- CELPIP results appear in your CELPIP account 2 to 4 business days after the test. You download the official score report as a PDF.
- For Express Entry and the PGWP, IRCC wants results less than 2 years old. For citizenship, IRCC accepts expired CELPIP-General results.
- CELPIP's own pages give two validity periods, 2 years and 5 years. For immigration, the IRCC rule for your application is the one that counts.
CELPIP results appear in your online CELPIP account 2 to 4 business days after your test. You download the official score report as a PDF. For Express Entry and the PGWP, IRCC accepts results less than 2 years old, while for citizenship older results can still count.
IRCC is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This guide covers when your results arrive, where to find them, what the report shows and how long it stays valid. Every rule below was checked on celpip.ca and canada.ca on 18 October 2026.
When results arrive
The CELPIP test results page says your scores are available online 2 to 4 business days after your test date. Business days do not include weekends or holidays. You get an email when your scores are posted.
Two CELPIP pages disagree slightly here. The main "Take CELPIP" overview page says 3 to 4 business days. The results page, which has more detail, says 2 to 4. Plan around 4 business days, and treat anything sooner as a bonus.
Here is how the count works. Say you test on a Friday. The weekend does not count, so Monday is business day 1. Business day 4 is the following Thursday. If a holiday falls in that week, add one more day.
If your results are late
The results page says scores are sometimes delayed. It gives these reasons:
- Extra review: your test needed more checking before the scores could be released.
- A reported problem: you reported an issue within 24 hours of your test, and it is still being looked into.
- Identity checks: CELPIP needs more proof of your identity, or is looking into possible testing irregularities.
If more than 5 business days have passed and you have no email, the CELPIP website says to contact the CELPIP office.
If you have a deadline, such as an Express Entry invitation, leave at least a full week between your test and that date.
Where to find your results
Your results are online only, in the same CELPIP account you used to book the test. To get them:
- Go to celpip.ca and select Sign In at the top of the page.
- Sign in with the email and password you used to book.
- Select "Check Scores" in your account.
- Download the PDF of your Official Score Report.
No more paper copies
CELPIP no longer posts paper score reports. The results page says hard copy reports have been discontinued. A CELPIP announcement from April 2024 set the last request date for a paper copy in May of that year.
The PDF is now the official document. CELPIP's overview page says the PDF score report is official and accepted by institutions.
Save the file in two places, such as your email and a cloud folder. The results page says you can view your scores in your account for 5 years from your test date. A saved copy means you never depend on signing in.
What the score report shows
Your report gives a CELPIP level for each skill. A CELPIP-General report shows four: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. A CELPIP-General LS report shows only Listening and Speaking.
- Your levels: for levels 4 to 12, the CELPIP level is the same number as the CLB level. CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks, the scale IRCC uses. A 7 in Reading is CLB 7 in Reading.
- The lowest band: below level 3, the chart uses one band, 0 to 2. It replaced the old "M" score in December 2023.
- An average score: CELPIP-General reports added an average of the four skills in December 2023. CELPIP says this average does not equal any CLB level and is not relevant for IRCC.
- Two codes: a registration number and a PIN, explained in the next section.
Here is why the average does not matter. Say your report shows 9 in Listening, 8 in Reading, 7 in Writing and 7 in Speaking. The average of those four is 7.75. IRCC ignores that number. It looks at each skill on its own: CLB 9, 8, 7 and 7.
To turn your own levels into CLB levels, use our CELPIP score chart and CLB calculator.
Registration number and PIN
IRCC's Express Entry page says you enter your test results in your profile. It also asks for "the language test result form or certificate number and test PIN, if the system asks for it." IRCC uses that same wording for every accepted test. It does not name the CELPIP field.
On the CELPIP side, the document is called the Official Score Report, not a certificate. CELPIP's score verification page says organizations use the registration number and PIN on the score report to check your scores.
So the registration number is the closest match for IRCC's "certificate number" field, and the PIN is the test PIN. We could not find an IRCC or CELPIP page that states this link in so many words. Check the field labels in your profile carefully. If you are unsure, contact IRCC or CELPIP before you submit.
A few habits help here:
- Copy the codes from the PDF, not from memory or a screenshot.
- Enter each level exactly as it appears on the report. IRCC says it will verify the results you submit.
- Keep the same PDF ready to upload later, when you apply for permanent residence.
How long CELPIP is valid
There are two separate questions here. How long does CELPIP say your scores are valid, and how long will IRCC accept them? For immigration, the IRCC rule is the one that decides.
What CELPIP says
As of October 2026, two CELPIP pages give different answers:
- Test format page: scores are valid for two years from the date the score report is issued.
- Test results page: scores are valid for five years from the date the score report is issued.
We cannot tell which figure CELPIP means to apply. In practice, it matters less than it seems. The organization reading your report sets its own time limit.
What IRCC accepts
These rules come from canada.ca, checked on 18 October 2026:
- Express Entry: your results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile. They must still be less than 2 years old when you submit your application for permanent residence. IRCC says it will refuse an application made with expired results.
- PGWP: your results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application.
- Citizenship: IRCC asks you to include a copy of your CELPIP-General results even if they are expired. You need 4 or higher in Listening and Speaking.
Employers, regulators and provincial programs set their own rules, so check with each one.
Counting the two years
IRCC's pages say "less than 2 years old" but do not say whether they count from the test date or the date results were issued. Counting from your test date is the safer choice, because it is the earlier date.
For example, say you took the test on 15 November 2025. Your results are less than 2 years old until 14 November 2027. If you are invited to apply close to that date, check your dates. IRCC says your results must still be valid when you plan to apply.
For the CLB levels each Express Entry program asks for, see our guide to the CELPIP score for Express Entry.
Sending and checking results
Sending your report
CELPIP does not post or email your report to IRCC for you. The results page says to download the PDF from your account and submit it to the organization yourself.
You can also add receiving institutions in your account. A CELPIP announcement from April 2024 explains how this works:
- Up to 5 recipients: you can add up to five receiving institutions.
- Up to 2 years: you can change that list for up to 2 years from your test date.
- Verification only: adding an institution lets it check your scores electronically. It does not send your report.
- For immigration: you still select IRCC as your main test purpose, and add others as needed.
The announcement does not mention a fee for adding recipients. We found no official CELPIP page listing a fee for extra score reports. Because the report is a PDF, you can upload or email copies yourself.
If a result looks wrong
You can ask for a re-evaluation of any skill within six months of your test date. The CELPIP website says you hear back in about one to two weeks. It also warns that Listening and Reading are rated by computer, so a change there is unlikely.
Our guide to CELPIP re-evaluation covers the fee, refunds and when a retake is the better plan. If you decide to retake, our free sample test gives you a level for each skill in about 50 minutes.