Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Language requirements when applying for citizenship

How do you measure how well I can speak English or French when applying for citizenship?

To measure if you have adequate knowledge of English or French we use:

You must reach CLB/NCLC Level 4 or higher to get Canadian citizenship.

CLB/NCLC is the official standard used in Canada to describe, measure and recognize how well adult immigrants can communicate in their second language. We use this standard to make sure we evaluate everyone the same way.

The ways we measure how well you can speak and listen in English or French include:

Using the CLB/NCLC, a citizenship officer will make the final decision if you have adequate knowledge of English or French.

What language level do I need when I apply for citizenship?

If you’re between 18 and 54 years old when you sign your application, you must show an adequate knowledge of speaking and listening skills in English or French.

An “adequate knowledge” is equivalent to level 4 in Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC).

Learn more about the language requirement

What documents can I use to prove that I meet the citizenship language requirement?

You can send us one of a number of different documents to show that you meet the language requirement, including:

For information on other forms of proof accepted, see:

You need to reach level 4 or higher to apply for citizenship. We use your documents to determine if you have reached this level for speaking and listening in English or French.

We will review the language proof you send us. We won’t process your application and will return it to you if your proof:

What third-party language tests will you accept as proof I have adequate knowledge of English or French when I apply for citizenship?

A third-party test is a test done by an organization that isn’t Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

We accept third-party test results as proof of your language ability from organizations including:

We will accept tests that you previously submitted for immigration purposes to Quebec, including:

We don’t accept any other third-party test results, even if they’re similar.

Visit each organization’s website to learn how to write the exams. Since we don’t run them, we don’t track when and where they’re offered.

In some cases, you may send test results that you already sent to us or the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration (MIFI). We’ll accept the test results that you sent with your application for:

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

I graduated from an English-or French-language high school/college/university. What can I use to show that I can communicate in one of the official languages when I apply for citizenship?

You may send a transcript, diploma or certificate showing that you graduated from a secondary school or from a post-secondary program in Canada or abroad. These materials must show that the program was in English or French. A single course in an official language is not enough to meet this requirement.

See the complete list of acceptable documents.

Can I use the government-funded language program I took to prove that I meet the citizenship language requirement?

Yes, you can use a federal or provincial language program to prove that you meet the language requirement for your citizenship application.

Federal language program

When you submit your citizenship application, you need to include a language certificate from a

Your results for speaking and listening skills must be equal to either a language level 4 or higher of the

If you did your training

Provincial language program

We also accept results from language programs in

Submit a certificate or report card from the program. It must show that you completed the training at a CLB/NCLC level 4 or higher (or equivalent).

See the complete list of acceptable documents if you apply as

Can I provide my LINC/CLIC placement test as a proof that I meet the citizenship language requirement?

No. You must provide evidence that you have reached CLB/NCLC 4 or higher in speaking and listening as part of a LINC/CLIC course to meet the language ability requirement for your citizenship. A placement test done by a LINC/CLIC assessment center is not accepted as evidence.

I’ve lost my certificate or transcript showing I meet the citizenship language requirement. What can I do?

If you have lost your certificate, most third-party testing bodies and provincially-funded language training programs will send you a copy of your certificate. Contact the organization where you completed the language training or testing.

Can I submit the results from a third-party language test that I took when I first applied to immigrate to Canada as proof I meet the citizenship language requirement?

Yes. You may send the same third-party language test results from your immigration application with your application for citizenship. There is no expiration date for third-party language test results for citizenship applicants.

Do you accept certificates from private language schools as proof I meet the citizenship language requirement?

No. If you have taken private language classes, those classes are not enough to prove that you speak French or English well enough to apply for Canadian citizenship. You must take an IRCC-approved third-party language test. If you achieve CLB/NCLC 4 or above on this test, submit the results with your citizenship application.

Date modified: