Federal Skilled Worker Program
In the language you claim as your first: English or French
- Listening
- CLB 7
- Reading
- CLB 7
- Writing
- CLB 7
- Speaking
- CLB 7
Source: Language test results — Express Entry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
What CLB level do I need?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level for each program, skill by skill. Pick your goal to see it. Each rule links to the IRCC page it comes from; where IRCC states no single number, the tool says “Check IRCC” instead of guessing.
Last checked against the IRCC pages: . IRCC changes its rules; the IRCC page always wins.
Express Entry
Permanent residence through Express Entry. The minimum depends on the program you qualify for; higher levels add Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
Canadian Experience Class
Canadian work experience in a TEER 0 or 1 job
- Listening
- CLB 7
- Reading
- CLB 7
- Writing
- CLB 7
- Speaking
- CLB 7
Source: Language test results — Express Entry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Canadian Experience Class
Canadian work experience in a TEER 2 or 3 job
- Listening
- CLB 5
- Reading
- CLB 5
- Writing
- CLB 5
- Speaking
- CLB 5
Source: Language test results — Express Entry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Listening
- CLB 5
- Reading
- CLB 4
- Writing
- CLB 4
- Speaking
- CLB 5
Source: Language test results — Express Entry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Citizenship
Canadian citizenship. Adults aged 18 to 54 must prove speaking and listening; a test result is one of the accepted kinds of proof.
Canadian citizenship
Applicants aged 18 to 54
- Listening
- CLB 4
- Reading
- Not asked
- Writing
- Not asked
- Speaking
- CLB 4
Source: Language proof for citizenship (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Work permit
Most work permits have no single language level on IRCC’s pages. The post-graduation work permit does.
Post-graduation work permit
Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a university
- Listening
- CLB 7
- Reading
- CLB 7
- Writing
- CLB 7
- Speaking
- CLB 7
Applications submitted before November 1, 2024 do not need to meet it.
Source: Post-graduation work permit: who can apply (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Post-graduation work permit
College, polytechnic or other non-university program
- Listening
- CLB 5
- Reading
- CLB 5
- Writing
- CLB 5
- Speaking
- CLB 5
Applications submitted before November 1, 2024 do not need to meet it.
Source: Post-graduation work permit: who can apply (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Other work permits
Employer-specific, open and other work permits
- Listening
- Check IRCC
- Reading
- Check IRCC
- Writing
- Check IRCC
- Speaking
- Check IRCC
Some permits and employers ask for a level; IRCC’s pages state none for work permits in general.
Source: Work in Canada temporarily (work permits) (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Other
Other permanent residence programs. Two common ones are below; for anything else, the program’s own IRCC page is the only reliable answer.
Atlantic Immigration Program
Job offer in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- Listening
- CLB 5
- Reading
- CLB 5
- Writing
- CLB 5
- Speaking
- CLB 5
Source: Atlantic Immigration Program: language testing (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Atlantic Immigration Program
Job offer in TEER 4
- Listening
- CLB 4
- Reading
- CLB 4
- Writing
- CLB 4
- Speaking
- CLB 4
Source: Atlantic Immigration Program: language testing (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Provincial Nominee Program
Each province and stream sets its own level
- Listening
- Check IRCC
- Reading
- Check IRCC
- Writing
- Check IRCC
- Speaking
- Check IRCC
Source: Immigrate as a provincial nominee (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Beyond the minimum
The minimum makes you eligible; it is not always the level that gets you in. These tables live on IRCC’s and the test provider’s own pages, and we link to them rather than copy them:
- Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria — Express EntryHow many CRS points each CLB level earns in Express Entry. (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
- CELPIP scoring and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (celpip.ca)Which CELPIP® level matches which CLB level. (Paragon Testing Enterprises (Prometric))
- Language test results — Express EntryWhich tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry, and how long a result stays valid. (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
Reading about it only gets you so far
Once you know your target, see where you stand. The test drive puts every mechanic of the CELPIP® General test in front of you once — untimed, unscored, and it does not use a test from your quota.
Sources
Each read on 2026-09-29 unless marked otherwise. celpip9 is not affiliated with IRCC; this page is a summary, not immigration advice.
- Language test results — Express Entry — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Language proof for citizenship — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Post-graduation work permit: who can apply — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Work in Canada temporarily (work permits) — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Atlantic Immigration Program: language testing — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Immigrate as a provincial nominee — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria — Express Entry — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (read 2026-09-22)
- CELPIP scoring and the Canadian Language Benchmarks (celpip.ca) — Paragon Testing Enterprises (Prometric) (read 2026-09-22)