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Spouse IELTS Score for Canada PR: How Many CRS Points?
Your spouse or common-law partner's language test can add up to 20 CRS points in Express Entry: up to 5 points in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Points start at CLB 5, rise to 3 per skill at CLB 7 and reach the full 5 at CLB 9. In IELTS General Training, CLB 9 means Listening 8.0 and 7.0 in Reading, Writing and Speaking.
| Spouse's CLB in a skill | Points for that skill | If all four skills are at this level |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 9 or higher | 5 | 20 |
| CLB 7 or 8 | 3 | 12 |
| CLB 5 or 6 | 1 | 4 |
| CLB 4 or lower | 0 | 0 |
These points are part of the spouse or common-law partner factors, worth up to 40 CRS points in total: 20 for language, 10 for education and 10 for Canadian work experience.
What IELTS score does my spouse need?
IRCC converts each IELTS General Training skill to a CLB level on its own. Your spouse needs the score shown for every skill to reach that level in it.
| CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB 9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| CLB 8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| CLB 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CLB 5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
For example, Listening 8.0, Reading 6.5, Writing 7.0 and Speaking 7.0 gives CLB 9 in three skills (5 points each) and CLB 8 in Reading (3 points): 18 points, not 20. Check any four scores in the CLB calculator.
How a spouse changes your own points
When your spouse comes with you, your own language points per skill are slightly lower. CLB 9 gives you 29 points per skill instead of 31, and CLB 10 gives 32 instead of 34. Your own language maximum drops from 136 to 128. Your spouse's points can make up the difference.
| Situation | Your language points | Spouse's language points | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | 124 | – | 124 |
| With spouse, no spouse test | 116 | 0 | 116 |
| With spouse at CLB 7 in all four | 116 | 12 | 128 |
| With spouse at CLB 9 in all four | 116 | 20 | 136 |
Other core factors, such as age and education, are also scored a little lower when a spouse comes with you. That is why the spouse factors exist.
When your spouse's score does not count
- Your spouse or partner is not coming with you to Canada. You are then scored as a single applicant.
- Your spouse or partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You are also scored as a single applicant.
- The result is from a test IRCC does not accept, or it is more than 2 years old when you apply.
Which of you should be the principal applicant?
Whoever brings the higher total CRS score. Strong language scores, a younger age, more education or Canadian work experience usually decide it. Work out both versions with IRCC's CRS tool before you create your profile.
Which tests can your spouse take?
English: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core. French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada. IELTS Academic is not accepted for Express Entry.
Official sources
- Express Entry: CRS criteria (IRCC)
- Express Entry: check your score (IRCC)
- Express Entry: language test results (IRCC)
Immigration rules change. Check the IRCC pages above before you apply.