When thinking about immigrating to Canada, you should know that the language test is one of the essential factors under the Express Entry System. And, there are different programs to enable foreigners to become Permanent Residents.
The Express Entry system is probably the most popular option to start your immigration journey to Canada. As you may know, there are different ways a person can become a Permanent Resident, and almost everyone can find a suitable program to do it. However, most candidates need to meet the language test criteria to qualify and add points for their Express Entry profile.
Language Test for Canada
For immigration to Canada, the Government requires candidates to meet a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). It divides English or French into 12 different levels and assesses it in four skills:
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
Therefore, to know your language level, you need to get an approved test for Canadian immigration. Those are:
English:
- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
- IELTS: International English Language Testing System
French:
- TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
Finally, after taking your language level exam, you will receive a benchmark score. It resumes the score you got for each skill and how well you perform.
Canadian Language Bands (CLB)are divided into the following levels:
- Stage I: CLB 1-4
- Stage 2: CLB 5-8
- Stage 3: CLB 9-12
Finally, each Canadian immigration program has different language test requirements, and the Express Entry system is no different. However, not everyone needs the same CLB.
CLB score – Language Test for Express Entry
The Federal Skilled Program (FSP) requires candidates to get at least a minimum score of CLB 7. It means a result of at least 6.0 in the IELTS level test.
Minimum Language Test Level Scores for Express Entry
Under the Express Entry system, there are the following three programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program:
CLB 7 or higher in all the skills
- Federal Skilled Trade Program:
CLB 5 or higher for speaking and listening
CLB 4 or higher for reading and writing
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
CLB 7 for NOCs 0 or A
CLB 5 or higher if your NOC is B
After receiving your language test results, you can use our tool to calculate and discover your CLB. Remember that the higher your CLB is, the more points you can add to your profile.
Express Entry System
The Express Entry system is the most extensive immigration pathway to Canada. As we mentioned before, there are three programs under it:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
Then, after uploading your online profile, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Canadian Citizenship) determines which program is better for your case. After that step, you are now officially in the Express Entry pool, and there, you will receive a Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) based on different factors. Those are:
- Language level test
- Education level
- Work Experience
- Having a sibling in Canada
Once you are in the pool, you need to check Express Entry Draws that IRCC usually does every two weeks. Finally, if you meet or exceed the specific CRS score for a draw, you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Then, you are now one step closer to getting your permanent status.
Invitation to Apply
In short, when a candidate receives an ITA (Invitation to apply), it means that person has the opportunity to apply for its Canadian permanent Residency. You will have about 60 days to complete all your documents to submit your application. You must have your language test results, proof of education, and other records for that time. And, if everything goes as planned, you may get Canadian PR within six months.
Don’t worry if you do not receive an ITA as soon as you enter the Express Entry pool. Remember that your profile will remain active for one year. It even gives you time to improve your score by retaking your language test, adding work experience, or even finding a Canadian job offer.
We encourage candidates to collect their documents before receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will only have 60 days to submit all the documents as soon as you receive it. So, it is better to do it while you wait for it.
Immigrate to Canada as a Foreigner
To sum up, when you move to Canada as a permanent resident under the Express Entry system, you and your immediate family members will enjoy several benefits. Some of the most essentials are:
- Free universal health care
- Children can attend free public school
- Job opportunities in all fields
So, before starting your immigration journey, it’s better to explore all the options and decide which one is the best for you. Also, remember that your language test level is one of the essential factors that can help you improve your Express Entry profile score.
