Permanent Residence in Canada with Express Entry (outside of Quebec)

Language tests and CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) equivalency

Language tests must be taken before submitting your application on the Express Entry system. You must take an assessment test in French and/or English, even if your first language is one of these. The test will cover oral expression (speaking), oral comprehension (listening), written expression (writing), and written comprehension (reading).

If you wish, you may take only one of the two language tests. For French speakers, we recommend that you take the French test since it will earn you the most points. However, taking the second language test (if you are proficient in English) will also earn you additional points.

In the Express Entry system, you must choose a first language (English or French) and a second language (French or English). Depending on your level in both languages, you can earn up to 160 points: up to 136 points for the first language and up to 24 points for the second language.

It is even possible to score bonus points for your level of French as Canada would like to encourage the development of the French-speaking world outside Quebec. For this reason, you could score:

• 25 extra points if your French language level reaches level 7 or higher of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in the 4 language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing)
• 25 additional points if you also have a good level of English, equal or superior to level 5 of the CLB

The language tests approved for Express Entry are as follows:

For French

• The Test d’évaluation du français (TEF) (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) via the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Paris)
• The Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada) (speaking, listening, reading, and writing), not to be confused with the TCF Québec nor the TCF NF (used to obtain French nationality). The TCF Canada is administered by the FEI (France Éducation International – formerly CIEP).

For English

• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the option of General Training (for reading and writing). You can take this test whether you are in Canada or in another country.
• The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General) for people who are already in Canada (on a work or study permit, for example) or who are in India, the Philippines, the USA, or the United Arab Emirates. You must take the CELPIP-General (CELPIP-G) test and not the CELPIP-General-LS which is not accepted for Express Entry.

How much do these tests cost? How long are they valid for?

• The cost of the TEF French test can vary. Through the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it’s around 200-220 euros. Prices vary from place to place (prices sometime reach 250 euros). The cost of the TCF Canada test is around 175-200 euros (but make sure you are actually taking the TCF Canada test and not another one).
• Costs of the English tests: IELTS – 235 euros through the British Council; CELPIP G – 280 Canadian dollars excluding tax (rates can be found here).

The results of your language tests are valid for 2 years from the date of obtaining the results for the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

For more information: Designated assessment organisations.

Equivalency of CLB tests and language tests

A specific Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is generally required in the eligibility criteria for the various categories. However, when you take the CELPIP, IELTS, or TEF, the score or level assigned doesn’t automatically correspond to the CLB level. To find out the equivalency between the CLB and the language test levels, you should take a look at this page: Equivalency tables for the results of language tests.

As an example, here are the minimum requirement level equivalencies for all categories (based on choosing French as your first official language and English as your second).

The Federal Skilled Worker Category

French (TEF): to reach CLB 7 (minimum requirement), you must have a score of at least:

French (TCF): to reach CLB 7 (minimum requirement), you must have a score of at least:

English (IELTS): to reach CLB 5 (minimum requirement to earn extra points for the second language), you must have a score of at least:

English (CELPIP-General): to reach CLB 5 (minimum requirement to earn extra points for the second language), you must have a score of at least:

The Skilled Trades Category

French (TEF): to reach the minimum level required, you must have a score of at least:

French (TCF): to reach the minimum level required, you must have a score of at least:

The Canadian Experience Class

Two different levels are required for those who have had at least one year of Canadian work experience in NOC categories A and 0 and those who have had at least one year in NOC category B.

For experience obtained in categories A and 0:

French (TEF): to reach the minimum level required (CLB 7), you must have a score of at least:

French (TCF): to reach the minimum level required (CLB 7), you must have a score of at least:

* For category B:

French (TEF): to reach the minimum level required (CLB 5), you must have a score of at least:

French (TCF): to reach the minimum level required (CLB 5), you must have a score of at least:

Remember: you need to take at least one of these language tests BEFORE creating a profile on Express Entry. If you want to take a second language test later on (to increase your score), you can update your Express Entry profile with the results.