It is easy to book the wrong IELTS. The University of British Columbia accepts IELTS Academic for admission and lists IELTS General among the tests it does not accept. IRCC wants the opposite: "You must take the IELTS General Training option" for Express Entry, and citizenship accepts only General Training too. Same brand, same test centre, two different modules, and neither replaces the other.
That pattern runs through the whole subject. Each body that asks for proof of English or French, whether IRCC, a university or the citizenship program, sets its own list of tests, its own score levels and its own validity window.
This guide sets out the tests IRCC accepts, the levels each program needs, how long results stay valid, when your education can replace a test, and the one place translation comes in: foreign education documents used as language proof.
Which language tests does IRCC accept?
IRCC accepts five tests for Express Entry, the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) and citizenship, each in a specific version.
| Test | Language | Version IRCC requires | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP | English | CELPIP-General | IRCC names the General test specifically |
| IELTS | English | General Training | IELTS Academic is refused; IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted for Express Entry |
| PTE | English | PTE Core | PTE Academic is a different test |
| TEF Canada | French | TEF Canada | Enter the "Équivalence ancien score" column in Express Entry |
| TCF Canada | French | TCF Canada | Other TCF versions are not on IRCC's list |
Two details catch people. First, TEF Canada's statement of results also shows a column marked "Score / 699". IRCC says your level is based on the "Équivalence ancien score" column and tells you not to enter the 699-scale results in your Express Entry profile. Second, Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres "are not approved testing agencies" for Canadian Experience Class applicants.
For the PGWP, IRCC adds that "language tests should be taken in person."
What language level do I need for each program?
Levels are expressed as Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English and Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French. Each test converts to a CLB or NCLC level for each ability: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
| Purpose | Minimum level |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | CLB or NCLC 7 in all four abilities |
| Canadian Experience Class | CLB or NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs; 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | CLB or NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, 4 in reading and writing |
| Express Entry French-language proficiency category | NCLC 7 in all four abilities |
| PGWP, university graduates | CLB or NCLC 7 in all four abilities |
| PGWP, college, polytechnic and other non-university graduates | CLB or NCLC 5 in all four abilities |
| Citizenship, ages 18 to 54 | CLB or NCLC 4 in speaking and listening |
To put CLB 7 in test terms, IRCC's Express Entry tables equate it with 7 in each CELPIP-General ability, 6.0 in each IELTS General Training ability, or PTE Core scores of 68 to 75 in speaking, 60 to 70 in listening, 60 to 68 in reading and 69 to 78 in writing.
The PGWP language requirement applies to applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024. Applicants who submitted before that date do not need to meet it.
How long are language test results valid?
Two years for Express Entry and the PGWP, with no expiry for citizenship.
- Express Entry: results "must be less than 2 years old" when you complete your profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. "If you apply for permanent residence with language test results that have expired, we'll refuse your application."
- PGWP: results must be "less than 2 years old when you submit your application."
- Citizenship: IRCC asks you to "include a copy of your test results (even if they're expired)".
- Universities: each sets its own window. UBC wants scores from January 1, 2025 onward for the 2027/2028 Winter Session; the University of Waterloo accepts scores "completed on or after May 1, 2025."
Can my education replace a language test?
For citizenship and many university programs, yes. For Express Entry and the PGWP, no.
Citizenship: education in English or French counts
Applicants aged 18 to 54 can prove CLB 4 with a diploma, transcript or certificate showing they completed or are attending a secondary or post-secondary program in English or French, and "the program can be in or outside Canada." Other accepted proof includes:
- an approved test from the list above, at the citizenship minimums (for example IELTS General Training 4.5 in listening and 4.0 in speaking for tests taken from November 28, 2008);
- a LINC or Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada (CLIC) certificate at CLB 4 or higher for training on or after November 1, 2012, while training from January 2008 to October 2012 is verified electronically when you tick the box on the form;
- certain provincial language programs, with conditions: in British Columbia, IRCC accepts results only from ELSA, and Ontario certificates must be dated December 2013 or later.
Express Entry and the PGWP: only an approved test
IRCC scores Express Entry language ability only from approved test results, so a degree taught in English earns no language points. For the PGWP, applicants who apply on or after November 1, 2024 "must provide proof of English or French language skills" through an approved test, whatever language they studied in.
