- If you are 18 to 54 when you sign your application, you must prove CLB 4 in English or French speaking and listening.
- A test is only one option. IRCC also accepts school in English or French and certain government-funded language classes.
- For a test, CELPIP-General LS checks only listening and speaking. You need a 4 or higher in both.
To become a Canadian citizen at 18 to 54, you must prove you can speak and listen in English or French at CLB 4. An approved test such as CELPIP-General LS is one way to prove it, but school in English or certain language classes also count.
CLB stands for Canadian Language Benchmarks, the scale IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) uses for language levels. This guide covers who needs proof, which documents IRCC accepts and which CELPIP to book. All rules below were checked on canada.ca in October 2026.
Who needs a language test
You must send proof of language ability if you are 18 to 54 on the day you sign your citizenship application. If you are under 18 or 55 or older on that day, you do not need to send it.
Many people search for the "canadian citizenship english test" and land on quiz sites. Those quizzes are for a different thing: the citizenship test, which checks your knowledge of Canada. The language requirement and the knowledge test are separate. A section near the end of this guide explains the difference.
Proof must go in with your application. IRCC says it will return the whole application if your proof is missing, cannot be read, or is in another language without a certified translation.
The level: CLB 4
IRCC asks for "adequate knowledge" of English or French. It defines this as CLB 4 in speaking and listening, or NCLC 4 if you use French. Reading and writing are not part of the citizenship requirement.
CLB 4 is a basic, everyday level. IRCC says that at this level you can:
- take part in short, everyday conversations about common topics
- understand simple instructions, questions and directions
- use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses
- know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express yourself
IRCC does not only read your documents. Its eligibility page says officials may note how well you speak when you talk with a citizenship official at any point in the process. If needed, an official may also assess your level during a citizenship test. IRCC's help centre adds that a citizenship officer makes the final decision.
If you need an accommodation or a waiver, IRCC's eligibility page explains how to ask for one.
Ways to prove your English
IRCC's language proof pages list the accepted documents in steps. You only need one of them.
1. School in English or French
You can send a diploma, transcript or certificate from a secondary or post-secondary program taught in English or French. The school can be in Canada or abroad. If the document is not in English or French, add a certified translation that shows the language of teaching. IRCC's help centre says a single course in English or French is not enough.
2. Test results from your PR application
If you sent language test results with your permanent residence application, you can use them again. IRCC says to include a copy even if the results have expired. Its help centre states there is no expiration date for test results used for citizenship.
3. Government-funded language classes
A LINC or CLIC certificate showing CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening counts. LINC and CLIC are the federal language classes for newcomers. A LINC or CLIC placement test does not count.
Some provinces run their own programs, and IRCC accepts certain certificates from them. The list covers British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Each has its own document and level, so check IRCC's step 4 page for yours.
4. An approved language test
If none of the above applies, you can take a test. IRCC accepts only these English tests for citizenship, with these minimum results in listening and speaking:
- CELPIP-General or CELPIP-General LS: 4 or higher in listening and in speaking.
- IELTS General Training: 4.5 or higher in listening, and 4.0 or higher in speaking. IELTS Academic is not accepted.
- PTE Core: 28 or higher in listening, and 42 or higher in speaking.
For French, IRCC accepts TEF Canada, TEFAQ, TEF IRN (formerly TEF pour naturalisation), TCF Canada, TCFQ, DELF at B1 or higher, and DALF. IRCC says it does not accept results from any other test.
Which CELPIP to take
CELPIP comes in two versions, and both count for citizenship:
- CELPIP-General LS: only Listening and Speaking. The CELPIP website says it takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes, with 38 listening questions and 8 speaking tasks. It is used for citizenship only.
- CELPIP-General: all four skills in about three hours. This is the version IRCC asks for in Express Entry and other PR programs.
If you only need citizenship, CELPIP-General LS is shorter and cheaper. Its citizenship page listed it at $199 plus tax in October 2026. Fees change, so check the booking page before you pay.
If you already have CELPIP-General results from your PR application, you probably do not need a new test. A 4 or higher in listening and speaking meets the minimum, even if the results are old. For a full side-by-side of the two versions, read CELPIP-General vs LS.
CELPIP levels 4 to 12 match CLB 4 to 12 directly, so a CELPIP 4 is CLB 4. To check any other score, use the CELPIP score chart.
What the Listening section feels like
CELPIP Listening uses everyday situations, such as a chat between neighbours or a call to a store. You hear each recording once, and every question is multiple choice. Here is an original example in the style of CELPIP Listening Part 2, Listening to a Daily Life Conversation. It was written for this post by CelpMock and is not an official question. In the real test you only hear the conversation; you do not see the words.
Notice how the first two ideas are both rejected. CELPIP often mentions wrong options in the recording, so listen for the final plan, not the first one.
Not the citizenship test
The citizenship test is a knowledge test, not a language test. IRCC says it has no questions to assess your English or French. Here is how it works, as of October 2026:
- Who takes it: applicants aged 18 to 54 on the day they sign the application.
- What it covers: the rights and responsibilities of citizens, plus Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols.
- Format: 20 multiple choice or true or false questions in 45 minutes.
- Pass mark: at least 15 of the 20 questions right. You have 3 chances to pass.
The official study guide is "Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship". It is free on canada.ca as a web page, a PDF, an eBook and an audio version. When people search for a "free english test for canadian citizenship pdf", this guide is often what they actually need.
So you may need two things: language proof sent with your application, and a pass on the knowledge test later. IRCC invites you to the knowledge test after you apply. If you are invited to an interview, an officer will also note how well you communicate.
How to prepare for CELPIP LS
CLB 4 is a basic level, but the test format still surprises people. The recordings play once, the speaking timers are strict, and you talk to a microphone, not a person. So practise with the format itself, not only with grammar exercises.
- Listening: practise with short everyday recordings. Our CELPIP Listening page explains all six parts and what each one tests.
- Speaking: learn the eight task types and their timers. Our CELPIP Speaking page has a sample question, a template and timing for each task.
- Sample test: try our free sample test. It takes about 50 minutes and has one part of each section on the real timers. You get AI feedback and a level for each skill.
If you already have a diploma from a school taught in English, check that option first. It may save you the test fee.