TOEFL for Canada
TOEFL for Canada: good for universities, not for Express Entry
TOEFL iBT is accepted by Canadian universities almost everywhere, and it is a sound choice for admission and for the study permit that follows. It is not on the list of tests Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada accepts for Express Entry.
- Straight answer on what it counts for
- Academic reading and listening practised at length
- Writing and speaking marked by hand
Short answer
TOEFL iBT is accepted by Canadian universities for admission, and through admission it supports a study permit application. It is not accepted by IRCC for Express Entry, so it cannot support a permanent-residence application.
What it is genuinely good for
- University and college admission across Canada, at undergraduate and graduate level.
- A study permit application, indirectly: the permit rests on the offer of admission the test helps you win.
- Academic English specifically. The reading and listening are pitched at lecture and textbook level, which is what universities want to see.
- It is not accepted for Express Entry, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
If permanent residence is your goal, the three tests that do count are on our English test for Canada page.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is TOEFL accepted for Canadian permanent residence?
No. IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for Express Entry. TOEFL iBT is not on that list, so a TOEFL result cannot be converted to a CLB level for a permanent-residence application.
Is TOEFL accepted by Canadian universities?
Very widely, yes, for both undergraduate and graduate admission. Each institution and often each programme sets its own minimum total and sometimes per-section minimums, so work from the requirement your programme publishes.
I already sat TOEFL and now need PR. What do I do?
You will need to sit one of the three accepted tests. The closest in feel to TOEFL is IELTS General Training, though note that General Training is less academic than TOEFL and than IELTS Academic. Much of your preparation carries over, especially reading speed and structured writing.
Does TOEFL help a study permit application?
Indirectly and importantly. A study permit rests on an offer of admission from a designated learning institution, and TOEFL is one of the tests those institutions accept. It satisfies the school rather than the immigration officer.
Next step
Find out which test fits, before you pay for one.
A 15-minute video call to check which test your application actually accepts, where your level sits today, and whether your deadline is realistic. No sales pitch.