Start with experienced legal advice
Canada has many immigration programs and pathways.
We help you choose the right one.
Rules, regulations, policies, procedures and timelines change frequently. The information below can help you understand the Canadian immigration areas that may be relevant to you, but nothing replaces advice from an experienced immigration lawyer.
We are not a “consulting firm.” We are a Canadian immigration law firm, and your best interests come first. When we can help, we offer affordable fees and flexible payment terms. It all starts with creating a strategic immigration plan that is right for you.
Featured Canadian entrepreneur pathway
Our leading Canada pathway
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Work Permit to Permanent Residence
WP2PR is a strategic, lawyer-led pathway that uses the Canadian work-permit and immigration programs best suited to each entrepreneur and family. Every plan is different.
It can function much like self-sponsorship: you establish or acquire a Canadian business, and your new Canadian company supports a qualifying work-permit strategy so you can come to Canada, actively operate the business and bring your family. We coordinate the business, work-permit and permanent-residence plan from the beginning.
- A personalized strategy using one or more available Canadian visa and immigration programs
- Your Canadian company can support a qualifying work-permit strategy
- Bring your spouse and dependent children with you
- Dependent children may attend public school without international-student tuition, subject to provincial and school-board eligibility
- Your family may qualify for provincial healthcare coverage once the applicable provincial conditions are met
- Designed for people with at least a few hundred thousand Canadian dollars available to establish or buy a viable business and support their family
- Best suited to entrepreneurs prepared to work hard, actively manage the company and build real Canadian operations
A coordinated pathway—not a one-size-fits-all program. WP2PR brings together the available Canadian business, work-permit and permanent-residence options that fit your circumstances. We assess eligibility individually and build the strongest practical strategy for you and your family.
The next pathway to explore
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International Student to Entrepreneur
For selected international students and graduates, entrepreneurship may provide another route when traditional graduate-to-PR pathways are uncertain or highly competitive.
The strongest time to plan may be before graduation. We assess the student’s education, work authorization, business idea, family support and available skilled-worker or provincial options together.
Plan beyond the degree.
Education, work authorization, business and permanent residence should support one strategy.
Canadian immigration service directory
Nine areas where we can help.
Each section includes links to deeper program information and tools.
Language tests and immigration
A stronger language score can change your immigration options.
Language is one of the most important—and most improvable—factors in Canadian economic immigration. See accepted tests, program minimums, strategic score targets and complete CLB/NCLC conversion charts.
CLB 9
A major Express Entry threshold for many candidates
Explore Language Tests & Scores
Language tests and immigration
Convert your test score to CLB or NCLC.
Canadian immigration programs assess English using the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and French using the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). Your result is measured separately in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
The minimum level depends on the program. Stronger results can improve eligibility and ranking, and a lower score in one ability can affect the entire application. For many economic immigration applications, results must be less than two years old when you apply.
English
CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training or PTE Core
French
TEF Canada or TCF Canada
Four abilities
Reading, writing, listening and speaking are scored separately
English tests
CLB equivalency charts
Use the score shown on your official test report for each ability.
CELPIP-General
English · CLB| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
IELTS General Training
English · CLB| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| 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 |
General Training only. IELTS Academic is not the approved test for these economic immigration programs.
PTE Core
English · CLB| CLB | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 88–90 | 90 | 89–90 | 89–90 |
| 9 | 78–87 | 88–89 | 82–88 | 84–88 |
| 8 | 69–77 | 79–87 | 71–81 | 76–83 |
| 7 | 60–68 | 69–78 | 60–70 | 68–75 |
| 6 | 51–59 | 60–68 | 50–59 | 59–67 |
| 5 | 42–50 | 51–59 | 39–49 | 51–58 |
| 4 | 33–41 | 41–50 | 28–38 | 42–50 |
PTE Core only. PTE Academic is not the approved test for these economic immigration programs.
French tests
NCLC equivalency charts
French results use NCLC, the French-language counterpart to CLB.
TEF Canada
French · NCLCFor tests taken after December 10, 2023
| NCLC | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 546–699 | 558–699 | 546–699 | 556–699 |
| 9 | 503–545 | 512–557 | 503–545 | 518–555 |
| 8 | 462–502 | 472–511 | 462–502 | 494–517 |
| 7 | 434–461 | 428–471 | 434–461 | 456–493 |
| 6 | 393–433 | 379–427 | 393–433 | 422–455 |
| 5 | 352–392 | 330–378 | 352–392 | 387–421 |
| 4 | 306–351 | 268–329 | 306–351 | 328–386 |
TEF Canada used different score scales for tests taken on or before December 10, 2023. Check the official IRCC table for an older result.
TCF Canada
French · NCLC| NCLC | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 549–699 | 16–20 | 549–699 | 16–20 |
| 9 | 524–548 | 14–15 | 523–548 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 499–523 | 12–13 | 503–522 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 453–498 | 10–11 | 458–502 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 406–452 | 7–9 | 398–457 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 375–405 | 6 | 369–397 | 6 |
| 4 | 342–374 | 4–5 | 331–368 | 4–5 |
Conversion tables verified against IRCC on September 17, 2026. General information only; immigration requirements and accepted evidence can change.
Parlez-vous français?
French can open additional pathways to Canada.
French-speaking and bilingual candidates may have valuable options through Québec programs, Francophone work permits outside Québec, Express Entry and provincial pathways.
Francophone Mobility Work Permits
Qualified French-speaking candidates with a Canadian job offer outside Québec may be eligible for an LMIA-exempt work permit. This can make it easier for an employer to hire you and may help you gain Canadian work experience.
Review the official requirementsExpress Entry & PR Pathways
Strong French can add up to 50 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. French-language category draws continue in 2026 and may provide opportunities at scores below some general rounds, but candidates must still qualify for an Express Entry program.
Explore all French-speaker pathways →Québec Immigration Programs
Québec operates its own selection system for economic immigrants, including skilled-worker and business programs. French ability is central to many Québec selection streams and invitation decisions.
Explore Québec skilled-worker selectionYour score is only part of the analysis. We assess language results, work experience, occupation, location, family profile and timing to identify the strongest French-language strategy.
Assess Your French-Language OptionsYour future is our business
Let’s create the strategic immigration plan that is right for you.
We offer a free initial assessment to determine whether we may be able to help. If we can, you may schedule a comprehensive consultation with Canadian immigration lawyer David Rosenblatt, who will take the time to understand your situation and provide honest, straightforward advice you can rely on.
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