PrepHome › Canada PR language requirements › IELTS validity for Canada PR
How Long Is IELTS Valid for Canada PR?
For Canada PR, IRCC accepts IELTS General Training results for 2 years from the date of the test result. They must be valid when you create your Express Entry profile and still valid on the day you submit your permanent residence application after an invitation. The same 2-year rule applies to CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
| Stage | What the rule means for you |
|---|---|
| Creating your Express Entry profile | Your result must be less than 2 years old. |
| Waiting in the pool | A profile stays in the pool for up to 12 months. |
| After an invitation to apply | You have 60 days to submit your permanent residence application. |
| Submitting your PR application | Your result must still be less than 2 years old on that day. |
What if my IELTS expires while I am in the pool?
Expired results no longer meet the language requirement, so you cannot apply with them. Take a new test and update your profile with the new result. If the new scores are lower, your CRS score drops with them, so prepare properly rather than retesting at the last minute.
When should I book a retest?
- Your result expires within the next few months and you are still waiting for an invitation.
- You are close to the next CLB level in one skill. A retest is a chance to raise your CRS score, not only to renew it.
- Allow time for the result to arrive and for you to update your profile before the old one expires.
Moving from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in all four skills adds 56 points for a single applicant. See what CLB 7 and CLB 9 need.
Does this apply to my spouse's test too?
Yes. Your spouse's result must also be less than 2 years old when you apply, or it earns no points. How spouse language points work.
Is IELTS valid for 2 years everywhere?
For IRCC and Express Entry, yes. Colleges, universities and other organisations set their own rules, so check with them directly.
Official sources
Immigration rules change. Check the IRCC pages above before you apply.