After three hours of concentration, waiting for your results can feel long. Here is what happens after the CELPIP test: when your scores come, where you find them, how long they can be used, and what you can do if a score looks wrong.
I checked these details on celpip.ca and on IRCC's official pages in October 2026. Always confirm the current rules for your own application on the official websites.
When Do CELPIP Results Come Out?
CELPIP scores are usually available 2–4 business days after your test date. Business days don't include weekends or holidays, so if you take the test on a Thursday, plan for results the following week.
- You receive an email when your scores are ready.
- You see them in your online CELPIP account.
- Your Official Score Report is a PDF that you download from the account. Paper score reports are no longer sent.
- Your scores stay visible in your account for 5 years from the test date.
To send your result to IRCC, you download the PDF score report and upload it with your application.
How to Read Your Score Report
You get a separate CELPIP level from 1 to 12 for each skill (M means there was not enough information to assess, NA means the component was not taken). Each level matches the same CLB level, so a 7 in Speaking is CLB 7 in Speaking. Immigration programs look at each skill separately, so check every skill against your target, not only the average. My CELPIP score chart explains what each level means.
How Long Are CELPIP Results Valid?
This depends on who is using your result, not only on the test.
| Purpose | Rule from IRCC |
|---|---|
| Express Entry (permanent residence) | less than 2 years old when you create your profile and when you submit your PR application |
| Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) | less than 2 years old when you submit your application |
| Canadian citizenship | include a copy of your results even if they are expired |
The Express Entry rule catches many people: a result that is fine when you create your profile can expire before you receive an invitation and submit your application. If you apply with expired results, IRCC refuses the application, so keep an eye on the date of your score report. For citizenship you can take the shorter CELPIP LS test, and for the PGWP see the CELPIP score you need for the PGWP.
What If Your Score Looks Wrong? Re-evaluation
If you believe a score doesn't reflect your performance, you can apply online for a re-evaluation:
- for some or all components of your CELPIP-General test, within six months of the test date;
- you pay a fee when you apply; it depends on which components you choose, and it is refunded for any component whose level changes;
- each component can be re-evaluated only once, and a request can't be cancelled after you submit it;
- results come in about one to two weeks.
Listening and Reading are scored by computer, so a re-evaluation there is unlikely to change anything. If you're thinking about a re-evaluation, it usually makes more sense for Speaking or Writing, where you were close to the level you need.
If You Didn't Get the Score You Need
It happens, and it's fixable. Look at which skill was below your target and practise that skill with the real format and timing before you book again. For Speaking and Writing, the reason is often not the grammar but the task: an answer that misses part of what was asked, or doesn't fill the time. My free practice questions with model answers and Speaking templates are a good place to restart, and my free Vocabulary Booster helps you sound more precise. If you'd like a full practice test with feedback on Speaking and Writing, join the waitlist for Ready Sprint, my course for the CELPIP test.