with sub-bands like B2+) that map back to CEFR.
Compare with the TCF to CEFR Converter and the TEF to CEFR Converter to see how the numeric French tests align.
DELF / DALF level to CEFR level
Per France Education International. The mapping is one to one by design.
| Diploma | CEFR | User type | What this unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| DALF C2 | C2 | Mastery | Top academic and translation positions, French Grande Ecole admission |
| DALF C1 | C1 | Effective Operational | Most French postgraduate programs, professional French use |
| DELF B2 | B2 | Vantage | French undergraduate admission (DAP), Quebec Skilled Worker Program |
| DELF B1 | B1 | Threshold | Foundation programs, technical / vocational training in French |
| DELF A2 | A2 | Waystage | French citizenship by naturalisation (current minimum, rising to B1 in 2026) |
| DELF A1 | A1 | Breakthrough | Initial long-stay residence, family-reunification visa |
DELF and DALF are taken at one CEFR level at a time, with separate exams per level. There is no global multi-level score.
When DELF / DALF is the right certificate, and when TCF or TEF is preferred
DELF / DALF is the most universally accepted French diploma. A few use cases specifically prefer TCF or TEF.
Since 2020, French naturalisation requires DELF A2 or higher. From January 2026, the threshold rises to DELF B1. The TCF Integration Resident Naturalisation (TCF IRN) and TEF Naturalisation are also accepted; standard TCF / TEF results are NOT accepted.
Most undergraduate programs require DELF B2 or DALF C1. Selective programs (Sciences Po, Grandes Ecoles) often require DALF C1 or above. The TCF DAP is also accepted but only valid for 2 years.
The Programme regulier des travailleurs qualifies awards points for French oral skills. DELF B2 in oral comprehension and oral expression yields the highest points. TEFAQ and TCF Quebec are also accepted.
IRCC accepts only TEF Canada and TCF Canada for Express Entry CLB scoring. DELF / DALF certificates are NOT accepted, regardless of level. If your goal is Canadian PR, take TEF Canada or TCF Canada specifically.
Universities in Wallonia, Brussels, and Romandie typically accept DELF B2 / DALF C1 alongside TCF / TEF. The pass mark is institution-specific; verify with the registrar.
In countries where French is an official language but where TCF / TEF infrastructure is limited, DELF / DALF is the universally recognised diploma for university admission and government / NGO employment.
DELF to CEFR questions, answered
How do I convert a DELF or DALF level to a CEFR level?
The conversion is direct and one to one: DELF A1 = CEFR A1, DELF A2 = CEFR A2, DELF B1 = CEFR B1, DELF B2 = CEFR B2, DALF C1 = CEFR C1, DALF C2 = CEFR C2. The DELF (Diplome d Etudes en Langue Francaise) and DALF (Diplome Approfondi de Langue Francaise) were designed by France Education International specifically as the official CEFR-aligned French language diplomas. The level on your certificate IS the CEFR level. There is no numeric score conversion required.
Which DELF or DALF level do I need for French citizenship?
DELF A2 (or higher) is the minimum required for French citizenship by naturalisation since 2020, and the threshold is rising to B1 from January 2026. Important: only a French Ministry of National Education diploma satisfies this requirement. Accepted certificates are DELF, DALF, the TCF Integration Resident Naturalisation (TCF IRN), and the TEF Naturalisation. A standard TCF or TEF result is NOT accepted; you need the specific naturalisation version. DELF / DALF is the safest option because it is universally recognised across all use cases.
Are DELF and DALF certificates valid for life?
Yes. DELF and DALF certificates issued by France Education International (under the French Ministry of National Education) are valid for life. There is no expiration date printed on the certificate, and the diploma cannot be retroactively invalidated. This is the main practical advantage over TCF and TEF, both of which are valid for 2 years only. A DELF B2 certificate from 2005 still proves CEFR B2 today.
What is the difference between DELF and DALF?
They are the same diploma family from the French Ministry of National Education, divided by CEFR level. DELF (Diplome d Etudes en Langue Francaise) covers the basic and independent user levels: A1, A2, B1, B2. DALF (Diplome Approfondi de Langue Francaise) covers the proficient user levels: C1 and C2. So a learner progressing through the system takes DELF A1, then A2, then B1, then B2, then DALF C1, and finally DALF C2. Each level is taken separately as a complete exam (no global score across levels).
Is DELF accepted at French universities?
Yes, by all French universities through the Demande d Admission Prealable (DAP) process for non-EU undergraduates and through Etudes en France for non-EU postgraduates. The standard threshold for undergraduate admission is DELF B2 (CEFR B2); for many programs DALF C1 is preferred. French Grandes Ecoles and some highly competitive Sciences Po programs require DALF C1 or above. The DELF / DALF is preferred over TCF for students because it is a lifetime certificate, while TCF DAP results are valid for 2 years only.
Where is DELF / DALF accepted besides France?
DELF / DALF is recognised globally as the official French language diploma, in over 1,200 examination centres across 174 countries. It is accepted by Quebec for francophone-stream immigration (Programme regulier des travailleurs qualifies), by Belgian and Swiss French-speaking regions, by francophone African universities, by Canadian universities (separate from IRCC immigration), and by international organisations and private employers requiring French. Note: for IRCC Canadian Permanent Residency (Express Entry), DELF / DALF is NOT accepted; only TEF Canada and TCF Canada qualify.
How is the DELF / DALF scored?
Each DELF / DALF level is scored out of 100, with 25 points for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). To pass, you need at least 50/100 overall AND at least 5/25 in each individual skill. Falling below 5/25 in any one skill means failing the entire level, regardless of overall score. The diploma is then issued at the level taken (pass / fail), with no granular sub-grading like A2.7 or B2 with distinction.
Should I take DELF / DALF or TCF / TEF?
Take DELF / DALF if you want a lifetime certificate, plan to apply for French citizenship, study at a French university, or want a single certificate accepted across all use cases. Take TCF or TEF if you need fast, repeatable testing (every few months in major cities), need results in weeks rather than months, or your specific use case names TCF / TEF (Quebec immigration, Canadian Express Entry, French citizenship via the naturalisation versions). Note: French citizenship requires either DELF A2+ OR the specific TCF IRN / TEF Naturalisation; standard TCF / TEF results are NOT accepted for naturalisation.
Keep going
DELF / DALF Score Calculator →
Check your DELF / DALF pass / fail status under the 50/100 overall + 5/25 per-skill rule across all six levels (A1 through C2).
TCF to CEFR Converter →
Map your TCF section scores (L+R 0 to 699, W+S 0 to 20) to CEFR levels using the official France Education International scale.
TEF to CEFR Converter →
Map your TEF section scores (0 to 699 unified scale) to CEFR levels using the published Chambre de Commerce et d Industrie de Paris bands.
Ready to take DELF or DALF?
Practice with realistic DELF A1 to B2 and DALF C1 / C2 tasks, AI-rated Writing and Speaking feedback under the 50/100 + 5/25 pass rule, and a study plan tuned to your target level, built by LingUp.
Start PracticingDELF and DALF are official diplomas of the French Ministry of National Education, administered by France Education International. CEFR is published by the Council of Europe. This converter is not affiliated with or endorsed by these institutions.
