CELPIP test fee: what the exam costs in 2026
The price of each CELPIP test in Canada, what it comes to with tax in your province, and what a transfer, a cancellation and a second attempt cost.
In Canada the CELPIP-General test costs $299 plus tax and the CELPIP-General LS test costs $199 plus tax. With GST or HST that is about $314 to $344 for General, depending on the province.
Both prices are higher than they were in the summer: Paragon listed $290 and $195 when we read its pages on 12 August 2026. A retake costs the full fee again, so the cheapest attempt is the one you only sit once.
Fees and policies read from Paragon's pages on celpip.ca on 12 October 2026, and GST/HST rates from the Canada Revenue Agency. Fees change, so confirm the price at checkout. celpipmocks.com is independent and not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises.
How much is the CELPIP test?
There are two CELPIP tests and they are priced differently. Which one you pay for depends on what you are applying for, not on which you prefer.
| Test | Fee in Canada | Skills tested | Used for | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP-General | $299 plus tax | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Permanent residence, and Australian visas | Under 2 hours 50 minutes |
| CELPIP-General LS | $199 plus tax | Listening and Speaking | Canadian citizenship | About 70 minutes |
These are Paragon's Canadian prices, and it is one price for the whole country rather than a price per city. Outside Canada the fee is different: Paragon says international pricing varies, and the price for your country appears when you choose a test session. If you only need citizenship, the LS test is $100 cheaper and about 100 minutes shorter; CELPIP-General vs General LS explains which one your application needs.
CELPIP fee with tax, by province
Paragon quotes the fee before tax. This is what $299 and $199 come to once GST or HST is added at each province's rate.
| Province or territory | GST or HST | CELPIP-General | CELPIP-General LS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the territories | 5% GST | $313.95 | $208.95 |
| Ontario | 13% HST | $337.87 | $224.87 |
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST | $340.86 | $226.86 |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island | 15% HST | $343.85 | $228.85 |
Our arithmetic on the Canada Revenue Agency's GST/HST rates, so treat it as an estimate. Paragon charges "taxes where applicable", and a provincial sales tax may be added on top of GST in provinces that have one. The total on your checkout page is the one that counts.
What the CELPIP fee includes
- •One sitting on a computer. All the components are done in a single session at a test centre, with no separate speaking appointment.
- •Your scores online in 2 to 4 business days. They appear in your CELPIP Account and you are emailed when they are posted.
- •The Official Score Report as a PDF. That is the file you submit. Paragon no longer issues hard copy reports.
- •One free change of date. Paragon's policy says the first transfer is free if you make it at least 7 days before the test.
The fee does not include a second attempt, a re-evaluation or preparation material beyond what Paragon publishes free on celpip.ca. CELPIP results covers when scores arrive and how long they stay valid.
What it costs to reschedule or cancel
The 7-day line decides almost everything. On the right side of it you can move the test or get half your money back. On the wrong side you usually get neither.
| What happens | What it costs you |
|---|---|
| You move the test, 7 or more days before | First transfer free. Later transfers $50 plus tax. |
| You need to move it with less than 7 days to go | You have to contact Paragon, which decides case by case and may ask for a doctor's note or similar proof. |
| You cancel 7 or more calendar days before | You get 50% of the fee back. |
| You cancel with less than 7 days to go | No refund. |
| You arrive late | No entry, no refund and no transfer. Check-in closes 15 minutes before the start, and Paragon asks you to arrive 45 minutes early. |
| Paragon cancels the session | On request, a refund or the fee applied to another session. |
From Paragon's cancellation and transfer policy. Its policy page states the free first transfer in one place and a $50 transfer fee in another, so check the amount shown in your CELPIP Account before you confirm. A transfer has to be to the same type of test.
What a CELPIP retake costs
There is no retake discount. A second attempt is a new registration at the full fee, $299 plus tax for CELPIP-General, and Paragon does not let you register for two sessions within 5 calendar days of each other.
That matters because most programs need the level in every skill, and one skill short means sitting, and paying for, all of them again. On this site we can see how often that happens in practice. Of 336 full mock tests taken here between 16 July and 12 October 2026 with all four skills scored, 25 reached level 7 in every skill, which is 7.4%, and none reached level 9 in every skill. Skill by skill, across 3,244 scored practice attempts:
| Skill | Attempts | Median level | Reached level 7 or higher | Reached level 9 or higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 1,566 | 7 | 55.0% | 28.2% |
| Writing | 402 | 7 | 64.7% | 8.7% |
| Speaking | 443 | 6 | 30.2% | 0.5% |
| Listening | 833 | 6 | 24.1% | 4.9% |
The pattern is consistent: people clear Reading and Writing and get held back by Listening and Speaking. A full timed mock shows you which skill would cost you the retake while it is still free to find out.
