Is IELTS Required for Canada Work Permit?: Updates, Eligibility, Documents Required

Do you know that every year, over 4 million students choose to sit for the IELTS exam?

IELTS is one of the well-renowned English language competence examinations accepted by over 12,000 organisations internationally in over 140 countries.

If you wish to work in Canada, you’ll need to apply for a Canada work permit, often known as a work visa. This visa, provided by the Government of Canada, permits you to work in the nation for a certain duration. One essential need for acquiring this permission is establishing your language ability, usually through an IELTS score.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recognises IELTS as proof of your English competence. For many jobs that require strong English language skills, obtaining a good IELTS score can be quite useful. It ensures you can converse successfully and fit into Canadian society seamlessly.

More than 25 lakh people have taken the IELTS in the last five years in order to fulfil their dreams of studying in Canada. Getting acquainted with IELTS can aid in your preparations.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of the IELTS required for a Canada work permit, along with eligibility, process and required documents.

In 2025 and 2026, Canada introduced significant changes to its work permit regulations to manage the temporary resident population and align labour intake with specific economic needs. These updates primarily affect language requirements, spousal eligibility, and the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is standardising language tests across most Open Work Permit (OWP) streams under the International Mobility Program (IMP)

• New Requirement: Starting in early 2026, applicants for certain open work permits, specifically Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP), will need to demonstrate English and French proficiency through official tests like IELTS or CELPIP.
• Purpose: This measure aims to prevent exploitation (such as fraudulent marriages) and ensure that the newcomers can enter safely into the workforce.

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Effective January 21, 2025, eligibility for SOWP has narrowed significantly:

• For Spouse Students: Eligibility is now limited to spouses of students enrolled in masters program(16 months), doctoral programs, or professional degree programs ( medical, engineering, and law). Most college diplomas and short-term courses no longer support a spouse’s OWP.
• Spouses of Workers: Most of the time, only spouses of people who work in high-skilled TEER 0 or 1 positions are eligible. Only spouses of people who work in TEER 2 or 3 jobs that are linked to known labour shortages (like healthcare, STEM, or trades) can apply.
• Permit Validity: For a spouse to be eligible for the principal worker’s permit should have at least 16 months of validity remaining at the time of application.

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New criteria have taken effect on November 1, 2024. For the students who are applying for a study permit after that date:

• Field of Study Requirement: Colleges and non-degree university graduates must complete a program from one of the 5-demand sectors: Healthcare, STEM, Trade, Agriculture, or Transport.
• University Graduates: Students who are graduating with a bachelor’s, masters or PhD remain eligible up to 3 years of PGWP regardless of their field of study.

These updates introduce stricter financial thresholds and operational standards, ensuring that the foreign workers are economically self-sufficient.

• Higher Proof of Funds: The applicant now must show $12,960 CAD ( plus tuition and travel) due to the increase in the cost of living.
• Implied Status Extension: Workers who submit an extension before their permit expires will now receive 180 days of implied from 120 days.
• Raised Salary Thresholds: Most of the new job offers should meet or exceed the minimum median wage of approx $28.50 per hour.

To get a work permit in Canada, you need to have an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0. But it can change depending on the job and immigration program you are applying for.

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are used by Canada to test English skills for immigration purposes.

The CLB system divides English skills into four groups: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. The average of the four scores gives you your overall score. After that, your IELTS score is changed to a CLB score so that your application can be assessed.

The table below shows how the scores for each part of the IELTS test relate to the CLB levels:

Also, each work permit has a different specific CLB requirement.

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): The program is designed for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to migrate to Canada permanently. The eligibility for FSWP is a minimum of CLB 7 in English. That means the IELTS score in all 4 sectors should be typically a band 6.

First Official Language:

Second Official Language:

2. Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP): This program makes it easier for skilled tradespeople to move to Canada. It is a quick way to get permanent residency and the right to work in Canada.

Most people who want to join the FSTP need to have at least a CLB 4 score in English.

3. Canadian Experience Class: The program targets individuals with established skilled work experience in Canada seeking permanent residency. It is among the quickest routes, requiring three to four months for processing.

Your professional experience in Canada in a role categorised under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) according to your training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER):

• TEER 0: Management professions (e.g., managers in advertising, marketing, and public relations)
• TEER 1: Professions that typically necessitate a university degree (e.g., financial advisors, software engineers)
• TEER 2: Occupations typically necessitating a college diploma, apprenticeship training (two or more years), or supervisory roles (e.g., computer network and web technicians).
• TEER 3: Occupations typically necessitating a college diploma, apprenticeship training (under 2 years), or a minimum of 6 months of on-the-job training (e.g., bakers).

There is a standard system called the NOC that gives every job in the Canadian labour market a code and a job description.

The minimum IELTS score you need to get a Canada work permit from the CEC depends on the NOC level of the job you’re applying for:

• NOC A jobs (highly skilled): Require a CLB 7 in language skills, which means you need to get at least a 6.0 in each section of the IELTS test.
• NOC B jobs (skilled): You need to be able to speak and write at a CLB 5 level (at least 4.0 in Reading and 5.0 in the other three sections).

The IELTS exam gives you the ability to communicate effectively in English, which has now become a universal requirement for major Canadian immigration streams.

• Mandatory Compliance: The PGWP (for graduates) and SOWP (for spouses) programs now necessitate official language results in accordance with the most recent IRCC regulations.
• Approval and Speed: Prioritised sectors, such as healthcare and commerce, necessitate upfront IELTS scores to access 10-day fast-track processing and mitigate processing delays.
• Workplace Safety: It demonstrates to the government and employers that it is possible full the safety protocols and communicate effectively in a Canadian work environment.
• PR Readiness: Achieving a high IELTS band (e.g., CLB 9) enables a smooth transition to Permanent Residency through Express Entry, as scores are valid for two years.

An IELTS score is accepted by 12,500 organisations worldwide, and its primarly in two types:

• IELTS Academic: This test is for those who aspire to pursue higher education in English-speaking countries.
• IELTS General Training: This test is for those who wish to migrate for employment purposes or enrol in below degree level.

The Canadian government offers different work permits based on your situation, the type of work you’ll be doing, and specific requirements. It’s important to figure out which permit best suits your needs before you move to Canada.

To apply for a work permit visa, you need to understand the NOC code. It is a system that assigns a unique code to every single occupation in Canada.

Step-by-Step Process for Canada Work Permit 2026

In 2026, eligibility for a Canadian work permit will be strictly determined by the specific immigration stream, with a significant shift towards prioritising high-skilled roles and essential services.

General Eligibility Requirements: Regardless of the permit type, all applicants should meet these fundamental criteria

• Intention to leave: Prove to the offer that you will leave Canada once your work permit expires.
• Financial Stability: Provide proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during the stay.
• Health and Security: Undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician and provide police clearance certificates (PCC) to prove you are not a security risk.

Before you apply for a Canada Work Visa, you must arrange the documents required for the application.

The Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) requires specific proof of relationship and the status of the primary sponsor in Canada.

Below are the documents you need for a dependent work visa.

Canada’s job market continues to offer significant opportunities for skilled professionals, particularly in healthcare, technology, logistics and skilled trades. Canada government has introduced priority processing for work permits in essential occupations, reducing wait times to as little as 10 business days for eligible roles.

The most in-demand job roles are those that keep operations running and provide direct patient or customer support.

• Healthcare: This remains the highest demand sector due to an ageing population and widespread retirements.
• Technology & IT: Growth is focused on digital transformation and emerging technologies. High demand roles for AI engineer, data scientist, cloud engineer, and software developer.
• Skilled Trades & Construction: infrastructure development and housing needs are driving demand for Electricians, carpenters, construction Managers, and HVAC Technicians.

Canada’s work permit system in 2026 prioritises high-skilled talent through two primary streams: Open Work Permits (PGWP/SOWP), which provide employers with flexibility, and Employer-Specific Permits, which necessitate a specific job offer and frequently an LMIA. One significant change is the mandatory language requirement. University graduates must possess CLB 7 (IELTS 6.0), while college graduates and their spouses must possess CLB 5. Due to labour shortages, positions in agriculture, healthcare, and other occupations are now eligible fora 10-day fast-track

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