You must take a language test that is approved by the Canadian government when you submit an immigration application as a skilled worker. Completing a test is necessary to demonstrate you meet the language requirements of the skilled worker program you are applying to.
Who needs to complete a language test for Canadian immigration?
Canada’s federal and provincial skilled worker immigration programs require that you complete a language test. This applies to the federal Express Entry system, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and Canada’s many other skilled worker streams.
It is important to note you must take a language test that is approved by the Canadian government.
Which language tests are approved for Canadian immigration?
The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) approves the following language tests for skilled worker applications:
English
- CELPIP General Test
- IELTS General Training
French
- TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
- TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
What else do I need to know?
Each skilled worker immigration program has its own language test score requirements. The Canadian government uses the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) as a standardized approach to evaluate your language skills. Some skilled worker programs require a CLB level as low as 4, while others require a CLB level of at least 7. It is important to carefully review the requirements of your preferred skilled worker immigration program to understand what CLB level you will need to be eligible for that program.
In addition, the Canadian government has a validity period of two years for language test scores. This means that no more than two years can have elapsed between you completing a test and submitting your Canadian immigration application. You will need to retake the language test if two years have passed and you have not yet submitted an immigration application.
