Archive · 23 Aug 2025
Canada to Accept TOEFL Essentials for Residency
Canada is changing its rules for people who want to live there permanently.
They will now allow people to use a new English test called TOEFL Essentials to prove they can speak English.
The government is working with the company that makes the test to get everything ready.
This change helps people applying for permanent residency through economic programs.
The TOEFL Essentials test checks your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
This test uses real-life tasks to see how well you can communicate.
Canada will soon accept the TOEFL Essentials test for permanent residency applications.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will begin accepting the TOEFL Essentials.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) is working with the IRCC on the implementation.
The new language testing option will apply to foreign nationals in economic immigration programs.
TOEFL Essentials tests English skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
- Who
- Foreign nationals applying for permanent residency in Canada and the IRCC.
- What
- Canada will accept TOEFL Essentials for permanent residency.
- When
- In the near future; details on timing are still pending.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- To provide an additional English language proficiency test option.
- Test Name
- TOEFL Essentials
- Governing Body
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- ETS Statement
- Currently working with the IRCC on the steps leading up to acceptance
- Test Duration
- Approximately 1.5 hours
- Impacted Programs
- Express Entry, FSWP, FSTP, and CEC