CANADA IMMIGRATION LANGUAGE LEVELS

Applicants 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 offered by third parties that are recognized by Canadian authorities: CELPIP and IELTS. 

There is only one French language test recognized by Canadian authorities: TEF Canada. 

Points are awarded for language abilities 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.

Below you will find charts which convert scores received under third party language examinations into the corresponding language level.

Federal skilled worker program

You must obtain a minimum level of CLB or NCLC 7 for your first official language in all four language areas. To receive points for your second official language, you must meet the minimum level of CLB or NCLC 5 in all four language areas.

CELPIP – General test

First official language (24 points maximum)

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)

IELTS General training

First official language (24 points maximum)

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)

TEF Canada (Test d’évaluation de français)

First official language (24 points maximum)

Second official language (4 points if you meet the minimum threshold in all four language abilities)

Federal skilled trades program

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.

CELPIP General test

IELTS General training

TEF Canada

Canadian Experience Class

The skills you need for this program will depend on the job classification under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC):

• NOC 0 or A: CLB / NCLC 7 +
• NOC B: CLB / NCLC 5 and 6

CELPIP General test

IELTS General training

TEF Canada

CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

All applicants for Canadian citizenship aged 18-54 must submit proof that they have adequate knowledge of English or French.

If you decide to submit a third-party 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 1^st 2014, you must have a score of level 4 or higher in listening and speaking.
• If you took the test before April 1^st 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 28^th 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 1^st 2012, your score must be Niveau B1 or higher in Compréhension de l’oral and Expression orale;
• If taken before July 1^st 2012, your score must be Niveau 3 or higher in Compréhension de l’oral and Expression orale. 
  • Note: if you took the TEF test before July 1^st, 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) – Niveau B1 or higher
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Québec (TCFQ) – Niveau B1 or higher