CELPIP What CELPIP score do you need for Canada? Express Entry, CRS points and citizenship
Updated 12 Nov 2026
CELPIP levels match CLB levels number for number, so CELPIP 9 in Speaking is CLB 9 in Speaking (see CELPIP scores). This page collects the CLB levels IRCC asks for in each program and the CRS points each level earns. All figures come from IRCC pages on canada.ca; the dates viewed are at the end.
Which CELPIP test
- Permanent residence (Express Entry) accepts CELPIP-General, all four skills. IRCC's Express Entry page does not list CELPIP-General LS.
- Citizenship accepts both CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS (Listening and Speaking only).
- For Express Entry, results must be less than 2 years old both when you create your profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. If they expire before you apply, the application is refused, so plan your test date.
Minimum level for each program
| Program | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC), TEER 0 or 1 jobs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC), TEER 2 or 3 jobs | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Federal Skilled Trades (FST) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Citizenship (ages 18 to 54) | 4 | 4 | not required | not required |
These levels make you eligible for the Express Entry pool. Whether you get an invitation depends on your CRS score in each draw. Citizenship applicants under 18 or aged 55 and over do not need language proof.
FSW also has its own eligibility grid, where the first official language is worth up to 24 points: 4 points per skill at CLB 7, 5 at CLB 8, and 6 at CLB 9 or higher. Any skill below CLB 7 makes you ineligible for this program.
Language points in the CRS
Points are given per skill and added up across all four. The "with spouse" column applies when your spouse or partner comes with you.
| CLB per skill | Single | With spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Below CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 9 | 8 |
| CLB 7 | 17 | 16 |
| CLB 8 | 23 | 22 |
| CLB 9 | 31 | 29 |
| CLB 10 or more | 34 | 32 |
The first official language is worth up to 136 points if single, 128 with a spouse. CLB 11 or 12 earns nothing more than CLB 10.
Reading the table: going from CLB 8 to CLB 9 adds 8 points per skill for a single applicant, or 32 points across all four. Going from CLB 9 to CLB 10 adds only 3 points per skill, or 12 in total.
Why CLB 9 in all four skills is worth the most
The CRS also gives points when language is combined with education or work experience (skill transferability). IRCC splits this into two tiers:
- CLB 7 or higher in all four skills, with at least one below 9: lower tier, up to 25 points per combination.
- CLB 9 or higher in all four skills: higher tier, up to 50 points per combination.
Example: a single applicant with one bachelor's degree and 3 years of work experience outside Canada, no Canadian experience:
| CLB 8 in all four | CLB 9 in all four | |
|---|---|---|
| Language points | 92 | 124 |
| Language + education | 13 | 25 |
| Language + foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
| Total | 130 | 199 |
Reaching CLB 9 in all four skills alone adds 69 CRS points for this person. One skill left at 8 drops both lower rows to the lower tier. Moving on to CLB 10 in all four adds only 12 more. So for Express Entry, the first goal is to have no skill below 9.
Changes from 3 November 2026
IRCC's CRS criteria page says that as of 3 November 2026 it changed how points are given for Canadian work experience and job offers, and removed the LMIA requirement for all Express Entry job offers. IRCC is recalculating existing profiles, which may take up to 2 weeks, and invitation rounds are paused during that time. The language table above is the one shown on that page when we checked. Before working out points for a real application, open the official page again, since the rules may change further.
Provincial nominations (PNP)
Each province and each stream sets its own CLB levels, and they can change over time. Check the page of the province you are aiming for rather than an old summary table.
Source: canada.ca, viewed 12 Nov 2026: CRS criteria (updated 3 Nov 2026), FSW (3 Nov 2026), Express Entry language test results (16 Oct 2026), Citizenship eligibility and Citizenship language proof. This page is for general information, not immigration advice.