Francophone Work Permit

Canadian work permits & francophone mobility program

In most cases, to qualify for a Canadian work permit, you must first have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer. There are some exceptions to this rule, but for many foreign workers, a job offer is the starting point.

What is an LMIA?

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that some Canadian employers must obtain before hiring a temporary foreign worker.

When reviewing an LMIA application, an officer considers the impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labour market. If the LMIA is approved (a "positive LMIA") it confirms that there is a genuine need for a foreign worker and the foreign national may then apply for a work permit tied to that specific employer.

Not all work permits require an LMIA. Certain situations are LMIA-exempt, including:

• Reciprocal agreements (e.g., youth mobility, international experience programs)
• Jobs that provide a significant benefit to Canada (economic, cultural, or social)
• International treaties and agreements

Francophone mobility work permit (Mobilité francophone)

The Francophone Mobility Program is a special LMIA-exempt Canadian work permit pathway designed to attract French-speaking foreign workers to provinces and territories outside Quebec.

One of the main advantages of this program is that the employer does not need to obtain an LMIA, which can significantly reduce processing time and administrative burden.

To be eligible for a francophone mobility work permit, you generally must:

• Have a valid job offer outside of Quebec in an eligible TEER category (Exception: this does not apply to some primary agriculture occupations under TEER 4 and 5.)
• Demonstrate French-language ability in speaking and listening at NCLC level 5 or higher
• Meet the general eligibility requirements for a Canadian work permit (admissibility, background, etc.)

Language test equivalencies – NCLC 5

• TEF Canada (NCLC 5): Listening: 352–392 | Speaking: 387–421
• TCF Canada (NCLC 5): Listening: 369–397 | Speaking: 6

Steps your Canadian employer must complete

• Submit a job offer to IRCC through the Employer Portal (used for hiring temporary foreign workers) using the LMIA-exempt code C16 (Mobilité francophone).
• Pay the CAD 230 employer compliance fee via the Employer Portal.
• Provide you with a 7-digit job offer number, which you must include in your work permit application.

How we help with francophone mobility work permits

We support both employers and foreign workers with Francophone Mobility (Mobilité francophone) work permit applications.

As a regulated Canadian immigration consultant, we can:

• Assess whether the Francophone Mobility Program is the right option for your situation
• Review a job offer
• Guide employers through the Employer Portal process
• Prepare and organize a complete work permit application package
• Review an application you have already prepared and suggest improvements before submission

If you are a French-speaking worker who wants to work in Canada outside Quebec, or a Canadian employer looking to hire Francophone talent, we would be happy to discuss your options. You can reach out to book a consultation on the Francophone Mobility Work Permit and other Canadian work permit options.