Foreign nationals seeking Canadian permanent residency will soon have an additional pathway to demonstrate their English language proficiency. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed it will begin accepting the TOEFL Essentials test, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), as proof of English ability.
According to CIC News, the test is not yet in use for immigration purposes, but IRCC has indicated that its official webpages will be updated once the rollout is underway. ETS, which announced its approval as a designated testing organization on August 21, said it is now coordinating with Canadian authorities on implementation steps.
The new option will apply to applicants under IRCC’s permanent economic immigration programs, including the Express Entry system (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class), the Atlantic Immigration Program, and Provincial Nominee Programs—although individual provinces may decide whether to adopt the change.
About TOEFL Essentials
TOEFL Essentials evaluates listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills through short, task-based exercises designed to reflect real-world communication. The test is approximately 1.5 hours long and is administered in secure centres both in Canada and internationally.
Candidates receive instant unofficial scores for listening and reading, while official results are typically available within six days. Test takers can share score reports with multiple institutions at no additional cost.
Broader Testing Options
Currently, IRCC recognizes three English-language proficiency tests:
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Pearson Test of English (PTE Core)
Scores are benchmarked against the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) to assess proficiency.
The inclusion of TOEFL Essentials is expected to provide greater flexibility for immigration applicants by expanding the range of accepted testing options.
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