Do you have acceptable documents for the citizenship language requirement?

Citizenship language requirement flowchart described below

Citizenship language requirement flowchart

Step 1: Have you completed a secondary or post -secondary program, in French or in English, in Canada or abroad?

If yes, you can send a copy of your diploma, certificate or transcript that shows you completed the program. Note: You must have successfully completed a secondary or post-secondary program in English or French. A single course done in English or French does not meet the requirement.

If not, please continue to step 2.

Step 2: Did you immigrate to Canada through a federal immigration program requiring a third-party test result for language ability? (e.g. Federal Skilled Workers, Canadian Experience Class)

If yes: You can submit a copy of your test results (CELPIP, IELTS or TEF) with your citizenship application as long as they are at level CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening, even if they are expired.

If you lost or need a copy, contact the test provider.

CLB 4 equivalencies for listening and speaking:

  • CELPIP-General test: 2H or higher (3L, 3H, 4L, 4H, 5 or 6); OR
  • IELTS General training test:
    • 4.0 or higher in speaking, and
    • 4.5 or higher in listening (or 4 or higher in listening if test done before November 28, 2008); OR
  • TEF (also known as Test d’évaluation de français) test: either 3 or higher, or B1 or higher (B2, C1 or C2).

If not, please continue to step 3.

Step 3: Did you immigrate to Canada through the Quebec-selected skilled workers program requiring a third-party test result for language ability that was provided to the Ministère de l’immigration et des communautés culturelles (MICC)?

If yes, you can submit a copy of your test results (e.g. DELF, DALF, TCF, TCFQ, TEF and TEFAQ) with your citizenship application if they are at level CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening, even if they have expired.

If you lost or need a copy, contact the test provider.

CLB 4 equivalencies for listening and speaking:

  1. DELF: B1 or higher
  2. DALF: all results
  3. TCF or TCFQ: B1 or higher
  4. TEF or TEFAQ: either 3 or higher, or B1 or higher (B2, C1 or C2).

If not, please continue to step 4.

Step 4: Have you completed Federal LINC/CLIC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada/Cours de langue pour les immigrants au Canada) training?

If yes, and you completed LINC at level CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening, you can submit a copy of your LINC certificate, received on or after November 1st, 2012.

If you did LINC training between January 2008 and October 2012, mark the tick box on your citizenship application and CIC will verify it electronically.

If not, please continue to step 5.

Step 5: Have you completed a provincial language program in Manitoba, British Columbia or Quebec?

If yes, and you completed level CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening, you can submit a copy of:

  1. From Manitoba language program: Make sure your progress report by the Manitoba government shows your speaking and listening are at least at “completing CLB4” or higher and was issued since January 2009. If it does not, your proof will not be accepted.
  2. From BC language program:
    • People who have completed English Language Services for Adult (ELSA) training since 2010 can provide CIC with an ELSA report card or an ELSA certificate confirming language level CLB 4 or higher;
    • People who completed ELSA training in 2008 and 2009, can provide CIC with an ELSA certificate confirming language level CLB 4 or higher.

    Ensure that you have achieved at least CLB 4 in speaking and listening skills. If not, your proof will not be accepted.

  3. From Quebec language program: Make sure your Bulletin from the Ministère de l’immigration et des communautés culturelles (MICC) shows your most recent assessment is at least Échelle québécoise level 4 in interaction orale and was issued since June 2001. If it does not, your proof will not be accepted.

If not, please continue to step 6.

Step 6: Did you answer “No” to all of the above questions, or do you want to take a third party language test approved by CIC?

If yes, you can take one of the following CIC-approved third party language tests and submit the test results with your application.

  1. CELPIP-General test: to meet at least CLB 4, you need a score of 2H or higher (3L, 3H, 4L, 4H, 5 or 6) in speaking and listening; OR
  2. CELPIP-General LS (a two-skills, listening and speaking version of the CELPIP-General test): to meet at least CLB 4, you need a score of 2H or higher (3L, 3H, 4L, 4H, 5 or 6) in listening and speaking; OR
  3. IELTS General training test: to meet at least CLB 4, you need a score of 4.0 or higher in speaking, and 4.5 or higher in listening; OR
  4. TEF (as known as Test d’évaluation de français) test: to meet at least CLB 4 or higher, you need a score of B1 or higher (B2, C1 or C2) in listening and speaking; OR
  5. TEFAQ or TEF épreuves orales: both are two-skills (listening and speaking) versions of the TEF. To meet at least CLB 4, you need a score of B1 or higher (B2, C1 or C2).

Step 7: If you do not have the required language level (a minimum of CLB 4 in listening and speaking), you may choose to improve your language ability in a language program that provides acceptable certification that you can submit with your citizenship application when you complete the CLB-4 level. We suggest enrolling in a program that gives certification which CIC will accept.

For example, you can register to take a free, government-funded course such as:

  • the federal LINC course or
  • a provincially-funded language program in Manitoba, British Columbia or Quebec