IRCC plans to add language test field to post-graduation work permit…
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is developing a dedicated field for language test results in the post-graduation work permit application portal, according to a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab's office. The change addresses ongoing confusion among international graduates applying for work permits under rules that now require language testing for certain applicants.
IRCC introduced language requirements for PGWP applicants in November 2024, but the online application system has not included a specific field for uploading test scores, forcing applicants to submit results through workarounds such as the letter of explanation section or by attaching documents to unrelated fields. As reported by CIC News, the minister's office confirmed the portal update is in development as part of broader system improvements, though no launch date has been announced.
Under the current PGWP framework, graduates of university programs and college programs in fields aligned with long-term labour market needs do not need to submit language test results. Graduates of all other college programs must demonstrate Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in English or French through an approved test—IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada—to qualify for a work permit. The requirement applies to applications submitted after November 1, 2024, for programs completed on or after that date.
"We are committed to ensuring the application process is clear and accessible for all applicants," the minister's spokesperson told Global News.
The absence of a dedicated language test field has created processing delays and refusals for applicants who submitted results incorrectly or whose documents were overlooked by IRCC officers reviewing files. Immigration lawyers and consultants have reported cases where applicants uploaded valid test scores in the letter of explanation section, only to receive refusals stating no language results were provided. The workaround has also led to inconsistent file reviews, as officers must manually search attachments rather than reviewing a standardized field.
Applicants affected by the current system should continue uploading language test results in the letter of explanation section and include a cover note clearly labeling the document as required language proof until the new field becomes available. Those who receive refusals based on missing language documentation despite having submitted results should consider requesting reconsideration through IRCC's web form, citing the portal limitation and providing evidence of the original submission.
Source: CIC News — published 2026-05-27.