Is Duolingo Test Accepted for Canada PR or Study Permit

The concept of Duolingo goes back to immigration and study permit applications in Canada. Many Canadian immigration options require taking an official language test. Even if the program does not mandate a test, presenting good language test results could assist you with the process. However, IRCC only accepted the following tests before the coronavirus pandemic:

• CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program  (Only CELPIP General! Don’t take General-LS)
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System (Take the IELTS General test. Don’t take IELTS Academic)
• TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
• TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

The first two tests evaluate your knowledge of English. Of course, the other two focus on the French language.

• What is Duolingo?
• IELTS equivalency for Duolingo
• PR applications and Duolingo
• Study permit applications
• IRCC opinion on Duolingo
• Let us help!

What is the Duolingo English Test?

Duolingo is an online English proficiency test. The focus of this test is more academic studies. Since the coronavirus pandemic, many IELTS and TOEFL test centres could not run the tests. Consequently, Duolingo became popular. According to the Duolingo website, about 150 Canadian institutions accept this test for admission purposes.

What is the IELTS equivalency of Duolingo?

Duolingo and IELTS look like two tests from two different planets. However, the Duolingo website offers the following comparison table between these tests.

There is no official equivalency table available for IELTS General versus Duolingo.

Using Duolingo for Canadian PR (permanent resident) applications

Despite the obstacles toward taking an IELTS General or other acceptable tests, IRCC does not accept Duolingo or any other online language tests for Canadian PR. Thus, if a language test is mandatory for your method of immigration, you need to take any of those four tests I already introduced at the beginning of this article.

Using Duolingo for a Study Permit

Generally speaking, there are two options for a study permit application:

• Student Direct Stream (SDS), available to the residents of the following countries:
  • China
  • India
  • Morocco
  • Pakistan
  • the Philippines
  • Senegal
  • Vietnam
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Peru
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
• Regular application stream and application at a port of entry

If you are applying under the SDS program, you have only to take one of the approved tests. Unfortunately, Duolingo is not an option.

Luckily, the regular stream or application at a POE does not mandate taking a language test. Therefore, you could use Duolingo for admission purposes. Of course, it won’t hurt if you present the test results to IRCC. You may also read the following article for more information:

• IELTS for Student Visa Canada

What does IRCC say about Duolingo?

IRCC, in a recent tweet, announced they do not accept Duolingo.

Unless applying under the Student Direct Stream, most study permits don’t have language test requirements. There are currently no online language tests that are acceptable for immigration purposes. Duolingo is not acceptable.

More information: https://t.co/oK1OVa6waf

— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) August 7, 2020

Let us help!

Whether you have taken Duolingo or another test for a study permit in Canada, fill out the following form. Of course, we will review it and if find an opportunity we will contact you. If you intend to immigrate, fill out the assessment form or book a consultation session with me.

Relevant article: TOEFL for Canadian immigration | TOEFL vs IELTS and CLB