Language Tests for Canadian Immigration: IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF and TCF

For economic immigration programs such as Express Entry, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts:

Other tests, such as TOEFL, Duolingo, or a school's own test, are not accepted for immigration, even if a college accepted them for admission. Make sure you book the right version.

IRCC converts every test to the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French. Each skill (listening, reading, writing, speaking) gets its own level, and your overall level is only as high as your lowest skill for most requirements.

Minimum scores needed for key levels, per skill, from IRCC's equivalency tables:

L = listening, R = reading, W = writing, S = speaking. Use our CLB converter to check all levels, including CLB 4, 5, and 10.

TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, the job levels used in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Provincial nominee programs set their own minimums, often CLB 4 to 7 depending on the stream. Meeting the minimum makes you eligible; higher scores earn more Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.

For Express Entry, your results must be less than 2 years old on the day you create your profile and on the day you submit your application for permanent residence. If your results will expire while you are in the pool, retake the test before they do, or your profile may become ineligible.

For other applications, such as the PGWP, check the specific rules. It is safest to use results that are less than 2 years old when you apply.

For citizenship, accepted proof includes approved test results (CELPIP-General LS is a shorter listening and speaking version made for citizenship) and other evidence such as a diploma from a program taught in English or French.

All accepted tests are treated equally by IRCC. Choose based on what suits you:

• CELPIP-General: fully computer-based, with Canadian English accents. Scores map directly to CLB, which makes planning easy. Mostly offered in Canada and some other countries.
• IELTS General Training: widely available worldwide, with a face-to-face speaking test.
• PTE Core: computer-based, scored by machine, and results often arrive quickly.
• TEF Canada or TCF Canada: if you speak French. Strong French adds up to 50 extra CRS points and can qualify you for French-language draws.

For a side-by-side comparison, see IELTS vs CELPIP. Test fees and availability vary by country; check the test provider's website.

• Focus on your weakest skill. Your eligibility and many CRS points depend on your lowest score.
• Aim for CLB 9. For Express Entry, reaching CLB 9 in all four skills adds many points across several CRS factors.
• Practice with official materials from the test provider.
• Book early. Test dates fill up, and you need results before deadlines.
• Enter scores exactly. Your Express Entry profile must match your test report. Wrong scores can lead to refusal.