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Is IELTS required for a Canadian study permit if you already have C1/C2 English certificates?

Canada • Study Permit • study 0 views
By VisaBuddies Communityvia community — compiled from public visa forums

Documents Needed

  • IELTS

    Required if applying through the Student Direct Stream (SDS); not mandatory for non-SDS study permit applications.

  • Alternative English certificates (e.g. CAE, CPE)

    Can help demonstrate English proficiency for non-SDS applications even without IELTS.

Step-by-Step

Whether IELTS is required for a Canadian study permit depends on which application stream you're using:

  1. Student Direct Stream (SDS) applications: IELTS is mandatory — there's no substitute accepted for SDS processing.

  2. Non-SDS applications: IELTS is not mandatory, but having a recognized English language score still helps strengthen the overall profile in terms of demonstrating English proficiency.

  3. Existing certificates like CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) or CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) can support your English proficiency case for a non-SDS study permit application, even without an IELTS score.


Bottom line: if going the SDS route, IELTS is required regardless of other certificates; if going non-SDS, existing certificates like CAE/CPE can help support your application in place of IELTS.

Dos, Don'ts & Tips

  • Do: Confirm whether you're applying via SDS or non-SDS first — this determines if IELTS is mandatory.
  • Tip: CAE/CPE certificates can support a non-SDS application's English proficiency case even without IELTS.

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