The inclusion expands the range of approved language proficiency tests and provides more flexibility for applicants pursuing Canadian immigration.
The inclusion expands the range of approved language proficiency tests and provides more flexibility for applicants pursuing Canadian immigration.
The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the acceptance of the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core test for various immigration pathways, effective Jan. 30.
The inclusion expands the range of approved language proficiency tests and provides more flexibility for applicants pursuing Canadian immigration.
PTE Core test
The PTE Core test is now recognized for immigration purposes, excluding the Student Direct Stream (SDS). This development applies to candidates in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), those engaged in Express Entry managed programs, and individuals requiring a language test for diverse Canadian immigration objectives, such as Canadian citizenship applications.
The PTE Core is a computer-based language assessment designed to evaluate general English proficiency specifically tailored for Canadian immigration. The test assesses skills in speaking, writing, reading, and listening, all within a two-hour time frame. With over 400 testing centers worldwide, the PTE Core aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of everyday English skills.
Noteworthy features of the PTE Core include scoring by both human evaluators and artificial intelligence to minimize bias, and swift result availability within two days.
The PTE Core replaces the previous PTE Essential test, which received approval for Canadian immigration last year.
Candidates are advised to ensure they choose the correct test variant for their intended immigration program, considering that Pearson offers multiple types of tests, including PTE Academic.
Accepted language tests
The acceptance of the PTE Core expands the list of recognized language proficiency tests to five. These tests are now acknowledged by the IRCC for immigration purposes: CELPIP General Test (English), IELTS General Training (English), PTE Core (English), TEF Canada (French), and TCF Canada (French).
All five tests evaluate language abilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Applicants are required to meet specific criteria based on the immigration program they apply for, such as Express Entry-managed programs, each having distinct language skill level requirements.
Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enables Canadian provinces and territories, excluding Nunavut and Quebec, to nominate individuals interested in immigrating to Canada and settling in a specific province, as reported by CanadaVisa.com.
Quebec has autonomy to establish its own selection criteria for economic immigration. Launched in 1998 to distribute immigration benefits more evenly across Canada, the PNP has diversified settlement patterns, especially benefiting Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba) and Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).
PNPs align with the federal Express Entry system, offering “enhanced nominations” that provide Express Entry candidates an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, ensuring a guaranteed invitation to permanent residence.
Enhanced nominations also expedite the federal processing time to approximately six months.
Alternatively, individuals can pursue permanent residence through a “base” stream, applying directly to a PNP stream and, upon receiving provincial nomination, having their permanent residence application processed by the federal government.
Express Entry
Canada’s Express Entry, the application management system for economic immigration, oversees three primary programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Candidates are evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), considering factors like language proficiency, education, work experience, occupation, and age. The CRS assigns scores to each attribute, establishing a ranking system among candidates.
In addition to regular draws, Express Entry candidates may now receive invitations to apply through category-based selection draws introduced in May 2023. These draws target specific attributes, including healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, agriculture and agri-food, and French-language proficiency.
Across all draw types, candidates with the highest CRS scores stand the best chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply in forthcoming Express Entry draws.
