🇨🇦 Canada · IRCC + individual institutions
IELTS Score for Canada Study Permit - 2026 Requirements
IRCC does not set an IELTS minimum for the study permit itself.
Minimum IELTS scores required
6.0
Overall
University minimum - visa itself has no IELTS requirement
Want more points / stronger application?
Target band: 7.0+ - Top-10 Canadian universities typically require 6.5-7.0
Key Facts - Study Permit
- IRCC does not set an IELTS minimum for the study permit itself.
- Each institution sets its own requirement - typically 6.0-7.0 overall.
- University of Toronto, UBC, McGill: 6.5-7.0 minimum.
- Colleges and polytechnics: usually 6.0 overall.
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) follows automatically after completing a qualifying program.
How to achieve these scores
Tips specific to reaching the 6.0 band for this visa.
Aim for 7.0+ if applying to top universities - a 6.5 may meet the minimum but a higher score strengthens your application.
If your score is 6.0-6.5, consider pathway programs that lead into degree programs.
IELTS General Training is not accepted for most academic admissions - use IELTS Academic.
🇮🇳 For Indian applicants
India is consistently the #1 source country for Canadian permanent residents. High CLB scores (IELTS 7.5-8.5) are one of the fastest ways to boost your CRS score by 50-80 points without a job offer.
How close are you to this requirement?
Enter your current scores to find the single skill that gets you to Band 6.0.
Current
6.5
+0.5 band to go
Target
7.0
Easiest path to Band 7
Improve Listening by +2.0 (6.5 → 8.5) while keeping others the same.
Dictation drills for Section 4, shadowing at 0.9× speed, and timed note-completion practice.
Single-skill path to Band 7
Listening
Currently 6.5 → need 8.5
Reading
Currently 6.0 → need 8.0
Writing
Currently 6.0 → need 8.0
Speaking
Currently 6.5 → need 8.5
Do this next
Stop spreading effort across all four modules. Your fastest route to Band 7.0 is Listening.
Students lose time when they "study harder" instead of fixing the exact skill blocking the next score jump.
Start Listening improvement nowTarget: Band 6.0
Practice for this exact requirement
Take a free AI-graded mock test, see your current band by skill, and get paragraph-level feedback on exactly what is holding you back.