To apply for several of Canada’s economic immigration programs, individuals must first pass a language exam.
This article will give an overview of key information concerning whether a reader may require a language exam throughout their immigration trip to Canada. For example, the following sections will discuss which programs require language exams and what sorts of language examinations are recognized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
What Canadian economic immigration schemes need a language test?
According to IRCC, 12 economic immigration programs presently require candidates to take a language test to be eligible*. They are:
- Agri-food pilot
- Atlantic Immigration program
- Caregivers
- Economic Mobility Pathways pilot
- The three programs managed under the Express Entry application management system
o The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
o The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
o The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Internship for Newcomers Program
- Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents
- Rural and Northern Immigration pilot
- Self-employed Persons program
- Start-up visa program
*Each program may have different standards regarding the score that a candidate must obtain on their language test to qualify for that specific program
What are the following steps if I need a language test?
Candidates for an economic immigration program that involves a language test must:
- Schedule the exam with an approved agency.
- Pay for the language test*.
*The cost of a language exam may vary according on the agency that delivers it.
Which language tests are approved by the IRCC?
IRCC accepts five distinct language tests: three for English and two for French. They are:
English
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
Economic immigration candidates must take the CELPIP-General test
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Economic immigration candidates must take the IELTS General Training option
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core
Economic immigration candidates must take the PTE Core option
French
Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF) Canada
Test de connaissance du francais (TCF) Canada
What do I do after taking the exam and receiving my results?
After a candidate completes the exam, IRCC “will verify the test results with the testing organizations to prove [the candidate’s] language skills.”
At this point, a candidate’s next steps will be determined by whether they are applying for a program handled by IRCC through the Express Entry system.
Express Entry applicants: Candidates applying through Express Entry must submit their results immediately into the online profile they created with IRCC.
All other applicants: All candidates applying to a non-Express Entry program that involves a language test must provide a copy of their test results in the application they submit to IRCC.
In all instances, test results used to apply for Canadian immigration are only regarded legitimate if they are less than two years old at the time of application for permanent residency.
Note: Candidates whose test results are about to expire may consider retaking the test and updating their Express Entry profile with the updated results.
