19 October 2009

More Canadian visa, permanent resident holders speak national language

New statistics for 2008 show that the number of English- or French-speaking foreigners granted a Canadian visa is increasing.

The immigration study found that last year 56.6 per cent of immigrants spoke English and only 28.3 per cent spoke neither French nor English.

Skilled migrants are most likely to speak English or French, the two official languages of Canada, while refugees are the least likely to speak either.

Kelli Fraser, spokesperson for the study said the increase in migrants who speak English or French is due to changes in immigration policy in 2002, when a new emphasis was placed on a migrant’s ability to speak English or French.

In 2002, 45.9 per cent of Canadian visa holders and permanent residents did not speak English or French.

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The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with Canada visa and immigration applications.