Canada PR
Moving to Canada? Not sure what IETLS score you need? Don’t worry. We’ve got your covered. In this blog, we will discuss in detail the minimum IELTS score you need for Canada Federal Express Entry and Provincial Nomination Program (PNP).
Please note that this blog focuses on getting Canadian PR, and not studying in Canada. For that, we will have a different blog covering study in Canada requirements for IELTS.
Read more on the difference between IETLS Academic and IELTS General Training, and what purpose does each serve.
Canada, over the last decade, has become a hot destination for aspiring skilled immigrants to move, live and build a successful career in a nation of 40 million residents that call it their home. Canada is also home to world’s most beautiful lakes, beaches, high standard of living, and an abundant opportunities for the right mind.
What is Proof of Language?
Anyone looking to immigrate for Canadian Permanent Residency, needs to provide among a multitude of things, proof of language. This means you need to be able to communicate with others in English or French, both of which are official language of the country.
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) accepts IELTS General Training, and since 30th January, PTE Core as a proof of language to get accepted in the country’s Federal Express Entry Pool.
The minimum IELTS Score required for Canadian PR is a 6.0 overall band. This translates to a CLB level 7.
The following table shows exactly the requirements against each score:
| CLB Level | Points per subcategory | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 4 | 6.0 – 7.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 8 | 5 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 9 | 6 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 10 and above | 6 | 8.5 – 9.0 | 8.0 – 9.0 | 7.5 – 9.0 | 7.5 – 9.0 |
If you also meet the following score criteria, you get an additional 4 points.
| CLB Level | Total Points | Listening | Reading | Speaking | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 and above | 4 | 5.0 – 9.0 | 4.0 – 9.0 | 5.0 – 9.0 | 4.0 – 9.0 |
What is CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark)?
CLB is Canadian Language Benchmark, a system used by the Canadian government to assess your language proficiency and assign a number. While the CLB scores differ for each category, we strongly suggest you to aim for a 6.0+ band score in every IELTS module.
In short, you need no less than a 6.0 band score in each module of IELTS to get a CLB 7. If you get more (which we wish you do), there are additional points. I have an 8.5 in IELTS and my CLB is 10 or above, which is the highest you can get in Canada. The higher your IELTS score in each module, the higher your chances of immigrating to Canada as you get a better CLB score.
Canada has immigrant-friendly policies, welcoming skilled labor in Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
To be eligible, you need to be able to prove that you are good when it comes to communicating in the English language. It takes a minimum of 6 months for IRCC to process your application in their only Express Entry Pool. Your profile, from the date of submission into the Express Entry pool, is active till the next 12 months, around 365 days. During this time, you can always go back and update your profile, for instance, you reappeared for IELTS and got a better score, or you re-evaluated for ECA and got an improved ECA equivalency. Similarly, you can also add in experience and family details for you and your immediate family members should the situations change.
For more official information, visit the official website for proof of language requirements.
