IELTS score requirements for Canada PR and citizenship
Checked against official sources on 30 September 2026
Canada measures English with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Your IELTS General Training band in each skill is converted to a CLB level, and each immigration program sets a minimum CLB. Here is what each one needs, taken from the official IRCC pages.
- Test accepted
- IELTS General Training
- Express Entry minimum
- CLB 7 (FSW)
- CLB 7 in IELTS
- 6.0 in each skill
- Results valid
- Under 2 years old
Minimum English level by program
| Program | Minimum CLB | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 in all four | L 6.0, R 6.0, W 6.0, S 6.0 |
| Canadian Experience Class (TEER 0 or 1) | CLB 7 in all four | L 6.0, R 6.0, W 6.0, S 6.0 |
| Canadian Experience Class (TEER 2 or 3) | CLB 5 in all four | L 5.0, R 4.0, W 5.0, S 5.0 |
| Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing | L 5.0, R 3.5, W 4.0, S 5.0 |
| Citizenship (ages 18 to 54) | CLB 4 speaking and listening | L 4.5, S 4.0 |
Which IELTS test Canada accepts
For Express Entry, IRCC accepts IELTS General Training, not IELTS Academic. The other accepted English tests are CELPIP-General and PTE Core.
Express Entry results must be less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you submit your application. For citizenship, IRCC accepts IELTS General Training results even if they have expired, but again not IELTS Academic.
Why a higher score matters
The minimum only makes you eligible. In the Federal Skilled Worker selection grid, each ability earns 4 points at CLB 7, 5 points at CLB 8 and 6 points at CLB 9 or above, so strong English is worth up to 24 points.
Language is also one of the biggest parts of your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which decides who gets invited. Many candidates aim for CLB 9, which is IELTS 8.0 in listening and 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking.
Watch the listening and reading thresholds
The IELTS bands for each CLB are not the same across skills. CLB 8 needs 7.5 in listening but only 6.5 in the other three, and CLB 10 needs 8.5 in listening. Reading needs less: CLB 5 is only 4.0 in reading. Use the calculator to see exactly where your scores land.
Questions
- What IELTS score do I need for Canada PR?
- For the Federal Skilled Worker Program you need at least CLB 7, which is IELTS General Training 6.0 in listening, reading, writing and speaking. Higher scores earn more points and improve your chance of an invitation.
- Does Canada accept IELTS Academic for PR?
- No. Express Entry and citizenship accept IELTS General Training only. IELTS Academic results cannot be used for these.
- What IELTS score is CLB 9?
- CLB 9 is IELTS General Training 8.0 in listening and 7.0 in reading, writing and speaking.
- What IELTS score do I need for Canadian citizenship?
- If you are 18 to 54, you need CLB 4 in speaking and listening: IELTS General Training 4.5 in listening and 4.0 in speaking. Expired results are accepted.
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Official sources
- IRCC: Express Entry language test results
- IRCC: How to find your language level based on your test results
- IRCC: Language proof for citizenship
TestWise Prep is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with any government, regulator or IELTS. Requirements change, so always confirm on the official pages before you book a test or apply.