Skilled Worker Immigration: IELTS score for Canada PR

If you plan to apply for Canada PR Visa, you have to secure the specified IELTS score for Canada PR. It is required for qualifying for immigration and proving your skills in the English language.

Canada has a few of the most livable cities globally with forthcoming multicultural communities.

You have to offer evidence of proficiency in the language for receiving a PR Visa and ensuring that you can easily communicate in French or English.

IRCC - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada accept IELTS test scores for all categories of Canada Visas. You must note here that for skilled worker immigration you must take the IELTS General Training test. It includes applications for the Express Entry system and Provincial Nominee Programs. Academic Test is not applicable and acceptable for Express Entry.

IELTS test categories

Obtaining the required score in IELTS can be regarded as the first step toward your Canadian immigration as a skilled worker and Permanent Resident. The chief purpose of offering the IELTS test results is to prove that you can communicate easily in Canada upon immigration.

IELTS is a highly acclaimed and accredited test for the English language globally. You can access abundant preparation and course materials and practice tests for this language test. It has two types of tests: General Training and Academic.

IELTS Academic 

You have to appear for the Academic Test only if you plan to pursue higher education overseas in any English-speaking nation.

IELTS General Training

For skilled worker immigration to Canada to obtain the Work Visa or PR Visa, you have to appear for the General Training Test. IRCC accepts only this test under IELTS for immigration applications. You have to obtain the minimum specified band score in IELTS to qualify based on your immigration program and the type of occupation that you will be employed in.

General Training Test assesses your day-to-day language skills in non-academic English. It is also the sole globally available and accepted test for proficiency in the English language. The IELTS General Training Test is available both offline/paper and online/computer.

Canada PR through the Express Entry system

Express Entry is the digital applications management system adopted by the Canadian Government in 2015. It is a points-based system for immigration that offers PR Visa pathways to skilled workers.

The Canadian Government has taken a unique and progressive approach to choosing skilled workers and professionals for the Canada PR Visa. It is a system that processes immigration applications according to the score under the Comprehensive Ranking System. The score is allocated depending on various factors such as work experience, language skills, educational credentials, age, and others. MPNP points calculator is also similar in the allocation of points.

The Express Entry System has three economic immigration programs under it:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Federal Skilled Worker Program

The higher your points score, the greater your chances of obtaining the Invitation to Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa. Usually, immigration applications under Express Entry System are processed in 6 (for FSWP) to 12 months (CEC, FSTP).

The minimum processing time for processing your PR application by IRCC is 6 months. You have to thus make sure that your test results in IELTS have a minimum validity for this time period.

IELTS score for Express Entry applications

In order to file an application for PR Visa in Express Entry, you will require a language proficiency of a minimum of 7 CLB - Canadian Language Benchmark. It implies at least bands cores of 6.0 in all 4 language components under IELTS. The 4 components are Speaking, Writing, Reading, and Listening. The allocation of points is as per the CLB levels.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

You are required to secure at least 7 levels in CLB which implies a score of 6 bands in all 4 language components in IELTS.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

You are required to secure at least 5 levels in CLB which implies a score of 4 bands in all 4 language components in IELTS.

Canadian Experience Class

You are required to secure at least 5 levels in CLB for NOC B occupations and 7 levels in CLB for NOC 0 and A occupations.

The overall IELTS score criteria and per section band score can be highly variable for Work Visas based on the occupations. Here are a few examples:

• Lawyer: a minimum score of 7.0 is required in each section of the IELTS
• Nurse: a minimum score of 6.5 is required overall and 7.0 for the speaking section

You must always confirm with an Immigration Expert, Study Overseas Counselor, or your prospective employer for the required IELTS test. For improving your chances of immigration, you can boost your IELTS score by consulting a Language Trainer or Coach.

Nationwide Visas offers you seamless immigration advice and services for Canada PR Visa.