11. Language Testing (Express Entry)

To be eligible for Permanent Residence under IRCC’s Express Entry Management System, the applicant must demonstrate their English or French language ability by taking an approved language test and scoring at a certain level. Applicants must enter language test details in their Express Entry profile at the federal level before they are granted an Express Entry number and Job Seeker Validation Code. These numbers are required in order to apply to the Express Entry Skilled Worker category under the NLPNP.

The minimum scores required depend on the specific federal category for which the applicant qualifies. To confirm the scores required, the IPDO should consult the IRCC website, as these requirements are subject to change periodically.

The test must have been done within the past two years and it must have been conducted by a recognized language-testing organization, you can find language tests approved by IRCC here.

The language test results must be valid at the time of application and must continue to be valid throughout the nomination process. Additionally, the results must be valid at the time the nominee applies for permanent residency to the federal government. If it is deemed likely that the language test will expire before the applicant is able to submit their application for permanent residence, the OIM may request new language testing. The applicant may attach a copy of the results with their application.

PROCEDURES:

  1. The Departmental Coordinator will ensure that valid copies of the language test results are on file prior to assigning the application to the IPDO. The Departmental Coordinator will also note the expiry date on the language test results. If the Departmental Coordinator determines that the expiry date of the language test results may affect the assessment process, they will communicate this to the IPDO and make a note on the file under the Activities section of the online application.
  2. The IPDO will verify language scores for the principal applicant on every application in which language testing is required. The following resources will be used to verify scores:
  3. The IPDO will use the log in details provided internally to them to complete this verification. As the IPDO verifies scores, they will note that they have completed this verification in the Activities section of the online application.
  4. If the language verification is unsuccessful and the applicant does not have adequate language results, the IPDO will send a Procedural Fairness Letter to the applicant, as per the Procedural Fairness Policy.
  5. If the IPDO determines that the applicant may have falsified their language results, the IPDO will refer the situation to the PNP Champion to discuss and determine if misrepresentation has occurred. If so, the IPDO and PNP Champion will consult the General Misrepresentation Policy for more guidance on next steps.