Updated on May 27, 2025 by canadian immigration experts
Language Test for Canada Immigration Paths | CELPIP or IELTS?
Language ability is a core factor in almost every Canadian immigration or status pathway. Whether you plan to apply through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Student Direct Stream (SDS), or for citizenship, you must prove that you can communicate in one (or both) of Canada’s official languages: English and French. The only major exceptions are family-class sponsorships and most refugee cases.
The language test in English or French is required because it plays a vital role for immigrant to settle in Canada.
Who Must Take a Language Test?
For Canadian citizenship, those who are between the ages of 18 and 54, are required to show how competent they are in English or French by submitting the results of a language test, or in other ways approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
It is not mandatory for foreign workers to demonstrate their language proficiency, but it certainly helps. International students must provide it to show they will be able to progress in Canadian designated academic institutions (DLI).
In family class and refugee class immigration, it is not required to complete a language test since those immigrants are admitted to Canada for social and humanitarian purposes.
| Program / Status | Test Required? | Minimum Level |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry (FSW, CEC, FST) | Yes | CLB 4–7 depending on stream |
| PNP / Atlantic Immigration Program | Yes (varies) | CLB 4–7 |
| Caregiver & Agri-Food Pilots | Yes | CLB 4–5 oaicite:0 |
| Work Permits (LMIA / IMP) | Usually not required, but strengthens application | |
| International Students (SDS) | Yes – IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT oaicite:1 | |
| Citizenship (ages 18–54) | Yes | CLB 4 |
| Family Class / Protected Persons | No |
IRCC-Approved Language Tests (2025 List)
Canada has two official languages; English and French. So, if you are planning to emigrate to Canada you may be required to submit your proof of language test, demonstrating your level of knowledge in English and French depending on the program you are applying.
English
CELPIP – General
IELTS – General Training
PTE Core (accepted for all economic-class PR applications since 30 Jan 2024)
French
TEF Canada
TCF Canada
Important: IELTS Academic, CELPIP General-LS, and IELTS One-Skill Retake are not accepted for immigration. Canada.ca
Understanding CLB / NCLC and Score Equivalencies
Here is the Equivalencies between the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) (for English), and the Niveaux de compétence linguistique Canadiens (for French), which are summarized in the following tables:
English (CLB)
| CLB | CELPIP | IELTS Gen. | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 8.5 L / 8.0 R / 7.5 W / 7.5 S | 88–90 |
| 9 | 9 | 8 / 7 / 7 / 7 | 78–87 |
| 8 | 8 | 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 | 69–77 |
| 7 | 7 | 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 / 6.0 | 60–68 |
| 6 | 6 | 5.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 5.5 | 51–59 |
| 5 | 5 | 5.0 / 4.0 / 5.0 / 5.0 | 42–50 |
| 4 | 4 | 4.5 / 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.0 | 33–41 |
French (NCLC)
| NCLC | TEF / TCF Score Range* |
|---|---|
| 10–12 | 393–450 (L) / 316–360 (R) / 393–450 (S) / 393–450 (W) |
| 7–9 | 298–392 / 233–315 / 298–392 / 298–392 |
| 5–6 | 248–297 / 207–232 / 248–297 / 248–297 |
| 4 | 181–247 / 151–206 / 181–247 / 181–247 |
*Exact bands differ slightly between TEF Canada and TCF Canada; always confirm with the test provider.
4. Minimum Language Levels by Immigration Stream
| Stream | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 | CLB 7 | CLB 7 | CLB 7 |
| Canadian Experience Class ■ NOC 0/A | CLB 7 … | … | … | … ■ NOC B |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 | CLB 4 | CLB 4 | CLB 5 |
| Atlantic Immigration | CLB 4–5 (varies) | |||
| Citizenship | CLB 4 (either language) | — | — | CLB 4 |
5. Booking, Validity & Submission
Choose an approved centre listed on the test provider’s site.
Register early, popular dates fill quickly after each Express Entry draw.
Keep proof, results are valid 2 years from the test date.
Upload scores to your IRCC account; keep originals for visa stamping.
(CELPIP) – General Test score equivalency chart |
||||
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | 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 |
(IELTS) – General Training – Test score equivalency chart |
||||
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
| 10 | 8 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 |
(TEF Canada) Test score equivalency chart |
||||
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
| 10 | 263-300 | 393-450 | 316-360 | 393-450 |
| 9 | 248-262 | 371-392 | 298-315 | 371-392 |
| 8 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 349-370 |
| 7 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 310-348 |
| 6 | 181-206 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 271-309 |
| 5 | 151-180 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 226-270 |
| 4 | 121-150 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 181-225 |
(TCF Canada) Test score equivalency chart |
||||
| CLB Level | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
| 10 and above | 549-699 | 16-20 | 549-699 | 16-20 |
| 9 | 524-548 | 14-15 | 523-548 | 14-15 |
| 8 | 499-523 | 12-13 | 503-522 | 12-13 |
| 7 | 453-498 | 10-11 | 458-502 | 10-11 |
| 6 | 406-452 | 7-9 | 398-457 | 7-9 |
| 5 | 375-405 | 6 | 369-397 | 6 |
| 4 | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit IELTS Academic?
No. IRCC only accepts the General Training version for immigration. Canada.ca
Which English test is easiest?
Difficulty is subjective, but many candidates find CELPIP more straightforward because it uses Canadian accents and a single test-day format.
Is PTE Core accepted for study permits?
Not yet. For SDS you can use PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT (approved May 2023). ETS
How long should I prepare?
Most test-takers study 4–8 weeks, focusing on timed practice and CLB-based strategies.
What CLB is IELTS 6.5 overall?
It depends on section scores, but a consistent 6.5 usually maps to CLB 8.
Next Steps – Let’s Maximize Your Score
A high CLB/NCLC not only unlocks eligibility but also boosts your CRS score, improves PNP prospects, and speeds visa processing. At Jane Katkova we:
Assess your target CLB/NCLC based on your immigration plan.
Recommend the best test (IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF, TCF).
Connect you with prep resources and certified tutors.
Handle the entire immigration file once you’ve met the requirement.
