An English waiver applies to your school's admission requirement only. Your study permit needs no English test, but your PGWP application does.
In short: There's no single "English waiver" that covers your whole Canadian study journey. Three separate rules apply: your school can waive its own English test for admission; IRCC doesn't require an English test to issue your study permit; and IRCC requires an English or French test for your PGWP, with no general waiver.
Disclaimer: The content of this guide is meant solely as information, and is subject to change as policies are updated. For current and official guidance, please check the Government of Canada's website or create a free ApplyBoard account to start your study abroad journey and connect with a student support counsellor.
Do You Need an English Waiver for Your Study Permit?
No. IRCC doesn't require a language test to issue a study permit. Your Designated Learning Institution (DLI, a school approved to host international students) sets its own English proficiency requirement for admission, and IRCC checks that you were accepted by your DLI. IRCC itself doesn't ask for IELTS or TOEFL scores as part of the study permit application.
This means there's technically nothing to "waive" at the study permit stage. Any waiver you get happens earlier, at your school's admission stage, covered below.
English Waiver for School Admission
Your school sets its own English proficiency requirement for admission, and each school decides its own waiver criteria and exceptions. You may qualify for a waiver if you can show you've already been taught in English, or that you can otherwise demonstrate English proficiency in a way your school accepts.
Common examples schools consider include:
- Previous studies where English was the language of instruction
- Admission to a program that doesn't require standardized test scores
- An internal assessment or interview your school accepts instead of IELTS or TOEFL
See the full admission waiver process
Read our guide on English Language Proficiency Waivers for exactly what to submit and how each school reviews your request.
English Requirement for the PGWP: No Waiver Available
If you apply for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, IRCC requires proof of English or French language skills. The only exception is if you graduate from a PGWP-eligible flight school. There's no waiver process for this requirement. Every other applicant must submit a valid test result.
Degree graduates (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) generally need Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7. College diploma, certificate, or other non-degree graduates generally need CLB 5. You must meet the required level in all 4 skill areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Warning! An English waiver from your school's admission process does not carry over to your PGWP application. Even if your school waived the requirement when you were admitted, you still need a valid language test result for your PGWP.
See the exact CLB 7 vs. CLB 5 breakdown
Read our full guide for the exact score requirements by test, combined-program rules, and answers for second-program students.
Key Takeaways
- An English waiver only applies to your school's admission requirement. It's not an IRCC waiver.
- IRCC doesn't require an English test to issue your study permit at all.
- For the PGWP, most applicants need a valid language test result, CLB 7 for degree graduates or CLB 5 for college graduates. The only exception is PGWP-eligible flight school graduates.
- Always check both your school's admission policy and current IRCC guidance before you apply.
Common Questions About the English Waiver
An IELTS waiver means your school lets you skip submitting IELTS scores for admission, because you already meet their English requirement another way, for example through a previous program taught in English. It applies to your school's admission decision, not to IRCC.
No, not to IRCC directly. IRCC doesn't set an English test requirement for the study permit itself. Your school's admission requirement, and whether you need a test for that, is separate from your study permit application.
Not really; there's nothing to waive. IRCC doesn't require an English test to issue a study permit, so this question usually means the school's admission-stage waiver, covered above.
No. There's no waiver for the PGWP language requirement. If you apply on or after November 1, 2024, you must submit a valid English or French test result, unless you graduate from a PGWP-eligible flight school. See our full PGWP language requirements guide for the exact score breakdown.
Understanding which English rule applies at each stage, admission, study permit, or PGWP, helps you prepare a stronger application and avoid delays. ApplyBoard is here to support your Canadian study journey, from admission through to your post-graduation work permit.
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