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

The Francophone Mobility work permit lets eligible French-speaking workers take employer-specific jobs outside Quebec through an LMIA-exempt route. Workers must show French speaking and listening ability at an intermediate level, equivalent to level 5 or higher on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) scale. This guide explains the language and job conditions, what employers must submit, how Quebec differs, and how temporary work authorization may fit into a separate permanent residence plan. It is based on IRCC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

• Workers need French speaking and listening ability at NCLC 5 or higher, an eligible job offer, and a job located outside Quebec. Read IRCC’s Francophone Mobility guidance.
• The job offer can be in any TEER category of the National Occupational Classification, except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5, which are excluded.
• The employer submits the job offer through IRCC’s Employer Portal under LMIA exemption code C16, pays the CAN$230 employer compliance fee and gives the worker a 7-digit offer of employment number before the worker applies.
• A Francophone Mobility work permit gives temporary work authorization. Express Entry and provincial nominee programs are separate permanent residence options with their own criteria.

Who can qualify for Francophone Mobility?

For applications submitted on or after June 15, 2023, IRCC says you must:

• meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit;
• live and work in one of the 9 Canadian provinces or 3 territories outside Quebec;
• prove intermediate speaking and listening skills in French (NCLC 5 or higher);
• have an offer of employment in any TEER category, unless the job is a primary agriculture occupation in TEER 4 or 5.

The program uses an LMIA exemption, but applicants must still meet the work permit rules. IRCC’s Francophone Mobility guide explains the program conditions.

The rules used to be stricter. For applications made before June 15, 2023, IRCC required a processing officer to be satisfied that the applicant could score at least 7 on the NCLC, and a job offer in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. Many older articles online still quote those conditions.

Assess the candidate and the position together. Visa Canada Rouge offers a Francophone Mobility eligibility review that considers work location, TEER category and French level; IRCC’s published criteria remain the authority on eligibility.

How to meet and show the French requirement

Applicants need French speaking and listening ability at NCLC 5 or higher; IRCC says you don’t need to prove you can read or write in French to be eligible for this LMIA exemption. Check IRCC’s instructions on proof of language ability.

Accepted evidence includes speaking and listening results from the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) or the Test de connaissance du français (TCF), written confirmation from a college or university for a program in French (such as a transcript or an official letter of completion), and other documents that show education in French. Upload your proof of French ability in the “Client information” field of the application; since there is only one such field, you may need to combine several documents into one file.

Which job offers qualify, and what does the LMIA exemption mean?

The job must be outside Quebec and supported by an eligible offer in any TEER category. Primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5 are excluded from Francophone Mobility eligibility. IRCC’s eligibility rules set out these limits.

LMIA-exempt means the employer does not need a labour market impact assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada. It does not mean there is no employer step: for an eligible Francophone Mobility offer, the employer submits the offer through the Employer Portal using LMIA exemption code C16 and pays the employer compliance fee.

Discuss the job duties and work location with the employer early. The employer and worker should assess the actual position against the National Occupational Classification (NOC) and its TEER category, rather than relying only on the job title. A useful check is to compare the employer’s description of the day-to-day duties with the NOC description. If the duties, work location or offer details point to different roles, resolve that mismatch before the employer submits the offer.

What the employer must do before the worker applies

Before you apply for your work permit, IRCC says your employer must:

1. submit an offer of employment to IRCC through the Employer Portal using LMIA exemption code C16 for Mobilité Francophone;
2. pay a CAN$230 employer compliance fee;
3. give you the offer of employment number, a 7-digit number required for your application.

Before making the portal submission, agree on the duties, work location, offer details and expected timing. Consistent information helps the worker prepare an application that matches the employer’s submission; employers can consult IRCC’s Francophone Mobility instructions for the required steps.

Applying for an employer-specific work permit

After the employer provides the offer number, the worker applies online through an IRCC account. IRCC’s instructions describe the questions to answer to get the right document checklist. From outside Canada, you indicate how long you plan to stay based on the offer, answer “Yes” to having a job offer with an offer of employment number, and choose a work permit with an LMIA exemption. From within Canada, you indicate that you have a written job offer and that you’re applying for an employer-specific work permit with an LMIA exemption.

The application must include French language evidence and the other supporting documents your personalized checklist requests, and you pay the work permit processing fee. Follow IRCC’s application and document instructions.

