Language Score Requirements for Immigration to Canada

Whether it is for work or for other reasons, there are certain requirements that must be met before you immigrate to Canada. For instance, Canada has a formal language requirement pertaining to an applicant’s abilities with English and French. Applicants to Canada’s immigration programs will need to be tested in their proficiency in either French, English, or both, depending on the program. Proficiency will relate to the applicant’s skill level as far as being able to write, speak, and understand English or French.

What are the language score requirements for immigration to Canada?

All of Canada’s immigration programs require a minimum point score to qualify for entry. Some programs will even give an applicant more points if they score at higher levels on the language tests. The language score requirements will vary between programs, with some programs requiring higher scores than others. The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is the official standard that is used in Canada to measure how well an adult immigrant can communicate in a certain language. For instance, those looking to immigrate based on being a medical professional will need to reach a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of seven (7) to qualify. Other provincial immigration programs targeting certain “in-demand” occupations may only require a score as low as CLB 4.

For the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program, the applicant must obtain a minimum level of CLB 7 for your first official language in all four language areas. The four language areas are:

  • Speaking
  • Listening
  • Reading
  • Writing

In order to receive points for your second official language, a minimum level of CLB 5 in all four language areas must be achieved. The Federal Skilled Trades program requires a minimum level of CLB 5 in speaking and listening abilities and a CLB 4 in reading and writing abilities. If you are between the ages of 18 and 54 and are looking to apply for Canadian Citizenship, you must be able to demonstrate a CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening abilities for English or French.

In order to test for language proficiency, most take the IELTS. The IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, which is the most popular English language test in the world. It tests the candidate in the four language proficiency areas listed above. The IELTS results correspond to a CLB score. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts two tests to demonstrate language abilities. IELTS is one and the other is the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).

Attorneys for Immigration to Canada

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada, the trusted Canadian immigration Lawyers at Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak Law Group, P.C. are here to help you through the process and can answer any questions you have along the way. Testing for language abilities is just one of several hurdles to Canadian immigration. We are here for our clients the whole way and that is why our client satisfaction is consistently high. Check us out on the Web at https://www.visaserve.com or call us at 201-670-0006 (ext. 107). Please feel free to contact us today.