Practice attempts, not official results, and attempts rather than people. They include first tries by people who had not started preparing, so they are a picture of where test takers start, not a prediction of your result. Listening and Reading are marked against the answer key; Writing and Speaking levels are estimates from our evaluation, described on how we evaluate.
Is a re-evaluation cheaper than a retake?
It can be, but only for Writing and Speaking. You can ask Paragon to re-evaluate one or more components within 6 months of the test date. You pay a fee that depends on which components you choose, and Paragon does not publish the amount on its public pages; it is shown in your CELPIP Account when you apply. The fee for a component is refunded if its level changes, the answer takes about 1 to 2 weeks, each component can be re-evaluated once, and the request cannot be cancelled. Paragon says re-evaluating Listening or Reading is unlikely to change anything, because those are computer rated.
Four ways to pay the CELPIP fee only once
- •Book the right test. If you only need citizenship, CELPIP-General LS is $199 instead of $299. If you need permanent residence, LS will not be accepted and you would pay twice.
- •Sit a full mock before you book. Book when your weakest skill is at your target, not when your average is. Our Full Mock 1 is free, and so is test 1 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
- •Move the date instead of cancelling. A transfer 7 or more days ahead keeps the whole fee working for you. A cancellation at the same point returns only half of it.
- •Use the free material first. Paragon publishes free practice tests and study material on celpip.ca. Start there, then use timed practice to find out what the free material did not fix.
Before you pay for the test
Free full mock test
All four skills, timed like the real test, scored per skill so you can see which one is short.
Start a mock →General or General LS?
Which test your application needs, so you do not pay for the wrong one.
Compare the two →CELPIP results
When scores arrive, how long they are valid and how re-evaluation works.
Read the guide →CELPIP to CLB
The level each immigration program needs, and how CELPIP levels map to CLB.
See the conversion →CELPIP score chart
Raw scores to levels for all four skills, so a mock result means something.
See the chart →Practice course
Untimed lessons and drills, one question type at a time, with the reasoning behind every answer.
Start learning →CELPIP test fee FAQs
How much is the CELPIP test in Canada?
CELPIP-General is $299 plus tax and CELPIP-General LS is $199 plus tax, as listed by Paragon on 12 October 2026. With GST or HST, CELPIP-General comes to about $313.95 in provinces that charge 5% GST, $337.87 in Ontario, $340.86 in Nova Scotia and $343.85 in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
Did the CELPIP test fee go up in 2026?
Yes. Paragon listed CELPIP-General at $290 and CELPIP-General LS at $195 when we read its pages on 12 August 2026. On 12 October 2026 the same pages listed $299 and $199.
Is the CELPIP fee the same in every city?
In Canada, yes before tax: Paragon lists one Canadian price rather than a price per city. The total differs by province because GST or HST differs. Outside Canada the fee is different and is shown when you choose a test session.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my CELPIP test?
Half of it, if you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the test. Cancel later than that and there is no refund. Moving the test is usually better than cancelling: the first transfer is free when you make it 7 or more days ahead.
How much does it cost to reschedule a CELPIP test?
Paragon's policy says the first transfer is free and later ones cost $50 plus tax, as long as you transfer at least 7 days before the test. With less than 7 days to go you have to contact Paragon, which decides case by case.
How much does a CELPIP re-evaluation cost?
Paragon does not publish the amount on its public pages. The fee depends on which components you choose and is shown in your CELPIP Account when you apply. It is refunded for a component whose level changes, and you can apply within 6 months of the test date.
How much does it cost to retake the CELPIP test?
The full fee again: $299 plus tax for CELPIP-General or $199 plus tax for CELPIP-General LS. There is no retake discount, and you cannot register for two sessions within 5 calendar days of each other.
Is there a free CELPIP practice test?
Yes. Paragon publishes free practice tests on celpip.ca, and on celpipmocks test 1 of every section and Full Mock 1 are free with no credit card.
Find your weak skill before it costs $299
Sit a free, fully timed CELPIP mock and see the level you reach in each skill before you book the real test.
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