A worked example

Thomas, from Lyon, is in Montreal on a Working Holiday permit that ends in March. A Winnipeg engineering firm offers him a drafting technician job. Before anything is filed, he and the employer check three things: the job is in Manitoba, the occupation isn’t a primary agriculture one in TEER 4 or 5, and his French proof works. He did his studies in France, so a transcript from a French-language program can serve as evidence; he doesn’t need a test.

The employer then submits the offer under code C16, pays the $230 fee and sends Thomas the 7-digit number. Thomas checks whether his situation lets him apply from inside Canada, applies online with the number and his transcript combined into one file in the “Client information” field, and pays the work permit fee. He starts in Winnipeg only once the new permit is issued, and keeps his current status valid in the meantime.

Common mistakes

• Quoting the old rules (NCLC 7, TEER 0 to 3) from articles written before June 15, 2023.
• Applying before the employer has submitted the offer: without the offer number, there is no application.
• Relying on the head office address when the work is actually done in Quebec.
• Choosing the NOC code from the job title instead of the duties.
• Starting the new job before the permit that authorizes it is issued.
• Forgetting a regulated profession’s licence: the permit doesn’t replace registration with the provincial regulator.

How the program differs from working in Quebec

Francophone Mobility applies to eligible work located outside Quebec. A job in Quebec does not qualify through this program, even if the worker speaks French. That boundary does not prevent a worker from pursuing another route for a Quebec job. It means the employer and worker must assess the requirements that apply to that job and location instead of treating Francophone Mobility as authorization to work in Quebec. For a Quebec job, the usual route is an LMIA in Quebec or another exemption; our article on LMIA or LMIA exemption explains how to check.

The reverse is useful to know: a French speaker who lives in Montreal and receives a job offer in Ottawa, Moncton, Winnipeg or Vancouver can look at this program, as can a Working Holiday participant whose permit is ending; see our article on staying in Canada after IEC.

Quebec employment and Quebec permanent selection are separate from this out-of-Quebec LMIA exemption. For permanent immigration to Quebec, review the official requirements of the PSTQ as well as the rules that apply to the intended job.

Planning beyond temporary work authorization

A Francophone Mobility work permit authorizes temporary work under its stated conditions; it does not grant permanent residence. A job or a period of work in Canada does not, by itself, establish eligibility for permanent residence. See our pages on permanent residence pathways, which have separate criteria.

Workers may investigate Express Entry or a provincial nominee program if they meet the relevant requirements. Skilled work outside Quebec can later count toward the Canadian Experience Class if it meets the rules, including 1,560 hours of skilled work within three years. French can also add points to the Comprehensive Ranking System, and IRCC holds category-based rounds for French-language proficiency; see French in your Express Entry profile. These are separate applications with their own criteria.

Plan temporary status and any permanent residence application as distinct steps. For example, a worker can compare the criteria for an economic immigration program with their own language, work and education profile, rather than assuming that a particular permit or job will lead to permanent residence.

Frequently asked questions

Can a U.S. citizen use Francophone Mobility to move to Canada for a job?

Yes, if they meet the conditions. IRCC’s eligibility rules are about French ability, the job and its location outside Quebec, not citizenship in a French-speaking country.

Can my spouse or children come with me, and what status could they apply for?

Family members need their own visitor, study or work status; approval is not automatic through the worker’s permit. A spouse’s eligibility for an open work permit depends on the general family-member rules, including the principal worker’s occupation and the remaining validity of the permit; see our article on spousal open work permits. Children need their own temporary status, depending on their age and plans.

Can I apply for a Francophone Mobility work permit while I am already in Canada?

Possibly. IRCC’s application instructions include a path for applications from within Canada, but being in Canada does not by itself make someone eligible to apply from inside the country. Check that your situation allows an in-Canada application before you apply.

How long does a Francophone Mobility work permit application take?

There is no single processing time for every applicant: IRCC times vary by application type and where the application is processed. Use the government’s processing time tool for the relevant category and location.

Conclusion

The Francophone Mobility work permit can suit a French-speaking worker with an eligible job outside Quebec, provided the worker and employer complete their respective steps under IRCC’s rules. Confirm the oral language evidence, occupation and work location, then treat the employer-specific permit and any future permanent residence application as separate parts of a longer plan. To check your situation, describe it here or book a consultation.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

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