New Language Requirements For Canadian Citizenship Coming into Effect November 1st

The UBC English Language Institute is one of thousands of locations where individuals can take an IELTS exam. Citizenship applicants will be required to submit the results from CIC-approved third-party tests like the IELTS or provide evidence of completion of secondary or post-secondary education in English or French to be have their application processed.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced today that the majority of citizenship applicants will be required to demonstrate language proficiency in English or French when they apply, effective November 1st, 2012.

Currently, CIC assesses applicants’ language proficiency through the interaction their staff have with the applicant, and from the applicant’s citizenship knowledge test results.

Under coming changes, citizenship applicants will be required to submit the results of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, and score at least 4.0 and 4.5 on the speaking and listening portions, respectively.

In order for applicants to demonstrate French language proficiency, they will be required to submit the results of the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF), and score at least 181 and 145 on the speaking and listening portions.

Applicants can have the language test requirement waived if they can show evidence of having completed secondary or post-secondary education in English or French.

The new language requirements will only apply to applicants aged 18-54.

365 thoughts on “New Language Requirements For Canadian Citizenship Coming into Effect November 1st

  1. sir i am a iti welder pass and 4 yrs experience and ielts score is overall 5 band l5.5,r5,w4.5,s4.5 i have a sponsorship from canada can i apply for winnipeg pls tell me on my email addrs i shall very thnksfull to you for this

  2. Does academic IELTS applicable for FSW Canada program? I am not getting any date for general IELTS before 15 December ’14.

  3. i just received my approval letter for applying for Permanent Resident Visa in Manitoba. They are now asking again a copy of my IELTS result, however, it is now expired. Can I still use it or do I have to take another exam? Any information is very much appreciated.

    Thank you so much!

  4. I am Vaibhav surve b.tech marine engineer from india. I like to work in Canada than Canadian offer me as work .I don’t have Ielts exam bands.
    Ielts exam necessary for 2 years work visa.
    Can I came there without Ielts exam. ?

  5. Hi sir,
    I got my canadian application approval 2009 and one of the requirements I submitted was my IELTS (academic) result with band score 7(s 7, l 7, r 7, w 6). We landed in canada June 2012 and anytime on the last quarter of 2015, we will be qualified to apply for citizenship. My question goes, since this IELTS ( academic) was approved by the CIO, can I use it on our canadian citizenship application?
    Kindly help me with this.
    Thank you, ariel

    • They are now more restrict about language requirement. Most likely they will not accept it. Plus, your IELTS is from 2009, so it is no longer valid. I recommend writing a new IELTS exam, under General or another language exam they accept.

      CICS Team

  6. hi…We landed here in Canada under the FSW Category and the principal applicant is my husband, and we are about to apply for a Canadian citizenship this March of 2015.. We both studied as Healthcare Aide in a College here and We both completed the program and we both had our transcript and diploma.. My question is, do we have to take an english exam if we could prove that we had completed the program? tnx so much! pls. reply as soon as you get this..

  7. Dear CIC team..
    hope all is well.. this us muhammad usman with you from kuwait.
    recently i passed my IELTS exam from IDP. actually i need to know that my score is showing below. i am applying for canadian immigration from WWICS consultant with my family from kuwait. but my consultant said you should took 6.0 band in each score. please help me about this … can i proceed my application with this result. or not?

    Speaking: 6.5
    Writing: 6.0
    Listening: 5.5
    Reading: 5.0 and overall Score is : 6.0

    Thanks a lot

    • Dear Muhammad,

      You would need at least 6.0 in each ability. So your score is not enough.

      Also, please note that we also offer immigration representation.

      CICS Team

  8. I am applying for MPNP and I have to show IELTS results. My family is also including in my PR file. My wife and my 3 years old child. We have distance relatives in Manitoba who sponsor us.
    My question is that my wife also has to appear in the IELTS and has to show her IELTS results. Please let me know as per the current rules of MPNP immigration program.
    Thanks
    Bhargav

  9. Dear sir
    i am rajpal singh dhaliwal.i want apply for canada PR.i pasted my iti in carpanter trade and electrical diploma and ielts 4.5band(R4.5 L 4.0 S 4.0 W5.5).so please you can tell me that i eligible for vise of canada

  10. Dear Sir/Madam,

    I have got Overall band – 6.0
    Reading – 5.0
    Writing – 5.5
    Listening – 5.5
    Speaking – 7.0

    Please let me know if above marks are eligible for immigration in Manitoba.

    • Now you need to have at least 6.0 in each ability in order to qualify under Express Entry. Take that into consideration. Otherwise, we recommend you check the Manitoba web site or schedule an appointment to speak to one of our licensed immigration consultants.

