Citizenship and Immigration Canada offers a work visa program called the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
This program offers Permanent Residency to workers who are eligible meaning that they can live and work in Canada for as long as they please. This is of course provided that they follow the rules in maintaining a Permanent Resident Card.
One of the requirements for eligibility in the Federal Skilled Worker Program is that applicants must be somewhat skilled in either English or French, the two official languages of Canada.
A maximum of 28 points can be awarded to applicants for their skills in English or French. To be eligible for the FSW program, an immigrant must score at least 67 out of 100 points.
The total score one might achieve in the language category of the parameters is dependent on how well the applicant can listen, speak, read and write in English or French.
It is perfectly acceptable to study English or French before applying for this program to increase one’s score. However, studying after one comes to Canada will not impact one’s score in the application process.
The Canadian Language Board determines the metrics for suitability in the Federal Skilled Worker program.
People who score lower than a CLB level 7 are not allowed to apply for the program.
Applicants who apply with a CLB level of 7, 8 or 9 get a different number of points:
- CLB level 7 receive 16 points
- CLB level 8 reveive 20 points
- CLB level 9 receive 24 points
An applicant can receive an additional four points for having a level of CLB 5 in a second language. So, one can score a CLB level 7 in French and a CLB 5 in English and they will score a total of 20 points (16+4).
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