CELPIP Test Fee 2026: Price in Canada, by Province and in 27 Other Countries

CELPIP price in Canada#

The fee is the same at every test centre in Canada. Every Canadian sitting we checked in CELPIP’s booking system on October 9, 2026 listed $299 CAD for the General test and $199 CAD for LS.

The price has gone up twice in two years. Paragon raised CELPIP-General from $280 to $290 for sittings from October 1, 2024, and the overview page on celpip.ca now lists $299. Some older pages on celpip.ca and many other websites still show $290 and $195.

Buying the wrong test is the most expensive mistake. If you only need proof of language for citizenship, the LS test saves $100 before tax. For permanent residence, IRCC only accepts CELPIP-General.

What you pay with tax, by province#

Tax depends on where you take the test. This table adds GST or HST at the rates the Canada Revenue Agency lists for 2026. Your exact total is shown when you pay.

Nova Scotia’s HST dropped from 15% to 14% on April 1, 2025, so older totals for Halifax are a few dollars too high. In Quebec and the provinces with their own sales tax (BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan), a provincial tax may be added at checkout if it applies to the service.

CELPIP fees outside Canada#

Outside Canada, CELPIP-General is priced in the local currency or in US dollars. These are the prices listed in CELPIP’s booking system on October 9, 2026. Local taxes may be added, and prices can change, so confirm when you book. CELPIP-General LS is only offered in Canada.

In some countries, only a few centres run CELPIP, and dates fill up. If you are applying from outside Canada, check test dates before you plan around a deadline.

Transfers, cancellations and other fees#

Two details from the policy pages are worth knowing:

• Transfer fees. One part of CELPIP’s policy page says the first transfer is free; another paragraph mentions a $50 transfer fee. Check the amount in your account before you confirm.
• Re-evaluation must be requested within six months of the test, only once per component, and it can’t be cancelled. Results take about one to two weeks. Paragon notes that listening and reading are scored by computer and are unlikely to change, so speaking and writing are the only components where it usually makes sense. More in our guide to CELPIP results.

You can also only register for one test session within five calendar days, so a retake can’t be booked for the next morning.

CELPIP vs IELTS: which costs less?#

In Canada, CELPIP-General is $299 plus tax at every centre. IELTS General Training costs about $335 to $361 plus tax, depending on the centre, according to IDP Canada in October 2026. For citizenship, CELPIP-General LS at $199 is $100 less than the full test, and IRCC accepts only the full IELTS General Training, not a shorter version.

Price is rarely the deciding factor, though. A test you pass the first time costs less than a cheaper test you take twice. Our CELPIP vs IELTS comparison covers format, speaking style and the scores each CLB level needs.

How to avoid paying twice#

1. Book the right test. CELPIP-General for permanent residence and Express Entry, LS only for citizenship.
2. Know your target before you book. Check which CLB your program needs in each skill with our score chart and calculator.
3. Book when you are ready, not when you hope to be. A transfer made seven days ahead is cheap or free; a missed or late-cancelled test costs the full fee.
4. Use the free practice first. CELPIP’s free online sample tests show the format. For speaking and writing, practise on the real timers until you can fill the time with organised answers.
5. Leave room for a second attempt. If you have an Express Entry or citizenship deadline, plan the first test early enough that results (2 to 4 business days) and a retake still fit.

Sources#

Canadian fees, test lengths and policies: celpip.ca, test overview and celpip.ca, policies and forms. Prices by country: CELPIP’s find a test date search, October 9, 2026. 2024 fee change: celpip.ca, notice of fee change. Results and re-evaluation: celpip.ca, test results. Tax rates: Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST rates. IELTS fees: IDP Canada. Accepted tests: canada.ca. Checked October 9, 2026.

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