  11. Hi. My name is kieron and I am currently a locomotive engineer ( train driver ) in the UK. My family and I have decided to emigrate to Canada and I have just done the Academic IELTS English test but have since found out that, despite being more difficult than the General version, it is now not accepted for Canadian immigration. If all what is neeed is proof of the standard of English, why is there a restriction on more credible versions of a exam that is already accepted? Is there any exceptions or flexibility? Or is this final and will not be accepted inn my application? Thanks for taking the time to read this message.

  12. Hello
    Sir/mam
    I have two trf in first trf band w- 4 s-5 r-5 l-5.5
    Overall 5
    And in second trf band l-5.5 R- 5 W4.50 S- 4.50
    Which on trf I can apply for Australia
    I have cleared +2 last year
    Thanxs

  13. Sir,
    I’ll like to apply for Manitoba pnp, but am told I have to upload my transcript and certificate, the thing is in my country transcripts are not given to individuals but to institutions. Pls is there any alternative?

  14. Hi,
    I’m an indian presently working in Saudi Arabia. I decided to to move to canada as a permanent resident.
    My ielts scores are :
    L – 7.0
    R- 6.5
    W- 6.5
    S- 6.0
    overall 6.5 bands

    I’m a graduate. Am I eligible to apply ?
    I have to score total 67 points to meet eligibility criteria.
    Do I have to retake tests ?

    Regards

  15. Hi,

    I am an Australian citizen an intend to apply for Canadian PR via the Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program.

    I have completed my tertiary education (full-time in English) in Melbourne, Australia and have had my degree (2008) attested from the IEAust (Institute of Engineers Australia). I have almost 7 years of work experience as a Professional Engineer.

    I would also like to add that I undertook IELTS (General) in September 2008 and scored a minimum of band 7 in one of four modules.

    Can you confirm, based on my nationality and the above, if this satisfies the language requirements for Canadian PR application or would I need to undertake IELTS again?

    Thanks for taking the time to read this message.

    Regards
    J C

  16. Sir I done two year iti and two year apprenticeship in pseb and four-year experience I have sponsorship for winnipeg and ilts l 5.5,r 4, w 5, s 4.5 can I apply for winnipeg sir pls tell me

  17. Hi, I applied for IELTS test (Academic module) and I got L 5.5 W 5 R 6.5 S 6 Overall 6. I am petroleum engineer with over 6 years of experience. I wonder, If May I Submit this results to Express Entry? Thanks for your kind answer.

  18. hiiii i wanted to know how to get ielts waiver as english being my first language and also have done my studies thoughout in english so is there possibility getting waiver and kindly suggest me with community colleges in canada where i can get ielts waived….kindly reply

  19. HI,
    I AM GOING TO STUDY IN CANADA FOR A BACHELOR DEGREE OF FOUR YEARS.
    DO I NEED TO APPEAR IN IELTS AGAIN AFTER FOUR YEARS IF I WILL BE APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP. MY CURRENT IELTS OVERALL BAND SCORE IS 7.
    WISE ADVICE WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

    • Universities accept Academic IELTS and Permanent Residency applications accept General IELTS. Also, IELTS tests are valid for a maximum of 2 years.

  20. What if I I only finished 2 years in college but its supposedly 4 years so I don’t have diploma… I already took the CELPIP and my score is
    Language- 6
    Reading- 7
    Writing- 6
    Listening- 6

    My concern is it is okay if I don’t have diploma? What category I’m going to fall?

    Express Entry education factor
    -University degree at the Doctoral (PhD) level

    -University degree at the Master’s level

    -Professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession

    -Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees.

    -Bachelor’s degree or other programs (three or more years) at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute

    -Two-year degree, diploma or certificate from a program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute

    -One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other institute

    -Secondary school (high school diploma)

  21. Dear Sir,
    Hope you are doing good.
    Sir can u please provide me detail information for getting job in Canada.
    Dear Sir I have completed my M.S. In pharmaceutical sciences and worked in India for 3 yrs in pharmaceutical research and development company as a research associate and now I am working in Saudi arabia from last 1 year.
    Now I wish to apply for job in Canada.
    I don’t have any idea about way of applying also express entry procedures any exam requirement etc.

    So I would be delighted if you share your expert knowledge with me.

    Please guide me regarding this.
    Kindly do the needful.
    Waiting for positive response
    Thanks

  22. Hi There,

    I am planning to apply for my Canadian Citizenship and i was checking the CIC website and found that there is an alternate for IELTS, we can submit our school/college convocation certificate, could you confirm if i can submit this certificate instead of IELTS?

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