With full details on In-Canada Workers Initiative unclear, now’s the time to book immigration language tests

With the federal government yet to unveil the full details of its “In-Canada Workers Initiative,” foreign nationals with aging language tests risk missing the boat.

Canada’s permanent residence pathways generally require that test results of official immigration language tests be valid at the time a foreign national submits their application for permanent residence.

Language test results are valid for up to two years, after which they expire.

Book a CELPIP Immigration Language Test

Foreign nationals in Canada with expired or soon-to-expire language tests can better position themselves for new opportunities for permanent residence by re-taking official immigration language tests at the earliest opportunity.

For those who re-take language tests this May, their results will be valid up until May of 2028.

The “In-Canada Workers Initiative” is set to transition up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence over the course of 2026 and 2027.

So far, only existing PR applicants are affected by the announced measures—but the government left the door open to drop new measures at any time, as indicated by the language in its official press release, which suggested that the measures announced so far may not make up the sum total of the initiative:

“As part of this initiative, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is initially accelerating eligible applications from existing inventories” for those who had been living in smaller communities for at least two years and had submitted PR applications through select regional pathways and federal immigration pilots.

When Canada launched its TR-to-PR pathway in 2021, the international students pathway hit its application cap within a single day. Foreign nationals lacking valid language tests results never got the chance to apply.

Foreign nationals with valid language test results with the highest possible scores will be best positioned to take advantage of any further developments in 2026 and 2027 under the “In-Canada Workers Initiative.”

Foreign nationals who re-take their language tests this spring may also significantly increase their chances of selection through permanent residence pathways that score based on language proficiency, such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

Book a CELPIP Immigration Language Test

A valid minimum language proficiency score in English or French by a government-approved language test provider is required for every one of Canada’s economic immigration pathways.

For international graduates nearing graduation, official language test results are required as part of the application for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), despite not being listed on the document checklist.

Failure to attach valid language test results to a PGWP application, as instructed by the government’s official application guide, can result in an application being returned as incomplete.

When an application is returned as incomplete, it is treated as if it had never been received in the first place, so a returned-as-incomplete PGWP application can lead to an international student graduate losing their status and being required to leave Canada.

Foreign nationals can book a CELPIP language test at over 180 locations across Canada, with flexible scheduling available seven days per week, and can obtain results in as little as two to four business days after testing.

After booking a test with CELPIP, foreign nationals get access to extensive preparation materials, including a study guide and practice tests, at no extra charge.

For applicants who score lower than desired, they can re-take their language tests any time they like, subject only to the limit of one test every five calendar days. There is no downside to re-taking language tests to increase one’s score.

As each test remains valid for up to two years, applicants are always able to use their highest unexpired test result.

Explore Preparation Resources for CELPIP