For Canadian citizenship applicants between the ages of 18 and 54*, Canada expects them to demonstrate what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) calls an “adequate knowledge” of English or French.
Canada uses four general guidelines to define “adequate” knowledge of one of its official languages. These guidelines, listed below, are considered skills that represent an adequate ability to speak and listen in either English or French.
- Ability to participate in short, everyday conversations on common topics
- Ability to understand simple instructions, questions, and directions
- Ability to use basic grammar, including simple structures and tenses
The ability to show that you know enough common words and phrases to answer questions and express your ideas
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*The age requirement for language skills is determined by the applicant’s age on the day he or she signs the application for Canadian citizenship
How does IRCC measure my language skills?
IRCC uses the following three methods to evaluate the language skills of eligible* Canadian citizenship applicants.
- Review the language proof sent with the citizenship application
- Assess the applicant’s speaking ability when speaking to a citizenship officer at any time during the application process
- Evaluate your language level during the citizenship test with an official, if necessary
More: Full information about the Canadian citizenship process, including the types of supporting documents to include with your application, can be found here
*Some Canadian citizenship applicants may receive assistance or exemptions for this part of the citizenship process. More information on this later.
Is there any equivalency between my language level for citizenship and permanent residence?
Many Canadian citizenship applicants will be familiar with either the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) tests (English) or the Nivaux de Competence Linguistique Canadienne (NCLC) tests (French).
According to the Canadian government, “adequate” knowledge of English or French is equivalent to scoring a level 4 in the speaking and listening portion of the CLB or NCLC language tests.
Can I request an accommodation or exemption to the language skills requirement for Canadian citizenship?
Applicants for Canadian citizenship may request/receive a waiver or exemption to the language skills requirement.
For example, IRCC notes that accommodations may be requested by the following groups of applicants.
- Applicants who have medical, physical, psychological or cognitive conditions (including disabilities)
- Applicants who cannot take the online citizenship test
- Applicants who are taking the online citizenship test but cannot remove their face
Full details about Canadian citizenship facilities, including the types of assistance provided by IRCC (Braille, large print, sign language interpretation, etc.) and how to request a facility from IRCC, can be found here.
Discount
Exemptions to the testing and language requirements associated with the Canadian citizenship test may be requested by those who meet IRCC’s criteria for an exemption on compassionate grounds.
Valid reasons for exemption as determined by IRCC include, but are not limited to, the following:
- A serious medical condition (serious illness, physical or developmental disability, or mental impairment) that has lasted (or may last) for at least 1 year
- Trauma due to war, torture, living in a refugee camp, etc.
- Low level of education or literacy in the first language (mother tongue)
Conversely, exemption requests submitted for the following reasons will be deemed invalid by IRCC.
- Applicants need time to study for the citizenship test
- Applicant cannot afford any third party language test
Click here for more information about obtaining exemptions to Canadian citizenship requirements, including how to request an exemption and what to expect after submitting an exemption request.
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