TOEFL Essentials to Be Accepted for Canadian Permanent Residence Applications

Great news for future Canadian immigrants! Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will soon accept the TOEFL Essentials test as a valid English language proficiency option for permanent residence applications under economic immigration programs.

What’s Changing?

As of August 21, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) — the organization behind TOEFL — announced that TOEFL Essentials has been added as a designated English language test by IRCC.

Important: While this test is not yet accepted, IRCC will update its official website when acceptance begins. ETS is currently working closely with IRCC to finalize the rollout, including test center availability and timing.

Who Will Benefit from This Change?

Once officially accepted, TOEFL Essentials will be available to applicants under IRCC’s economic immigration programs, including:

• Express Entry Programs
  
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
    
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
    
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
    
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
  
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
  (Note: PNP acceptance may vary by province or territory.)

About the TOEFL Essentials Test

The TOEFL Essentials test evaluates all four core English skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking, using task-based activities that reflect real-life communication in both academic and general settings.

Key Features:

• Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours
  
• Format: Four sections + a short, unscored Personal Video Statement
  
• Delivery: Available at secure test centers in Canada and worldwide
  
• Scoring:
  
  • Unofficial scores for Listening and Reading are available immediately
    
  • Official scores are typically released within 6 days
    
  • Score reports can be sent to unlimited institutions at no extra cost
    

Current Accepted English Language Tests by IRCC

Until TOEFL Essentials is officially accepted, IRCC recognizes the following English language tests for permanent residence applications:

• CELPIP – Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
  
• IELTS – International English Language Testing System
  
• PTE Core – Pearson Test of English Core
  

All language scores are assessed using the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) system.

Stay Updated

IRCC will provide official confirmation and timelines for TOEFL Essentials acceptance on its website. If you’re planning to immigrate to Canada under an economic program, this new testing option could make the process more accessible and flexible.

✅ Tip: Subscribe to IRCC updates or check back regularly to see when TOEFL Essentials becomes available for your application.

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