23 of the 106 routes Transita tracks require a language test. They sit in 5 countries, all of them English-speaking. Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, France, Italy, Singapore and Thailand set no language test on any route in our data.
Each government states its level on its own scale: Canada uses the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), Australia and New Zealand state IELTS scores, and the UK uses the European CEFR levels. The table shows each route in its own terms.
United States
| Route | Minimum level | Exempt citizenships |
|---|---|---|
| F-1 Student + OPT/STEM-OPT | Test required, level set per case | None |
Canada
| Route | Minimum level | Exempt citizenships |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker | CLB 7 | None |
| Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class | CLB 5 | None |
| Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades | CLB 4 | None |
| Start-up Visa | CLB 5 | None |
| Study Permit + Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) | CLB 5 | None |
| BC PNP Tech Pilot | CLB 4 | None |
| Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program: Tech Draw | Test required, level set per case | None |
| Alberta Advantage Immigration Program | CLB 4 | None |
| Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program | CLB 4 | None |
| Québec Skilled Worker Program | Test required, level set per case | None |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | CLB 4 | None |
United Kingdom
| Route | Minimum level | Exempt citizenships |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker Visa | CEFR B2 | 18 countries |
| Innovator Founder Visa | CEFR B2 | None |
| Health and Care Worker Visa | CEFR B2 | 18 countries |
Australia
| Route | Minimum level | Exempt citizenships |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | IELTS 6 in each band | 5 countries |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | IELTS 6 in each band | 5 countries |
| Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) | IELTS 5 in each band | 5 countries |
| Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) | IELTS 6 in each band | 5 countries |
| Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) | IELTS 6.5 overall, IELTS 5.5 in each band | 5 countries |
| Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) | IELTS 4.5 overall | None |
New Zealand
| Route | Minimum level | Exempt citizenships |
|---|---|---|
| Straight to Residence | IELTS 6.5 overall | None |
| Skilled Migrant Category | IELTS 6.5 overall | None |
Per-skill minimums are the trap
Routes with no language test
In Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, France, Italy, Singapore and Thailand, none of the routes we track sets a formal language test. The work permits there are decided on the job offer, the salary and your qualifications. In practice, the local language still shapes which jobs you can get and how easily you settle.
The language bar for citizenship
Language comes back at the end of the process. These are the requirements we hold from official sources:
- United Kingdom: "prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic"; "have passed the life in the UK test". Source: gov.uk
- Netherlands: "You have fulfilled the integration requirement. This means you must have passed the civic integration exam on at least language level A2". Source: ind.nl
- France: "Vous devez justifier d'une connaissance suffisante de la langue française". Source: service-public.gouv.fr
- Germany: "You must have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)". Source: bamf.de
Related guides
If you already have a score, the IELTS pathways by score guide maps each band to the routes it opens. The points-based visa explainer shows how language results turn into points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries require a language test for immigration?
Of the routes Transita tracks, 23 of 106 require a language test, in 5 countries. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK test most of their skilled routes. Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, France, Italy, Singapore and Thailand have no test on any route we track, although learning the local language matters later for permanent residence and citizenship.
What CLB level do I need for Canada?
It depends on the route. Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker asks for CLB 7, the highest in our data, while Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades asks for CLB 4. CLB is Canada's own scale, and results from the approved English and French tests are converted to it.
Do native English speakers need to take a test?
Some routes exempt citizens of named English-speaking countries. Skilled Worker Visa, Health and Care Worker Visa, Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482), Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) and Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) carry an exemption list in our data. None of the Canadian routes in our data has an exemption, so native speakers still take a test there, and in Express Entry a high score adds points.
Do I need the local language to work in Germany, the Netherlands or France?
Not for the main work permits we track: they set no language test. Your employer may still require it, and the language becomes a formal condition later, for citizenship.
What language level do I need for citizenship?
United Kingdom: "prove your knowledge of English, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic"; "have passed the life in the UK test". Netherlands: "You have fulfilled the integration requirement. This means you must have passed the civic integration exam on at least language level A2". France: "Vous devez justifier d'une connaissance suffisante de la langue française". Germany: "You must have sufficient knowledge of German (level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)".
See which routes your test result opens
Add your IELTS, CELPIP, PTE or TOEFL result and Transita converts it to each country's scale and checks every route. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.
Build my workspaceofficial sources: F-1 · travel.state.gov·FSWP · canada.ca·FSWP success-rate data · canada.ca·CEC · canada.ca·FST · canada.ca·SUV · canada.ca·Study + PGWP · canada.ca·BC PNP Tech · welcomebc.ca·OINP Tech · ontario.ca·AAIP · alberta.ca·SINP · saskatchewan.ca·QSWP · quebec.ca·AIP · canada.ca·Skilled Worker · gov.uk·Skilled Worker success-rate data · gov.uk·Innovator Founder · gov.uk·Health and Care Worker · gov.uk·SC 189 · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·SC 189 success-rate data · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·SC 190 · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·TSS 482 · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·491 · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·485 · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·462 · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au·STR · immigration.govt.nz·SMC · immigration.govt.nz