What IELTS score is required for Canada immigration?
Quick answer
Canada asks for a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, not a single IELTS score, and for Express Entry you must take IELTS General Training. As published by IRCC on canada.ca and read on 30 September 2026, the Federal Skilled Worker minimum is CLB 7, which equals 6.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
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Requirements change, and the government page is the authority. What follows is the table as published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on canada.ca, read on 30 September 2026. The page showed “Date modified: 2026-06-22”.
Which IELTS you take
IRCC states: “You must take the IELTS General Training option.” It also states that it does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry. Canada measures language ability in Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, so your IELTS bands are converted to CLB levels, skill by skill.
IELTS General Training to CLB
This is the IRCC conversion for IELTS General Training. On the page, CLB 4 to 6 appear in the Federal Skilled Trades Program table, and CLB 7 to 10 appear in both tables.
| CLB level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 10 and above | 8.5 to 9.0 | 8.0 to 9.0 | 7.5 to 9.0 | 7.5 to 9.0 |
Listening is on a different scale from the other three skills: at CLB 8, for example, Listening needs 7.5 where the others need 6.5.
What the Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for
The IRCC eligibility page for the Federal Skilled Worker Program states that you must meet the minimum score in all four abilities, and that the minimum is CLB 7. On the table above, that is 6.0 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Other programmes under Express Entry set their own minimums, so read the page for yours.
Validity
IRCC states that approved language test results are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result, and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
What this means for your score
Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.5 and Speaking 6.5 on IELTS General Training each match CLB 8 in the IRCC table. Change Reading to 6.0 and Reading matches CLB 7 while the other three stay at CLB 8. Convert each skill on its own row, because the four skills do not use the same numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS Academic accepted for Canada immigration?
For Express Entry, the IRCC page says you must take the IELTS General Training option. It names General Training only. Check the page for the programme you are applying under before you book, because the conversion table on that page is the one for General Training.
Is IELTS One Skill Retake accepted for Express Entry?
No. The IRCC language testing page states that it does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake for Express Entry. If you need to improve one skill, plan a full IELTS General Training test rather than a One Skill Retake, and check the page again before you book.
Do I need the same IELTS band in every skill?
No, IRCC converts each skill to its own CLB level. The Federal Skilled Worker minimum is CLB 7 in all four abilities, so each skill must reach it. Listening is converted on a different scale from the other three skills, so the IELTS band you need is not the same number in every row.
How long are my IELTS results valid for Canada?
IRCC states that approved language test results are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence. Its language testing page says results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and submit your application.
Sources
- Language testing for Express Entry: IELTS — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Federal Skilled Worker Program: eligibility — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- IELTS scoring in detail: band scores explained — IELTS.org
Last verified 30 Sep 2026
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