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Do I need a language test to immigrate to Canada?

A test will show if your language skills meet a minimum standard in each of these four abilities:

• listening,
• speaking,
• reading, and
• writing.

If you are a new applicant to the:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class (as of June 26, 2010),
• Federal Skilled Trades Program,

you must include the original results of an English or French language test with your application. If you do not, your application is not complete and we will send it back to you.

The test must be a third-party language test from an agency approved by CIC.

As of July 1, 2012, if you apply under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in a semi- or low-skilled job, the province will usually require you to complete a third-party language test before they nominate you.

This does not apply if you are a temporary foreign worker in a semi- or low-skilled job who:

• entered Canada on or before July 1, 2012, and
• has been nominated in a PNP employer-driven stream by July 1, 2013.

You must include a copy of the test when you apply for permanent residence. If you do not, your application is not complete and we will send it back to you. The test must be a third-party language test from an agency approved by CIC.

If you apply as a Self-employed Person under the Business Immigration Program, you must include the results of a third-party language test or you will not be given points for your language skills.

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