Is it possible to get admission in Canada without IELTS, or do I have to take IELTS?

Yes, you can absolutely get into a Canadian university without IELTS, but you cannot skip English proficiency proof altogether. You just need to pick the alternative pathway that fits your background, whether that is another test, an exemption letter, or a pathway program.

Universities and their accepted IELTS alternatives

Other ways to prove your English

• Medium of Instruction certificate: works if your last three to four years of study were taught in English, backed by official transcripts and a formal MOI letter
• Conditional admission plus pathway program: enroll in an intensive English or ESL course before your degree if you fall short of the score
• Automatic exemption: available if you are a citizen of, or studied full time in, an English-speaking country such as the UK, USA, or Australia

My Advice

Check your target university's own exemption policy before you register for any test, since institutions like Toronto and McGill each set their own MOI rules. Once you have your alternative score or exemption letter in hand, attach it directly to your study permit application so IRCC does not flag a language gap later.