CELPIP-General costs around CAD $280–$299 plus tax in Canada and CELPIP-General LS around CAD $195–$199 plus tax. CELPIP's own pages list several figures, and the price shown when you register is the one you pay. Taxes are added where applicable, and prices outside Canada are different.
This guide shows where each figure comes from, what the test costs in Australia and other countries, and the other charges tied to your booking: cancellation refunds, transfer fees, re-evaluation and the situations where you lose the fee altogether. It ends with practical ways to avoid paying for the test twice. If you are new to the test, start with what CELPIP is.
How much is the CELPIP exam in Canada?
There are two CELPIP tests you can book in Canada, and they are priced differently.
| Test | Skills tested | Main use | Fee in Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Permanent residence (IRCC), Australian visas, professional designations | Around CAD $280–$299 plus tax |
| CELPIP-General LS | Listening, Speaking | Canadian citizenship | Around CAD $195–$199 plus tax |
Both figures are base prices in Canadian dollars. Taxes are added where applicable, so the total at checkout will be higher. When budgeting, plan for the top of the range plus tax.
Why we give a range: four official CELPIP fee figures
CELPIP's website and its guidebook do not agree on a single CELPIP cost. When we checked on 7 October 2026, four official sources showed four sets of figures:
| Official source | CELPIP-General | CELPIP-General LS |
|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS test pages | CAD $290 + tax | CAD $195 + tax |
| Take CELPIP: overview page | CAD $299 + tax | CAD $199 + tax |
| CELPIP's information page for IRCC applicants | CAD $280 + tax | CAD $195 + tax |
| CELPIP Test Taker Guidebook, July 2026 | CAD $295 + tax | CAD $199 + tax |
The gap is up to CAD $19 for CELPIP-General and CAD $4 for CELPIP-General LS. Picking one of these numbers and calling it the CELPIP fee for 2026 would mean ignoring the other three, so we give the range instead. Whatever the pages say, the price shown during registration, before you pay, is the one that applies to your booking.
CELPIP fee outside Canada
The figures above are Canadian prices. CELPIP notes that "international pricing will vary", so the amount depends on where you sit the test.
Australia
CELPIP's Australian visas page lists the CELPIP-General fee as AUD $355 + applicable taxes. The Australian Department of Home Affairs accepts CELPIP General for tests taken on or after 7 August 2025 at a test centre. CELPIP Online is on Home Affairs' list of tests that are not accepted. Our guide on whether CELPIP is accepted in Australia covers the visa side.
India, the USA, the UAE and other countries
For India, the USA and the UAE, we could not find a price on CELPIP's public pages; it is shown during registration, once you have chosen a test location, so check it there before paying.
Indian test takers also have different deadlines for cancelling and transferring, covered below and in our guide to taking CELPIP in India.
CELPIP-General LS is Canada only
According to the CELPIP guidebook, CELPIP-General LS is offered only in Canada. Outside Canada, CELPIP-General is the test you would book.
Other costs tied to the CELPIP test fee
The registration fee is not always the last amount you pay. CELPIP's policies and forms page sets out what happens to your money if your plans change.
| Situation | What happens to your fee |
|---|---|
| Cancel 7 or more calendar days before the test | 50% refund |
| Cancel less than 7 calendar days before the test | No refund |
| Transfer 7 or more days before the test | Transfer fee of up to CAD $50 plus tax (the policy page says the first transfer may be free) |
| Need to change plans less than 7 days before | Contact customer service; supporting documents may be needed |
| Arrive after check-in closes | Denied entry, no refund or transfer |
| No valid ID on test day | Denied entry, no refund or transfer |
| Request a re-evaluation | Fee not found on CELPIP's pages; refunded if your level changes |
| Test booked in India | 9 calendar days instead of 7 for cancelling and transferring |
Cancelling: half back, or nothing
If you cancel at least 7 calendar days before your test date, CELPIP refunds 50% of the fee. Inside 7 days, there is no refund. Even an early cancellation costs you half of what you paid.
Transferring to another date
A transfer moves your booking to a new date and must be made at least 7 days before the test. CELPIP's pages describe the transfer fee in two ways, so the accurate summary is a transfer fee of up to CAD $50 plus tax, with CELPIP's policy page saying the first transfer may be free.
If something happens less than 7 days before your test, contact CELPIP customer service. You may be asked for documents such as a doctor's note or evidence of bereavement. Our guide on whether you can reschedule CELPIP walks through the steps.
Re-evaluation of your score
If a result is lower than you expected, you can ask for a re-evaluation. According to CELPIP's test results page:
- You must request it within 6 months.
- You can request one re-evaluation per test component.
- If your level changes, the re-evaluation fee is refunded.
- It takes about 1 to 2 weeks.
- Listening and Reading are scored by computer, so those results are unlikely to change.
We could not find the re-evaluation fee published on CELPIP's pages, so check the amount when you make the request.
Late arrival or no ID: the whole fee is lost
Check-in closes 15 minutes before the test starts. If you arrive after that, you are denied entry and you get no refund or transfer. The same applies if you arrive without valid ID. Both are easy to prevent.
India: 9-day windows
On CELPIP's India page, the cancellation and transfer deadlines are 9 calendar days instead of 7. The same page says test sessions must be at least 30 days apart. Elsewhere, CELPIP's general rule is that you cannot sit more than one session within 5 calendar days.
