Canada Work Permit Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Foreign Workers Language Skills Requirement
Reviewed by: Mariam Baher
Canada will soon require more foreign workers to take language skills tests. This means Canada will accept fewer foreign workers into the country but will ensure that successful applicants have good language skills.
Language Testing to Be Introduced Under the IMP
This new procedure will be introduced by requiring language testing for certain open work permits under the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The IMP allows employers in Canada to hire foreign workers on a temporary work permit without needing to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). At the time of writing, majority of IMP streams do not require applicants to take language tests to qualify for the program. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that this will soon change. In the near future, most IMP streams will require language tests, meaning applicants must provide proof of English or French proficiency.
Accepted Language Tests and Requirements
Approved language tests are IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada. These assessments evaluate reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities in either English or French.
Test results must align with Canada’s official language benchmarks:
- CLB for English language tests
- NCLC for French language tests.
While IRCC has not yet announced specific score thresholds, it is clear that test results must be no more than two years old at the time of submission. Any results older than two years will not be accepted.
Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Plan
In accordance with Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to place more emphasis on quality and less on the quantity of foreign workers allowed into the country by ensuring that the foreign talent they accept is qualified and can further contribute to the success of the economy.
Affected IMP Streams
It is still undecided which streams will be affected by this new requirement, as the IRCC has not officially stated exactly which programs this change will affect.
Benefits of Language Proficiency
By ensuring that incoming foreign workers can speak English or French, the Canadian government believes it will benefit not only the employers and the foreign workers themselves, but also, in turn, the economy as a whole. Improved language skills are expected to ease integration and help newcomers adapt more smoothly to Canadian society.
When Will the New Rule Start?
The new language rule for foreign workers will not take effect immediately and will probably take effect in 2026 or 2027. We will be monitoring the situation and will share more information once available, likely before 2026. Contact us to get started on your journey into Canada, and let us help you along the way.
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