🇨🇦 TOEFL requirements · Canada · 2026
TOEFL is a strong choice for studying in Canada — but one honest heads-up first: TOEFL iBT is NOT accepted for Canadian PR — IRCC accepts only IELTS General Training, CELPIP General and PTE Core for Express Entry. A separate test, TOEFL Essentials, was added to IRCC's designated list in August 2025 for economic immigration, but IRCC is not yet accepting its scores — don't use it for a PR application until IRCC publishes an official start date and CLB conversion. Confirm current status on IRCC. If you're going for PR, take IELTS GT, CELPIP or PTE Core — not TOEFL iBT.
TOEFL changed completely on 21 January 2026 — a new 1.0–6.0 band scale, adaptive Reading and Listening, new Speaking and Writing tasks, about 90 minutes, results in ~72 hours. Any prep from before January 2026 is obsolete. And during the 2026–2028 transition some universities still list old 0–120 requirements — check both.
Deciding between tests? Read our honest TOEFL vs IELTS comparison for Canada →
Your overall TOEFL score is now the AVERAGE of the four sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing), each scored 1.0–6.0 in half-band steps — not the old 0–120 sum. The scale is CEFR-aligned.
On the new 1.0–6.0 scale, university programmes commonly target roughly 4.0–5.5 overall (B2–C1); the retiring 0–120 equivalent most institutions still list is about 80–100. Set per programme — confirm both during the transition. (Canadian universities)
Study (university): Canadian universities widely accept TOEFL for admission — set per programme.
⚠️ PR / Express Entry: TOEFL iBT is NOT accepted for Canadian PR — IRCC accepts only IELTS General Training, CELPIP General and PTE Core for Express Entry. A separate test, TOEFL Essentials, was added to IRCC's designated list in August 2025 for economic immigration, but IRCC is not yet accepting its scores — don't use it for a PR application until IRCC publishes an official start date and CLB conversion. Confirm current status on IRCC. If you're going for PR, take IELTS GT, CELPIP or PTE Core — not TOEFL iBT.
TOEFL requirements change and vary by university, programme and visa route — always confirm the current figure with the official body before you rely on it. This page is honest guidance, not immigration advice.
Where TOEFL isn't accepted (above), you'll need a different test. We sell honest practice for those too:
AI-scored practice built for the 21 Jan 2026 TOEFL is on the way. In the meantime, here's honest, sourced guidance — and our sister products if your route needs a different test.
Always confirm. TOEFL requirements change and vary by university, programme and visa route — always confirm the current figure with the official body before you rely on it. This page is honest guidance, not immigration advice.