Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 188; Flight Crew Total 7297; Flight Crew Type 7297
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
Arrival into Toronto (CYYZ) flying the NUBER4 STAR to RNAV X Runway 05.  The Approach Controller cleared us to fly direct IKBAT.  We read back the clearance but both pilots were confused as to the correct waypoint.  Was the clearance to IKBAT or IGVAP? Both waypoints are similar sounding and located very close to each other.  We queried the Controller to acknowledge that the correct waypoint was indeed IKBAT and not IGVAP (emphasis on slow deliberate enunciation).Several minutes later we were informed of traffic congestion at the airport and were given a 280 vector away from the airfield.  After a few minutes on that heading we were given vectors back toward the field and told to proceed direct to IKBAT. However; both pilots heard 'IGVAP' and we proceeded to fly towards IGVAP.  A few minutes later the Controller asked if we were flying to IKBAT and I informed ATC that 'no; we are going direct to IGVAP.'  The two waypoints are about a mile apart. The Controller gave us a heading and handed us off to the next Controller. Nothing else was mentioned about the incident.
Air carrier Captain reported a track heading deviation during arrival into CYYZ airport resulting from confusing similar sounding fix names IKBAT and IGVAP.