Universities: exemptions on their own terms
Universities often exempt applicants educated in English, but their conditions differ:
- UBC counts four or more consecutive years of full-time education in English in Canada or in a country "where English is the principal language", or graduation from an accredited English-medium degree program in such a country.
- The University of Waterloo counts your four most recent years if they were "taught in an entirely English-language school system either in Canada or in another country", proven by official transcripts showing the language of instruction or an official hardcopy letter from your principal. Full-time ESL programs do not qualify.
Universities also accept tests IRCC does not, such as IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT and the Duolingo English Test at UBC and Waterloo. A university waiver does not count for Express Entry or the PGWP, and an IRCC test may not satisfy the university. See university admissions documents for the rest of that file.
When does language proof need a certified translation?
Only when the proof is a document in a language other than English or French.
Test results: never. CELPIP, IELTS and PTE results are issued in English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada results in French, which IRCC accepts as an official language.
Education used for citizenship: always, if it is not in English or French. IRCC's instruction is specific: "If it's in another language, you must also send a certified English or French translation", and "The translation should show that the language of instruction of the program was English or French." A diploma that does not mention the language of instruction proves little, so submit the transcript or diploma supplement that does, translated in full.
For citizenship, IRCC counts a translator as certified only if they are "a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial organization" of translators and interpreters in Canada, with a stamp showing a membership number. Any other translator, who cannot be you, a family member or your representative, must add an affidavit confirming their language skills and the accuracy of the translation. That is stricter than Express Entry, which also recognizes association members abroad. Our guides to citizenship documents and IRCC translation requirements cover the full rule.
University exemptions: sometimes. If the only document showing English-medium study is a letter or transcript in another language, ask the admissions office whether it accepts a translation or needs the school to issue the proof in English.
Common mistakes with language proof
- Booking IELTS Academic or PTE Academic for Express Entry, or IELTS General Training for a university that wants Academic.
- Entering the wrong TEF column in the Express Entry profile.
- Letting results lapse between the invitation and the permanent residence application.
- Assuming a university waiver counts for IRCC. It does not for Express Entry or the PGWP.
- Sending an untranslated diploma as citizenship language proof, or a translation that leaves out the language-of-instruction line.
- A name that differs between the test report and the passport, with no marriage or name-change certificate to link the two.
Checklist: language proof for your application
Questions people ask
Can I use IELTS Academic for Express Entry?
No. IRCC accepts only the IELTS General Training option for Express Entry, and it also refuses IELTS One Skill Retake results. Universities usually want the opposite: UBC, for example, accepts IELTS Academic and not IELTS General.
How long are IELTS or CELPIP results valid for IRCC?
For Express Entry, results must be less than two years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application, and expired results lead to refusal. For the PGWP, they must be less than two years old when you apply. For citizenship, IRCC accepts results even if they have expired.
Do I need a language test for Canadian citizenship?
Applicants aged 18 to 54 must prove CLB or NCLC 4 in speaking and listening, but a test is only one option. Secondary or post-secondary education in English or French, in or outside Canada, LINC or CLIC certificates and some provincial language program results also count.
Can a degree taught in English replace a language test?
For citizenship, yes, if your documents show the program was taught in English or French. For Express Entry and the PGWP, no: IRCC needs approved test results. Universities set their own exemptions, often tied to years of study in a country where English is the principal language.
Do my language test results need to be translated?
No. CELPIP, IELTS and PTE Core results are in English and TEF Canada and TCF Canada results are in French, both official languages IRCC accepts. Translation is needed only for other evidence, such as a foreign diploma or transcript used as language proof.
Do I need a language test for a Canadian study permit?
IRCC's general study permit document list does not include a language test; the requirement comes from your school as part of admission. The PGWP you may apply for after graduation does require an approved test at CLB or NCLC 5 or 7, so plan for it before you finish your program.
Does a translated diploma for citizenship need an affidavit?
Yes, unless the translator is a member of a Canadian provincial or territorial translators' organization; membership of an association abroad does not count for citizenship. IRCC then asks for the translator's affidavit confirming their language skills and the accuracy of the translation, and the translator cannot be you, a relative or your representative.
How much does it cost to translate a diploma or transcript for language proof?
Official Translations charges CA$39.95 per page, a page being up to 300 words, and the sworn translator affidavit IRCC requires adds CA$24.95 per document. A one-page diploma is usually delivered as a signed PDF within 24 hours, and longer transcripts take one to three business days.
