There are certain language test requirements for Canadian Immigration that are required by the candidate as per the standards of Canada’s federal and provincial skilled worker immigration programs.
The language test is applicable for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the federal Express Entry system, and Canada’s other skilled worker streams.
For meeting the language requirements of the skilled worker program that you are applying to, completing a language test is a necessary tool. Every skilled worker program has its own requirement for test scores. To evaluate the language skills of a candidate, Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is used by the Canadian Government as a standardized approach.
A CLB level of 4 is required by some programs while other programs require a CLB level of 7. 2 years is the validity period of the language test scores, which means that more than two years cannot elapse anyhow between completing a language test and submitting your Canadian immigration application. You will need to retake your language test if more than two years have passed.
What Language Tests Are Authorized For Canadian Immigration?
You must take a Canadian government-approved language test to meet the language test requirements for Canadian immigration. The following language tests are approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for skilled worker applications:
For English:
- IELTS General Training
- CELPIP General Test
The Pearson Test of English (PTE) will also join IELTS and CELPIP as one of the three designated English language tests in late 2023 as announced by IRCC.
For French:
- TEF Canada: Test d’e’valuation de francais
- TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du francais
IELTS
As per the language test requirements for Canadian immigration, reading, writing, speaking, and listening are the 4 modules of IELTS. 2 hours and 45 minutes is the time taken to generally complete the test. The speaking component can also be taken up to 7 days before or after taking the other 3 components. 300 $ is the cost of the test. Within 3-5 days, you will get your results if you take the test on the computer. Results are issued 13 days later if you take a paper-based test. IELTS is important if you want to obtain PR Visa through Express Entry.
CELPIP
Reading, writing, speaking, and listening are the 4 modules of CELPIP. You can complete the test in one sitting as it just takes about 3 hours to complete. 300$ is the cost of the test, and the results will be provided after 4-5 days of the test.
TEF
As per the language test requirements for Canadian immigration, French comprehension and expression skills in people who are not native French speakers are assessed by the TEF. It is the only French language test accepted for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and can be used for Quebec Immigration purposes.
TEF is mandatory to prove French language ability test in most cases, as mentioned below:
- To Immigrate to Quebec
- To become a Canadian citizen after immigrating to Canada
- To study or obtain citizenship in France
- For certification of one’s French language ability to work
- For enrolling in certain programs and studying abroad as an international student
Reading comprehension, written expression, and vocabulary are the three written sections of the test. Listening comprehension and oral expression are the two oral sections of the test. Some sections may be optional, depending on your situation. Every section can vary between 15, 40, or 60 minutes.
TCF
Just like TEF, expression skills and language comprehension of people who are not native French speakers are also assessed by TCF. It can also be used for Quebec Immigration purposes like TEF.
Reading comprehension, listening comprehension, and use of language structures are the three compulsory sections of the TCF. The written expression and spoken expression (in the form of an interview) are included in the supplementary or optional sections. Speaking and listening modules for Quebec immigration must be taken by applicants. Even though reading and writing modules are not required, additional points can be awarded for these modules.
1 hour and 30 minutes is the average span of the compulsory examinations and two hours is the average span of option exams. The costs of the testing depend on the location where the test is given, similar to TEF.
Knowing about language proficiency is important if you want to obtain either PR Visa or Work Visa.
