Is Ielts Mandatory For Work Permit In Canada

I’ve written this guide to help you in getting your work permit in Canada. It’s a very important process and I wish this helped me when I was applying for a student visa. 

How important is the IELTS test for an individual who wishes to work and live in a country like Canada? Is it that hard? Will it be mandatory if you want to work in Canada? Getting a job or a business license in any other country is not that easy because of the tight competition. So, most people wish get ahead of those who are waiting in queue by investing in good education, especially English language.

IELTS is required for any visa, immigration and study permit application in Canada. The exception to this rule is Quebec which only requires one of its own language test for visa and immigration purposes. Please note that IELTS for US citizens is considerably easier to obtain than IELTS for non-US citizens.

The guidance below is an overview of the IELTS test, which is used to determine whether someone has the English language skills needed to apply for a work permit in Canada or get into a Canadian post-secondary school.

Is Ielts Mandatory For Work Permit In Canada

Check the IELTS website for more information, as rules and regulations can change. As of 2012, most international students applying to study in Canada were required to take English proficiency tests such as the TOEFL, TOEIC or an IELTS test. You can also check our blog on studying in Canada.

A lot of people want to live and work in Canada. A big reason for wanting to move to Canada is to have a better life: living a more comfortable lifestyle, raise their families in a pristine environment away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and maybe even pursuing better job opportunities and career paths. But before you hop in your car, bus, or plane to go over the Pacific Ocean, I know at least one thing: some of you reading this are saying “What about the language barrier? Can I overcome that obstacle?”

What is IELTS? 

The International English Language Testing System assesses the candidate’s ability to effectively communicate in English. There are primarily four factors that are taken into consideration while assessing the candidate’s English proficiency- reading, writing, listening and speaking. This evaluation is done through band score that ranges from 1 to 9, whereby 9 is the highest. 

Moreover, IELTS is accepted by 11,000 organizations worldwide and is primarily of two types- Academic and General Training. Students who aspire to pursue higher education can opt for IELTS Academic. On the other hand, those who wish to enrol in below degree level or wish to migrate for employment purposes can chose General Training. 

IELTS Exam Format 

IELTS contains four segments: reading, writing, listening and speaking. These sections must be completed within a stipulated word limit. The reading, writing and listening must be taken in the same day, whereas the speaking is given on the other day. It is a face to face interview and spans for 11-14 minutes.

Reading 

Candidates must answer 40 questions in 60 minutes and are of various types such as: multiple choice, True, False, Not Given, identify the claim of a writer, matching headings, sentence completion, summary, note, table, flow-chart, diagram and short-answer questions. It mainly evaluates the candidate’s ability to summarise, key ideas, recognising the writer’s perspective. 

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Writing 

Candidates must finish two tasks. For Academic Task 1 requires them to present an overview of the graph, table, chart or a diagram. They must highlight the key features. For Task 2, candidates must write an essay as a response to a statement made. 

IELTS General Writing Topics & Questions

On the other hand for General Training, candidates must write a letter for Task 1. For the second task, they must justify their opinion. Nevertheless, candidates must be aware of the marking scheme. It is divided into four essential parts: 

• Response to the task– Here, the student will be assessed based on meeting all the task requirements. It includes the information provided, their perspective, and answering all parts of the questions. 
• Vocabulary usage- Here, the usage of vocabulary, spellings, implementation of collocations, word formation is determined. 
• Range of grammar and accuracy- This tests the candidate’s ability to use tenses, sentence construction, punctuations, and a combination of simple and compound sentences. 
• Coherence and Cohesion– The candidate is marked on the usage of linking words, paraphrasing skills, and connectors. Furthermore, the number of paragraphs written is also taken into account. 

Listening 

Students must listen to four recordings and answer questions accordingly. 

Thus, candidates can appear for IELTS, a standard and accepted English test for Canada immigration, to prove their English language skills.

Additionally, if an applicant is 18 to 44 years of age, they must meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks Level 4 or higher in either English or French. Thus, it is important to have an English language test for Canada immigration. 

Speaking 

The speaking section remains the same for both Academic and General IELTS. It tests whether the candidate can communicate in English effectively with the native English speakers. The total time for the test is approximately 11-14 minutes and the syllabus is underlined below: 

Part 1- Introduction and interview 

First and foremost, the candidates will introduce themselves. The examiner asks questions around generic topics such as family, education, hobbies and professional life. This session stretches to 4-5 minutes. 

Part 2– Individual talk 

Here candidates are given cue cards on which they must speak least for 2 minutes. The test-taker can also make notes on the topic and must do so within the preparation time. They can write the keywords down and elaborate on the points while speaking. 

After the stipulated time, follow-up questions are asked on the same topic. In this section, the candidate’s ability to communicate without any pause is assessed along with their language usage. This session is generally 3-4 minutes. 

Part 3– Long discussion 

Candidates now have to discuss in-depth about the topic given in the cue card. However, more abstract issues will be discussed and may involve asking questions such as: 

• What makes the subject important, according to you? 
• Related questions to the topic 

The main focus of the task is to assess whether the candidate is able to justify their opinions and if they are able to elaborate on the issue. This session stretches to 4-5 minutes. 

Importance of IELTS Required for Canada Work Permit

Individuals can also immigrate to Canada through Express Entry. This is primarily meant for skilled immigrants looking to settle in Canada permanently and can take part in Canada’s economic growth.  However, candidates have to provide a range of documents for express entry and a good score in IELTS  can substantially boost a candidate’s chances for being selected for Express Canada entry. 

Finally, it is evident that apart from other eligibilities concerned, IELTS is also required for Canada work permit. So, may it be for a work visa or a PR, one must consider providing the IELTS score, as this will significantly boost an applicant’s candidature for a visa. 

Eligibility for Canadian Work Permit Visa  

Before application, individuals have to meet certain eligibilities first. Although the eligibilities depend on the type of work visa an individual is applying for, but they have to meet these compulsory eligibilities first – 

1. Individuals have to have that they have enough money to sustain themselves in Canada and to return home. 
2. Prove to the concerned officer that he/she will leave Canada after the work permit expires. 
3. Applicants shouldn’t have any criminal record. 
4. Candidates shouldn’t be a danger to Canada’s security. 
5. They should be in good mental and physical health. 
6. Applicants shouldn’t have any plans to work for an employer listed as ‘ineligible’ in ’employers who failed to comply with the conditions.  
7. Candidates shouldn’t have any plan to work for an employer that offers erotic dance, striptease, erotic massages or escort services. 
8. Provide any additional documents concerning officer demands. 

If applicants are looking to apply for a work visa from outside Canada, they need to check visa-specific requirements depending on the location of the application.

Documents Required for Canada Work Permit Visa 

Applicants looking to apply for a Canada Work Visa must arrange a few documents required for application. The list of documents required are listed below – 

1. Passport
2. Proof of work experience and professional qualifications
3. Two photographs, along with accompanying family members
4. Proof of available funds
5. Educational qualification documents 
6. Proof showing an applicant fulfilled the applied job requirement.
7. Certificat D’Acceptation du Quebec (if applicable).
8. Proof of evidence of relationship with a common-law partner, children, and spouse.
9. Completed application forms of IMM 5645, IMM 5488, IMM 5476, and IMM 5409.

Besides these documents, candidates might also check if IELTS is required for a Canada work permit beforehand. Additionally, they might also require submitting additional documents, so it is advised to review this requirement from the official website.