Francophone Mobility: an LMIA-exempt work permit for French speakers outside Quebec

The Francophone Mobility work permit lets a French-speaking worker take an employer-specific job outside Quebec without the employer getting an LMIA. The bar is lower than many people think: intermediate oral French (NCLC 5) and a job offer in almost any occupation. Here is how it works, for the worker and the employer, based on IRCC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

• The job must be in one of the 9 provinces or 3 territories outside Quebec.
• You need speaking and listening in French at NCLC 5 or higher. Reading and writing aren't assessed for this exemption.
• Any TEER category qualifies, except primary agriculture jobs in TEER 4 and 5.
• The employer submits the offer in the Employer Portal under exemption code C16, pays CAN$230 and gives you a 7-digit offer of employment number before you apply.
• It's an employer-specific permit: you work for that employer, in that job.

Who can apply (applications since June 15, 2023)

IRCC lists four conditions. You must:

1. meet the general requirements for a work permit;
2. live and work in a province or territory other than Quebec;
3. prove intermediate speaking and listening skills in French, equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher;
4. have a job offer classified in any TEER category of the National Occupational Classification, unless it's a primary agriculture occupation in TEER 4 or 5.

Before June 15, 2023, the rules were stricter (NCLC 7 and TEER 0 to 3 only). Older articles online still quote them.

Proving your French

IRCC accepts, among others:

• speaking and listening results from the TEF or TCF;
• written confirmation from a college or university for a program taught in French, such as a transcript or letter of completion;
• other documents showing education in French.

Upload the proof in the "Client information" field of the application. There's only one such field, so you may need to combine several documents into one file.

What the employer does first

Nothing can be filed until the employer:

1. submits the offer of employment through IRCC's Employer Portal, using LMIA exemption code C16 (Mobilité francophone);
2. pays the CAN$230 employer compliance fee;
3. gives the worker the 7-digit offer of employment number.

Make sure the duties in the portal match the NOC code and the job the worker will actually do. A mismatch between the offer, the duties and the location is a common reason to get questions from an officer.

The worker's application

Apply online through your IRCC account (Work, then an LMIA-exempt employer-specific permit). Answer the checklist questions carefully: you have a job offer with an offer of employment number, and you want a work permit with an LMIA exemption. You pay the work permit processing fee. Whether you can apply from inside Canada depends on your situation; the questions differ for applications from within Canada.

Why it matters if you live in Quebec

A French speaker in Montreal can't use Francophone Mobility for a Montreal job: the exemption is for jobs outside Quebec. For a Quebec job, the usual route is an LMIA in Quebec or another exemption. On the other hand, a Quebec resident who accepts a job in Ottawa, Moncton or Toronto can look at this program. Our Francophone Mobility page covers it from the employer's side.

Family members

Your spouse or children don't get status through your permit; each needs their own. Whether your spouse can get an open work permit depends on the general family rules, including your occupation: see our article on spousal open work permits.

Thinking about permanent residence

The permit is temporary. Skilled work outside Quebec can later count toward the Canadian Experience Class if it meets the rules, and French can add CRS points: see French in your Express Entry profile. These are separate applications with their own criteria.

To check whether your job and French level fit, you can describe your situation or book a consultation.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a citizen of a French-speaking country?

No. IRCC's conditions are about your French ability, your job and its location, not your citizenship.

Do I need to write a French test?

Not necessarily. TEF or TCF speaking and listening results are one option; proof of studies in French can also work.

Can I change employers on this permit?

It's employer-specific. A new employer means a new offer, a new C16 submission and a new permit application before you start.

How long does it take?

It depends on where you apply. Check IRCC's processing times tool for work permits from outside or inside Canada.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

• IRCC — Francophone Mobility: check if you can apply
• IRCC — Francophone Mobility: how to apply