Canada attracts more than 500,000 students from all over the world each year, and among them, a staggering 30% choose to get permanent residency (PR) to work in Canada. Surprising, isn’t it?
Canada is home to some of the best cities in the world, like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. It's also a country with a strong economy and promises a high quality of life to international students. But before you can start the PR process, you'll need to meet a few requirements, such as getting a minimum IELTS score.
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an English proficiency test that is widely accepted by Canadian immigration authorities. In India, the IELTS exam costs INR 16,500 and is considered when assessing an applicant's eligibility for PR.
The minimum IELTS score required for PR in Canada is 6.0 but extends to to 8.0 depending on the immigration program or occupation. The score is judged based on four skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Each skill is assessed separately, and the overall score is calculated by averaging the four scores.
IELTS is an important factor when applying for PR in Canada since it evaluates your language skills. If you need more help on how to prepare for IELTS, keep reading this blog and you can also schedule a free consultation call with an expert Yocket counselor. They will provide you assistance with IELTS resources as well as visa and loan counseling - other important factors when considering a PR and work visa in Canada.
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Table of Contents |
IELTS for Work Visa & PR in Canada: An Overview
Getting an IELTS test score can be considered as one of the first steps to start your journey towards grabbing a PR and a work visa in Canada. The main purpose of presenting an IELTS score for a work visa and PR is to ensure that you can communicate in the country with ease once you decide there.
The IELTS exam is usually of two types: the General Training IELTS and Academic IELTS.
- Academic IELTS: This test is required if you’re planning to study higher education in any English-speaking country.
- General Training IELTS: This test can be taken by you if you are planning to enter an English-speaking country for training or work experience.
For immigration purposes in Canada, General Training IELTS is mandatory. Depending on the kind of job you are applying to and your PR process, you need to get the minimum IELTS scores to be eligible.
What is the Minimum IELTS Score for Canada Work Permit & PR?
The minimum ielts score required for a Canada PR is overall 6.0. However, the IELTS score for PR in Canada is highly variable and differs with each kind of program and work requirements. The IELTS exam assesses your English language skills across 4 language components - listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The points you earn under each IELTS subcategory are mapped against the CLB level or Canadian Language Benchmark level.
Here is a quick look at the IELTS score for Canada PR in 2023 compared to the minimum IELTS score under each language component. Each CLB level corresponds to a set of IELTS individual component scores as shown in the table below:
|
CLB Level |
Reading |
Writing |
Listening |
Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
8 |
7.5 |
8.5 |
7.5 |
|
9 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
|
8 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
|
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
6 |
5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
|
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
4 |
3.5 |
4 |
4.5 |
4 |
The required IELTS score for Canada work visa and PR entirely depends upon the CLB Level required by your work visa program or institution. For example, if your visa requires a CLB level 9, you would need to score: 7 in Reading, 7 in Writing, 8 in Listening, and 8 in Speaking.
Now, let us understand the language requirements for different work visa or immigration programs that can help you become eligible for a PR in Canada.
How to get PR in Canada: Routes and Requirements
Skilled immigrants or students who have recently graduated from Canadian institutions can become eligible for Canadian PR through the express entry system.
The Express Entry System requires an individual to score a minimum 67 points which are aggregated across 6 factors. Of these, language proficiency holds a substantial weightage as shown below:
|
Factor |
Maximum Points |
|---|---|
|
Age |
12 |
|
Education |
25 |
|
Language Proficiency |
24 |
|
Work Experience |
15 |
|
Adaptability |
10 |
|
Arranged employment |
10 |
The express entry system has three major pathways:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
The IELTS band required for Canada PR differs with each of these programs as discussed below:
Federal Skilled Worker Program
If you are someone with English as your official and first language, you will get no points for having CLB 4 or lower, and the maximum points if you get CLB 10 or higher.
The CLB level and IELTS score requirements for the Federal skilled worker program are:
|
CLB Level |
Points per category |
Listening |
Reading |
Speaking |
Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
4 |
6.0-7.0 |
6.0 |
6 |
6 |
|
8 |
5 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
|
9 |
6 |
8 |
7.0 |
7 |
7 |
|
10 and above |
6 |
8.5-9.0 |
8.0-9.0 |
7.5-9.0 |
7.5-9.0 |
For individuals having English as their second language, 4 points are awarded if they meet these requirements:
|
CLB Level |
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 |
The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires an individual to have a CLB level of 7, with the minimum IELTS score required for Canada PR being 6 in each component.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Given below is the IELTS score for a work visa in Canada for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, of each CLB level:
|
CLB Level |
Listening |
Reading |
Speaking |
Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
4 |
4 |
|
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
6 |
5.5 |
5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
|
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
8 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
|
9 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
10 and above |
8.5-9.0 |
8.0-9.0 |
7.5-9.0 |
7.5-9.0 |
For the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you need to have a minimum CLB 5 level.
Canadian Experience Class
To get a PR or work visa in Canada, the Canadian Experience Class enables you, as an individual, to get suitable jobs according to the prescribed CLB levels.
Jobs can be classified as NOC A and NOC B level jobs, wherein NOC stands for National Occupational Classification, a system to classify jobs based on certain levels.
The IELTS band score for Canada work visa according to specific NOC levels is given below:
|
NOC Level |
CLB Level |
Listening |
Reading |
Speaking |
Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
A |
10 and above |
8.5-9 |
8-9 |
7.5-9 |
7.5-9 |
|
A |
9 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
A |
8 |
7.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
|
A |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
B |
6 |
5.5 |
5 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
|
B |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
For NOC A level, you need a minimum CLB 7 and for NOC B you need a minimum CLB 5 level.
You should also know that the IELTS score for a Canadian work visa is highly differentiable with certain jobs and occupations. For instance, being a nurse requires a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, whereas being a lawyer demands an IELTS score of 7.0.
Suggested: Post Graduation Work Permit in Canada
From the Desk of Yocket
Canada is home to international citizens from more than 150 countries, and the Canadian government is committed to attracting and retaining skilled immigrants. To this end, the government has simplified obtaining a Canadian permanent residency (PR) and work visa.
The IELTS English proficiency test is one of the requirements for both PR and work visa applications. The required IELTS score varies depending on the specific immigration program or occupation, but skilled immigrants are generally recommended to score a minimum of 6.0 on each band of the test.
If you need expert assistance to help you with the visa application process, settling down in Canada, and achieving your immigration goals, then connect with Yocket experts.