Canada Immigration Language Tests Converter
Candidates applying for Permanent Residence to Canada and for Canadian Citizenship, are required to prove language skills by taking a language test approved by Canada immigration authority – Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Permanent Residence
There are two English language tests and two French language tests offered by third parties that are recognized by Canadian authorities:
- English: CELPIP General test and IELTS General Training
- French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada
Other versions of these tests are not accepted for Express Entry.
Points are awarded for language proficiency when applying for permanent residence, under the Express Entry system or under provincial programs. The scores required depend on the different programs under which a candidate is applying.
To measure the language levels, the immigration authorities use the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English and the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French.
The language abilities tested are:
- speaking/expression orale
- listening/comprehension de l’oral
- reading/comprehension de l’écrit
- writing/expression écrite
Below you will find charts which convert scores received under third party language examinations into the corresponding language level.
You must obtain a minimum level of CLB or NCLC 7 for your first official language in all four language abilities. To receive points for your second official language, you must meet the minimum level of CLB or NCLC 5 in all four language abilities.
The minimum threshold must be reached in each of the four abilities in order for the test to be accepted.
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is an English language test that provides a measurement of a candidate’s English proficiency.
There are two versions of the test: the CELPIP-General test (assesses all four abilities) and the CELPIP-General LS test (assesses only the Listening and Speaking proficiency).
Only the CELPIP-General test is accepted for immigration purposes.
CELPIP level description:
| CELPIP Level | CLB Level | CELPIP Level Description |
| 12 | 12 | Advanced proficiency |
| 11 | 11 | Advanced proficiency |
| 10 | 10 | Highly effective proficiency |
| 9 | 9 | Effective proficiency |
| 8 | 8 | Good proficiency |
| 7 | 7 | Adequate proficiency |
| 6 | 6 | Developing proficiency |
| 5 | 5 | Acquiring proficiency |
Points received under the Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program
First official language (24 points maximum)
| CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points per ability |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 10 + | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)
| CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Total points |
| 5 + | 5-12 | 5-12 | 5-12 | 5-12 | 4 |
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an English language test that uses a nine-band scale to measure a candidate’s English proficiency.
There are two versions of the test: the IELTS Academic (if you apply for higher education or professional registration) and the IELTS General training (if you apply for immigration).
Only the IELTS General Training is accepted for immigration purposes.
IELTS level description:
| IELTS Band score | IELTS Level Description |
| 9 | Expert user |
| 8 | Very good user |
| 7 | Good user |
| 6 | Competent user |
| 5 | Modest user |
| 4 | Limited user |
Points received under the Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program
First official language (24 points maximum)
| CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points per ability |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0-7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 4 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6 |
| 10 + | 7.5-9.0 | 8.5-9.0 | 7.5-9.0 | 7.5-9.0 | 6 |
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)
| CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Total points |
| 5 + | 5.0 + | 5.0 + | 4.0 + | 5.0 + | 4 |
The Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada) is one of two tests approved for economic immigration by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
It is also one of the tests managed by Paris Ile-de-France CCI, but none of the other versions are not accepted for immigration to Canada.
Correspondences between the TEF Canada results, NCLC levels and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL):
| NCLC level | CEFRL | TEF Canada results | |||
| Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | ||
| 11-12 | C2 Master or proficient level | 278-300 | 334-360 | 416-450 | 416-450 |
| 10 | C1 advanced level | 263-277 | 316-333 | 393-415 | 393-415 |
| 9 | C1 advanced level | 248-262 | 298-315 | 371-392 | 371-392 |
| 8 | C1 advanced level | 233-247 | 280-297 | 349-370 | 349-370 |
| 7 | B2 upper intermediate level | 207-232 | 249-279 | 310-348 | 310-348 |
| 6 | B2 upper intermediate level | 181-206 | 217-248 | 271-309 | 271-309 |
| 5 | B1 intermediate level | 151-180 | 181-216 | 226-270 | 226-270 |
Points received under the Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program
First official language (24 points maximum)
| NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points per ability |
| 7 | 310-348 | 249-279 | 207-232 | 310-348 | 4 |
| 8 | 349-370 | 280-297 | 233-247 | 349-370 | 5 |
| 9 + | 371 + | 398 + | 348 + | 371 + | 6 |
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)
| NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Total points |
| 5 + | 226 + | 181 + | 151 + | 226 + | 4 |
The Test de connaissances du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) is a French language test that meets the standards of IRCC. The test is managed by the Centre International d’Études Pédagogiques (CIEP) in France.
Correspondences between the TCF Canada results, NCLC levels and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL):
| NCLC level | CEFRL | TCF Canada results | |||
| Reading | Listening | Writing | Speaking | ||
| 10+ | C1 & C2 Master, proficient & advanced levels | 549-699 | 549-699 | 16-20 | 16-20 |
| 9 | C1 advanced level | 524-548 | 523-548 | 14-15 | 14-15 |
| 8 | B2 upper intermediate level | 499-523 | 503-522 | 12-13 | 12-13 |
| 7 | B2 upper intermediate level | 453-498 | 458-502 | 10-11 | 10-11 |
| 6 | B1 intermediate level | 406-452 | 398-457 | 7-8-9 | 7-8-9 |
| 5 | B1 intermediate level | 375-405 | 369-397 | 6 | 6 |
Points received under the Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program
First official language (24 points maximum)
| NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Points per ability |
| 7 | 14-15 | 523-548 | 524-548 | 14-15 | 4 |
| 8 | 12-13 | 503-522 | 499-523 | 12-13 | 5 |
| 9 + | 10-11+ | 458-502+ | 453-498+ | 10-11+ | 6 |
Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)
| NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | Total points |
| 5 + | 6 + | 369+ | 375+ | 6 + | 4 |
You must obtain a minimum level of:
- CLB or NCLC 5 in speaking and listening abilities, and
- CLB or NCLC 4 in reading and writing abilities.
| CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 5 + | 5 + | 5 + | 5 + | 5 + |
CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
4 | 4.0-4.5 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 40.-4.5 |
5 + | 5.0 + | 5.0 + | 4.0 + | 5.0 + |
NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
4 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 121-150 | 181-225 |
5 + | 226 + | 181 + | 151 + | 226 + |
NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
4 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
5 + | 6 + | 369+ | 375+ | 6 + |
The skills you need for this program will depend on the job classification under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC):
- For NOC 0 or A, you will need at least CLB / NCLC 7 or higher
- For NOC B, you will need at least CLB / NCLC 5 or 6
NOC | CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
B | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
B | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
0 & A | 7 + | 7 + | 7 + | 7 + | 7 + |
NOC | CLB level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
B | 5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0-4.5 | 5.0 |
B | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.0-5.5 | 5.5 |
0 & A | 7 + | 6.0 + | 6.0 + | 6.0 + | 6.0 + |
NOC | NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
B | 5 | 226-270 | 181-216 | 151-180 | 226-270 |
B | 6 | 271-309 | 217-248 | 181-206 | 271-309 |
0 & A | 7 + | 310+ | 249+ | 201+ | 310+ |
NOC | NCLC level | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
B | 5 | 6 | 369-397 | 375-405 | 6 |
B | 6 | 7-8-9 | 398-457 | 406-452 | 7-8-9 |
0 & A | 7+ | 10+ | 458+ | 453+ | 10+ |
Canadian Citizenship
All applicants for Canadian citizenship aged 18-54 must submit proof that they have adequate knowledge of English or French. IRCC accepts several types of supporting evidence of language proficiency, including third-party language tests.
If you decide to submit a language test, the results must be equal to CLB / NCLC level 4 or higher in speaking and listening abilities.
The federal authorities also accept expired test results if they were done for immigration or citizenship purposes.
Accepted third-party tests include:
CELPIP General test and CELPIP General LS test
- if you took the test after April 1st 2014, you must have a score of level 4 or higher in listening and speaking.
- If you took the test before April 1st 2014, you must have a score of 2H or higher in listening and speaking.
IELTS General training
- 4.0 or higher in speaking and 4.5 or higher in listening.
- If the test was done before November 28th 2008, a level 4 or higher in listening is accepted
TEF, TEFAQ (Test d’Évaluation du Français adapté au Québec) or TEF pour la naturalisation
- If taken after July 1st 2012, your score must be Level B1 or higher in Compréhension de l’oral and Expression orale;
- If taken before July 1st 2012, your score must be Level 3 or higher in Compréhension de l’oral and Expression orale.
- Note: if you took the TEF test before July 1st, 2012, you need a level 3 for expression orale only. This applies only to the TEF and not the TEFAQ or TEF pour la naturalisation.
The following tests are also accepted if they were submitted in the past for immigration purposes to Quebec (note: these tests align with the échelle québécoise and not officially with CLB/NCLC 4):
- Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) – All test results
- Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) – Level B1 or higher
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF) – Level B1 or higher
- Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCFQ) – Level B1 or higher
Canadian Citizenship
All applicants for Canadian citizenship aged 18-54 must submit proof that they have adequate knowledge of English or French. IRCC accepts several types of supporting evidence of language proficiency, including third-party language tests.
If you decide to submit a language test, the results must be equal to CLB / NCLC level 4 or higher in speaking and listening abilities.
The federal authorities also accept expired test results if they were done for immigration or citizenship purposes.
Accepted third-party tests include:
CELPIP General test and CELPIP General LS test
- if you took the test after April 1st 2014, you must have a score of level 4 or higher in listening and speaking.
- If you took the test before April 1st 2014, you must have a score of 2H or higher in listening and speaking.
IELTS General training
- 4.0 or higher in speaking and 4.5 or higher in listening.
- If the test was done before November 28th 2008, a level 4 or higher in listening is accepted
TEF, TEFAQ (Test d’évaluation de français pour l'accès au Québec) or TEF pour la naturalisation
- If taken after July 1st 2012, your score must be Level B1 or higher in Compréhension de l’oral and Expression orale;
- If taken before July 1st 2012, your score must be Level 3 or higher in Compréhension de l’oral and Expression orale.
- Note: if you took the TEF test before July 1st, 2012, you need a level 3 for expression orale only. This applies only to the TEF and not the TEFAQ or TEF pour la naturalisation.
The following tests are also accepted if they were submitted in the past for immigration purposes to Quebec (note: these tests align with the échelle québécoise and not officially with CLB/NCLC 4):
- Diplôme approfondi de langue française (DALF) – All test results
- Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF) – Level B1 or higher
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF) – Level B1 or higher
- Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCFQ) – Level B1 or higher
Interested employers: Kindly contact us here to receive further information.
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