English and French tests for visas and study
An English or French test gives you a score for listening, reading, writing and speaking, and someone else decides whether that score is enough. For a visa, that's the immigration department, which keeps a list of the tests it accepts. For study, it's the university. So before you book, find the list for your visa or course, because the same brand often comes in versions that aren't interchangeable.
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Australia
New ZealandUnited States
Language in the United States
Canada
Language in Canada
United Kingdom
Language in the United Kingdom
Australia
Language in Australia
Each government keeps its own list
The UK only takes a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved centre for most visas. As of October 2026 the providers are Trinity College London, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson, and the result has to be less than 2 years old. Canada's list for Express Entry is short: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core in English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada in French.
New Zealand's list for skilled residence covers IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, B2 First and the OET, sat in person within the last 2 years. In Australia, the Department of Home Affairs decides which tests count and what each visa needs, so check its pages for your visa. Nurses and doctors often meet a second set of rules from their registration board, which is where a health-focused test like the OET comes in.
Picking the right version
Most mistakes happen here. IELTS has Academic and General Training versions, and Canada's Express Entry won't take Academic. The UK wants IELTS for UKVI or IELTS Life Skills, not the regular test, and settlement and citizenship applications only test speaking and listening, at B1 level or above. Pearson's PTE Core is for Canadian immigration, while PTE Academic is the one universities and Australian visas know.
Universities make up their own minds, so a US college might take the TOEFL or the Duolingo English Test while a Canadian one asks for IELTS Academic. If you need the score for both a visa and a course, look for one test version that appears on both lists.
Questions people ask
FAQ
Which English test do I need for a UK visa?
Usually a SELT from one of the approved providers, taken at an approved centre. Work and study routes like Skilled Worker and Student test all four skills. Settlement, partner and citizenship applications test only speaking and listening.
Which English test is accepted for Canadian immigration?
For Express Entry, as of October 2026, IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core. If French is your stronger language, TEF Canada and TCF Canada are on the same list.
Can I take an English language test online at home?
Not for most visas. New Zealand says plainly that at-home tests don't count for skilled residence, and UK SELTs have to be taken at an approved centre. Some universities do accept tests taken at home, so ask the admissions office.
How long does an English test result last?
For immigration, often 2 years. That's the limit for UK SELT results and for New Zealand's skilled residence visa. Universities and other programmes may set a different window.
Is the TOEFL accepted outside the US?
Sometimes. TOEFL iBT is on New Zealand's skilled residence list, and many universities around the world take it. It isn't on Canada's Express Entry list, so for that you'd need CELPIP, IELTS General Training, PTE Core or a French test.
Sources: GOV.UK, IRCC, Immigration New Zealand and 4 more. Checked October 2026.
- GOV.UK: Prove your English with a SELT ↗
- GOV.UK: Prove your knowledge of English ↗
- IRCC: Language testing for Express Entry ↗
- Immigration New Zealand: English requirements for skilled residence ↗
- Pearson: PTE Academic ↗
- IELTS: General Training ↗
- OET: Who recognises OET ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.