Is it worth taking CELPIP-General LS to save money?
On each of CELPIP's price lists, the CELPIP-General LS fee is about CAD $85 to $100 lower than CELPIP-General, and the test is shorter: about an hour and ten minutes, compared with just under 3 hours. For the right person it is the better buy. For anyone else it is money spent on a result they cannot use.
LS makes sense if you only need Canadian citizenship. IRCC lists CELPIP General-LS among the accepted tests for citizenship, and citizenship applicants aged 18 to 54 only need to show listening and speaking at CLB 4 or higher.
LS does not work for permanent residence. CELPIP-General LS is not on IRCC's list of accepted tests for Express Entry. For PR you need CELPIP-General, which tests all four skills. LS is also offered only in Canada.
Two more points before you pay for LS:
- You may already have a usable result. CELPIP-General is also accepted for citizenship, and IRCC accepts citizenship test results even if they have expired. If you took CELPIP-General on or after 1 April 2014 with level 4 or higher in listening and speaking, check whether that result covers you before booking a new test.
- If PR or an Australian visa is still possible, CELPIP-General covers those and citizenship. Paying for LS now and CELPIP-General later costs more than booking CELPIP-General once.
For score requirements, see the CELPIP score you need for citizenship and CELPIP and CLB for Express Entry.
How to avoid paying the CELPIP fee twice
The most expensive outcome is paying the full fee a second time, after a missed deadline, a lost seat on test day or a score that falls short. None of these steps cost anything.
- Book with enough lead time. Choose a date you can keep, so that if plans change you are still outside the 7-day window (9 days in India). In Canada a transfer then costs at most CAD $50 plus tax (in India, check the fee with CELPIP), while a new booking costs the full fee again.
- Prepare before you pay. Book once you have a realistic idea of where you stand. Our CELPIP preparation guide covers how to get ready, and you can practise under timed conditions with PrepAmigo mock tests before paying for the real test. A practice score is only an estimate, but it helps you avoid booking too early.
- Time the test around your application. For Express Entry, IRCC requires results to be less than 2 years old both when you complete your profile and when you submit your PR application. A result that expires before you apply means paying for another test.
- Check your ID well before test day. Make sure the ID you plan to bring is valid. Without it, you lose the fee with no refund or transfer.
- Plan to arrive early. Check-in closes 15 minutes before the start, and late arrivals lose the whole fee. Our CELPIP test day guide covers what to expect when you get there.
- Book the right test. CELPIP-General LS cannot be used for PR, so confirm which test your application needs before you register.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the CELPIP exam in Canada?
CELPIP-General costs around CAD $280 to $299 plus tax, and CELPIP-General LS around CAD $195 to $199 plus tax. CELPIP's own pages show several figures, and the price shown when you register is the one you pay.
What is the CELPIP-General LS fee?
CELPIP lists the LS test at CAD $195 or $199 plus tax depending on the page. It tests listening and speaking only, is used for Canadian citizenship and is offered only in Canada.
How much is the CELPIP exam outside Canada?
International pricing varies. CELPIP lists AUD $355 plus applicable taxes in Australia. For India, the USA and the UAE we could not find a published price; it is shown during registration after you choose a location.
Do I get a refund if I cancel my CELPIP test?
If you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the test, you get a 50% refund. If you cancel with less than 7 days to go, there is no refund. In India the deadline is 9 calendar days.
How much does it cost to reschedule CELPIP?
In Canada, a transfer to a new date costs up to CAD $50 plus tax, and CELPIP's policy page says the first transfer may be free. You need to transfer at least 7 days before the test, or 9 days in India, where you should check the fee at registration.
What happens to my fee if I am late or forget my ID?
Check-in closes 15 minutes before the test. If you arrive late or without valid ID, you are denied entry and you get no refund or transfer.
Can I use CELPIP-General LS for permanent residence?
No. CELPIP-General LS is accepted for citizenship but is not on IRCC's list of tests for Express Entry. For permanent residence you need CELPIP-General.
Sources and further reading
- CELPIP: CELPIP-General, the CAD $290 + tax figure and the test's uses for PR, Australian visas and professional designations.
- CELPIP: CELPIP-General LS, the CAD $195 + tax figure and the listening and speaking format for citizenship.
- CELPIP: Take CELPIP overview, the CAD $299 and $199 + tax figures.
- CELPIP Test Taker Guidebook, July 2026, the CAD $295 and $199 + tax figures and LS being offered in Canada only.
- CELPIP: Australian visas, the AUD $355 + applicable taxes fee.
- CELPIP: Policies and forms, cancellation refunds, transfer fees, late arrival and ID rules.
- CELPIP: India, the 9-day cancellation and transfer window and 30-day gap between sessions.
- CELPIP: Test results, re-evaluation rules.
- IRCC: Language test equivalency charts for Express Entry, accepted Express Entry tests and the 2-year validity rule.
- IRCC: Accepted language tests, CELPIP General and CELPIP General-LS for citizenship.
- IRCC: Proof of language ability for citizenship, CLB 4 in speaking and listening for applicants aged 18 to 54.
- IRCC: Accepted language proof for citizenship, CELPIP-General minimums and expired results.
- Australian Department of Home Affairs: English language requirements, CELPIP General accepted from 7 August 2025 and CELPIP Online not accepted.