Francophone Mobility: hire a French-speaking worker without an LMIA, outside Québec.

Francophone Mobility (Mobilité francophone) is part of the International Mobility Program. The employer doesn't need an LMIA: it submits an offer of employment through IRCC's Employer Portal, then the worker applies for an employer-specific work permit. Time and cost are far lower than for a hire that requires an LMIA.

Visa Canada Rouge, an immigration consulting firm in Montréal, helps employers and workers check eligibility, submit the offer and prepare the permit application.

Requirements for the worker

For applications submitted on or after June 15, 2023, IRCC requires the worker to:

• meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit;
• live and work in a province or territory other than Québec;
• show intermediate French in speaking and listening, equivalent to NCLC level 5 or higher;
• have a job offer in any TEER category of the National Occupational Classification, except a primary agriculture job in TEER 4 or 5.

Before June 15, 2023, the requirements were stricter (NCLC 7 and TEER 0 to 3 jobs only): an older article citing those criteria is out of date.

Proving French ability

IRCC accepts, among other things:

• speaking and listening results from the TEF (Test d'évaluation de français) or the TCF (Test de connaissance du français);
• written confirmation from a college or university for a program taken in French, such as a transcript or official letter of completion;
• other documents showing education in French.

Steps for the employer

1. Check eligibility of the candidate and the position (work location outside Québec, TEER category, French level).
2. Submit the offer of employment through IRCC's Employer Portal using LMIA exemption code C16 (Mobilité francophone).
3. Pay the employer compliance fee: $230.
4. Give the candidate the 7-digit offer of employment number and the signed offer.

The candidate then applies online, choosing a work permit with an LMIA exemption. Their fees: $155 for the work permit, plus biometrics if required ($85).

After the hire: the permit is tied to the employer

A Francophone Mobility permit is employer-specific: it names the employer and the job. Changing employers requires a new permit. And the employer remains subject to the compliance regime: wage, duties and conditions must match the offer submitted. See our page on employer compliance.

Experience gained this way can count toward permanent residence outside Québec, notably through Express Entry, where strong French can also earn points and category-based invitations.

Francophone Mobility or an LMIA?

• Francophone Mobility: no LMIA, no recruitment efforts to prove, $230 compliance fee, positions outside Québec only.
• LMIA: needed when no exemption applies, and always for a Québec position with no other exemption; longer, with recruitment and prevailing wage requirements.

Our guide LMIA or LMIA-exempt compares the two routes.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using Francophone Mobility for a job in Québec.
• Relying on the old rules (NCLC 7, TEER 0 to 3).
• Offering a primary agriculture job in TEER 4 or 5: it's excluded.
• Forgetting code C16 or the compliance fee in the portal.
• Letting the worker start before the permit is issued.
• Changing the job or wage without checking the compliance impact.

What we do for you

• Check that the position, work location and candidate meet the criteria
• Prepare and submit the offer of employment in the Employer Portal
• Prepare the worker's permit application and French evidence
• Put in place what you need to stay compliant after the hire

To talk it through, book an employer consultation or see our employers page.

Frequently asked questions

My business is in Montréal. Can I use Francophone Mobility?

Not for a position in Québec. The stream covers jobs in the other provinces and the territories. For a Québec position, you need an LMIA or another exemption.

What French level is required?

Intermediate speaking and listening, equivalent to NCLC level 5 or higher, for applications submitted since June 15, 2023.

Does the job have to be skilled?

No. Since June 15, 2023, every TEER category qualifies, except primary agriculture jobs in TEER 4 and 5.

How much does it cost?

A $230 compliance fee for the employer, and $155 for the candidate's work permit, plus $85 for biometrics if required.

Can the worker change employers?

Not on the same permit: it's tied to the employer. A new employer must submit its own offer, and the worker must get a new permit before starting.

Is a TEF or TCF mandatory?

Not necessarily. IRCC also accepts written confirmation from a college or university for a program taken in French, or other documents showing education in French.

Official sources: IRCC, "Francophone Mobility work permit: check if you can apply" (April 20, 2026), "How to apply", "How to hire a French-speaking or bilingual foreign worker to work in Canada outside Quebec" (April 28, 2026) and "Citizenship and immigration application fees" (September 21, 2026). Accessed October 11, 2026.