Language Tests for Citizenship, Immigration, and Asylum

Abstract

A growing number of countries nowadays are requiring immigrants to pass language tests in national and/or official languages as a major condition for obtaining the right to enter the country in the first place, and (more often) to gain residency and ultimately citizenship. The granting of citizenship is thus dependent on passing a language test regardless of length of residence, status, employment, income, education or background. This policy determines continued residence in the state, and access to rights and benefits such as health, education and welfare. The format and administration of the language tests vary: at times these are conducted in the new country of residence, at others, such as in the Netherlands, the tests are administered in the country of origin before permission to enter is granted and used as a condition for entry into the new country (Extra and Spotti, in preparation). In a number of cases the language tests are accompanied by additional tests which assess ‘cultural knowledge’ of the new society’s history and civics.