The Language Skills Factor is one of the six factors for which points are awarded by Canadian Immigration Officers in determining whether a Skilled Worker / Professional applicant will be accepted or refused.
Up to 24 points are awarded under the Language Skills Factor based upon the applicant's ability to speak Canada's two official languages.The applicant may indicate either the English or French language as the first or second language for the purpose of being assessed under the Language Skills Factor.All Skilled Worker (Professional) applicants must include Test d’Evaluation de Français (TEF) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) results with their application so that points for the language section may be awarded. No other method of indicating linguistic abilities will be accepted.
Credits for Language Skills are awarded on the following basis:
| Proficiency | Points |
| 1st Language | |
| (English or French) High proficiency (per ability*) | 4 points |
| Moderate proficiency (per ability*) | 2 points |
| Basic proficiency (per ability*) | 1-2 points |
| No proficiency (per ability*) | 0 |
| Maximum | 16 points |
| 2nd Language | |
| (English or French) High proficiency (per ability*) | 2 points |
| Moderate proficiency (per ability*) | 2 points |
| Basic proficiency (per ability*) | 1-2 points |
| No proficiency (per ability*) | 0 |
| Maximum | 8 points |
| * Listening, reading, speaking, writing | |
