加拿大新移民法（２００２年６月２８日正式实施）更改了旧有的语言能力评估标准。为帮助广大移民申请人正确评估自己的语言能力，加拿大公民和移民部的新标准公告原文如下：
加拿大官方语言为英语和法语。申请人可任选其一作为第一语言。
Skill Level Criteria
High-proficiency：
You can communicate effectively in most community and
workplace situations. You speak, listen, read and write the
language very well.
Moderate proficiency：
You can make yourself understood and you understand what
others are saying in most workplace and community situations.
You speak, listen, read and write the language well.
Basic or no proficiency：
You do not meet the above criteria for moderate proficiency.
