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Citizenship Language Equivalency Checker

Does your IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TEF, or TCF score meet the citizenship language requirement?

Canadian citizenship requires CLB 4 or higher in listening and speakingin English or French (for applicants aged 18–54). Reading and writing scores don't affect citizenship eligibility. Select your language test and enter your L and S scores to see whether you meet the IRCC minimums.

IELTS band score (0.0–9.0)

0.5 increments (4.5, 5.0, 5.5, …, 9.0)

0.5 increments (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, …, 9.0)

For citizenship, IRCC only evaluates Listening and Speaking — Reading and Writing scores don't affect your citizenship eligibility.

This language equivalency checker is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. The score-to-CLB cutoffs are pinned from the IRCC-published equivalency tables on the accepted-tests page. Test equivalency tables and citizenship language requirements can change. Your test results must also be dated within the 2 years before you submit your citizenship application.

Official source: IRCC: Language proof — Step 5 (accepted tests) · Last updated: 2026-04-17

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score do I need for Canadian citizenship?
IELTS General Training with Listening 4.5 or higher AND Speaking 4.0 or higher. That's the IRCC-published minimum. The IELTS Academic version is NOT accepted for citizenship — only General Training.
What CELPIP score do I need for citizenship?
CELPIP General or CELPIP-G LS with a level 4 or higher in listening AND speaking. CELPIP levels map 1:1 to CLB — a level 4 score equals CLB 4.
Is PTE Core accepted for Canadian citizenship?
Yes. PTE Core is accepted with a minimum listening score of 28 and a speaking score of 42. IRCC added PTE Core to the accepted citizenship language tests after initial roll-out. IELTS Academic and the original PTE Academic are NOT accepted for citizenship.
What French tests are accepted?
TEF Canada, TEFAQ, TEF IRN (formerly 'TEF pour naturalisation'), TCF Canada, and TCFQ are all accepted. You need CEFR B1 or higher in listening and speaking. DELF (at B1+) and DALF (any result) are also accepted.
Do my Reading and Writing scores matter for citizenship?
No. IRCC only evaluates Listening and Speaking for the citizenship language requirement. If you have a full test with Reading and Writing scores, they're used for other immigration programs (Express Entry, etc.) but NOT for citizenship. You can enter only your L and S scores above.
How recent does my language test need to be?
Your test results must be from within the last 2 years (24 months) of when you submit your citizenship application. An older score cannot be used — you'd need to retake the test.
I don't have a language test yet. How do I prove I meet CLB 4?
Besides a third-party language test, IRCC also accepts: a LINC/CLIC certificate showing CLB/NCLC 4+ in listening and speaking, a completed CELPIP-General LS (listening + speaking only — shorter and cheaper than the full CELPIP), or proof of secondary or post-secondary studies completed in English or French. Check IRCC's Step 5 page for the full list.