Canada has two official languages which are French and English. Various Canadian immigration applications require applicants to submit a valid approved language test with their application for Canadian permanent residence.
For English speaking applicants, Canada accepts the General Training International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General Test and as of 2024, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Core) will be accepted.
For French speaking applicants, Canada accepts the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) Canada and the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada.
Approved language tests are only valid for two years from the date the test was written. If your approved language test for Canada is older than two years old, you would need to write a new approved language test.
Depending on which immigration program you are applying under, you will be required to achieve a certain score, or level, in each section of your approved language test. These tests include four sections. The sections test your listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in English or French. The scores that you achieve in each section of the test are then used to evaluate whether you meet the requirements of the Canadian immigration program you are applying under.
Applicants who are looking to enter the Canadian Express Entry system need to ensure that they obtain the correct scores on an approved language test based on the program that they are applying under. The Express Entry system is only for those applicants applying as a (1) Federal Skilled Worker, (2) Federal Skilled Tradesperson, or member of the (3) Canadian Experience Class.
The minimums scores required to be eligible under the programs that use the Express Entry system are outlined below. The Express Entry system is a score based system which means that in most cases you would want to try and achieve higher than the minimums required in order to ensure the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score possible.
| CLB Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| CLB Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| CLB Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 89-90 | 88-90 | 90 | 89-90 |
| 9 | 82-88 | 78-87 | 88-89 | 84-88 |
| 8 | 71-81 | 69-77 | 79-87 | 76-83 |
| 7 | 60-70 | 60-68 | 69-78 | 68-75 |
| 6 | 50-59 | 51-59 | 60-68 | 59-67 |
| 5 | 39-49 | 42-50 | 51-59 | 51-58 |
| 4 | 28-38 | 33-41 | 41-50 | 42-50 |
| 3 | 18-27 | 24-32 | 32-40 | 34-41 |
| NCLC Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 316-360 | 263-300 | 393-450 | 393-450 |
| 9 | 298-315 | 248-262 | 371-392 | 371-392 |
| 8 | 280-297 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 349-370 |
| 7 | 249-279 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 310-348 |
| 6 | 217-248 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 271-309 |
| 5 | 181-216 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 226-270 |
| 4 | 145-180 | 121-150 | 181-225 | 181-225 |
| NCLC Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 549-699 | 549-699 | 16-20 | 16-20 |
| 9 | 523-548 | 524-548 | 14-15 | 14-15 |
| 8 | 503-522 | 499-523 | 12-13 | 12-13 |
| 7 | 458-502 | 453-498 | 10-11 | 10-11 |
| 6 | 398-457 | 406-452 | 7-9 | 7-9 |
| 5 | 369-397 | 375-405 | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | 331-368 | 342-374 | 4-5 | 4-5 |
For those applicants who have chosen to write the General Training IELTS, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the PTE Core language test, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the CELPIP General, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the TEF Canada, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the TCF Canada, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the General Training IELTS, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the PTE Core language test, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades program:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the CELPIP General, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the TEF Canada, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the TCF Canada, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify as a Federal Skilled Worker:
Those applying under the Canadian Experience Class are required to write an approved language test to show that they achieved a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC ) level 7 or higher in each section of their approved language test if their work experience is in a NOC TEER 0 or 1 level job, or Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC ) level 5 or higher in each section of their approved language test if their work experience is in a NOC TEER 2 or 3 level job.
For those applicants who have chosen to write the General Training IELTS, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the PTE Core language test, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class program:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the CELPIP General, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the TEF Canada, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class:
For those applicants who have chosen to write the TCF Canada, they need to achieve the following scores, or higher, in each section of the test to be eligible. If any one section of the test is lower than what is listed below, you would not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class:
