Immigration Manuals

Canada Start-Up Business Visa – Prescribed Language Requirements

Colin R. Singer
November 23, 2017

How to Meet the Prescribed Language Requirements

For any business to succeed in Canada, you will need to possess the ability to communicate and work in English, French or both. This is why the authorities require you to take a language test from an agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Thereafter, you would need to include the results with your application. On receiving the application the and test results, officers would proceed with processing your application.

Typically, the authorities require you to meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either English or French in all the areas specified below:

Speaking
Reading
Listening and,
Writing

For obtaining a Start-up Visa, applicants would need to prove their language skills. For this, they would need you to take a language test conducted by an agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). On completing the test, you would need to include the results along with your application.

It is worth mentioning that you would need to arrange for the testing by consulting an approved agency. In addition, you would need to bear the costs for the test as well. Upon completing the test, you would need to include the results of the test with your immigration application. Officers will not process your application and will return the application to you if you fail to attach the test results along with your application.

Moreover, you would need to avoid asking the testing agency to send your language test result to the Centralised Intake Office. Instead, ensure that you submit your original test along with your application. Once you have done this:

You would need to use the charts that follow in this document to know exactly what Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) you have attained based on your test results
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would use the test results as proof of your language proficiency and,
You could use these language test results for two years from the time that you took the test

Note:

You would need to keep a copy of your language test results for your records and future use
This is especially so if you need to use these results in the future for another application, as long as these results are not more than two years old when you apply
You could also consider using these test results for proving your language levels if you receive the approval to immigrate and then apply for becoming a citizen
It is worth mentioning that there is no expiration date for third party language test results for citizenship applicants

The Language Tests that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Typically Accepts

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has given the approval to certain agencies for:

Conducting language tests and,
Providing the results for people who apply under the Start-up Business Visa

English tests come under the purview of the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP). There are two Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) tests i.e. CELPIP – General (CELPIP-G) and CELPIP – Academic (CELPIP-A). Individuals applying for a Start-up Business Visa would need to take the CELPIP-G test.

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General – Test Score Equivalency Chart
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
10 and above	5H	5H	5H	5H
9	5L	5L	5L	5L
8	4H	4H	4H	4H
7	4L	4L	4L	4L
6	3H	3H	3H	3H
5	3L	3L	3L	3L
4	2H	2H	2H	2H

Note:

It is worth noting that the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) tests results for tests written prior to May 03, 2013, will have a score of five for each ability for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Levels 9 and 10

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) also conducts tests in English. It has two options for the reading and writing tests i.e. General Training and Academic. You would need to take the General Training option.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training – Test Score Equivalency Chart
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
9 and above	7.0 – 9.0	7.0 – 9.0	8.0 – 9.0	7.0 – 9.0
8	6.5	6.5	7.5	6.5
7	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
6	5.0	5.5	5.5	5.5
5	4.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
4	3.5	4.0	4.5	4.0

The test in French refers to the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF). You would need to submit the results you obtain from the following Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) tests as proof of your proficiency in the French language:

compréhension écrite
compréhension orale
expression écrite
expression orale

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) – Test Score Equivalency Chart for Each Ability
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level	Reading (compréhension écrite)	Writing (expression écrite)	Listening (compréhension orale)	Speaking (expression orale)
9 and above	248 +	372 +	298 +	372 +
8	233 – 247	349 – 371	280 – 297	349 – 371
7	206	309	248	309
6	181	271	217	271
5	150	225	180	225
4	121	181	145	181

The authorities have approved certain agencies for conducting these tests. The agencies designated for conducting these tests include:

For English – the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) G test
- Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc
For English – the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- The University of Cambridge, ESOL
- IDP Australia and,
- The British Council
For French – the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
- The Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry

T is worth mentioning that Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) centres do not have the requisite approvals from the authorities. As such, people who apply for a Start-up Visa cannot consider these as approved testing agencies.

Applicants would need to use their test results for finding their Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels. Officers could refuse your application in case you do not meet the minimum language skills.