Mobilité Francophone
A work permit for French speakers outside Quebec
Also known as “Francophone Mobility” work permit, it is one of the easiest work permits to get outside of the IEC program: It doesn’t have an age limit and does not require an LMIA.
Many employers don’t want to get involved with this option, and usually reject the idea. They fear that “sponsoring” means a sponsoring through the very lengthy and complicated LMIA process which costs them thousands of dollars. The good news for the employers: It is not.
Therefore, you can easily convince them with following benefits. First tip, don’t use the word ‘sponsoring’, when you talk to them, you could use ‘support’.
- The ‘Francophone Mobility‘ work permit is LMIA exempt (no expensive and lengthy LMIA process necessary).
- It is a closed work permit that ties you to them for 1 year (or 2 years depending on your citizenship).
- This is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to keep you as their best employee.
- It will only cost the employer a $230 fee.
- The application process is fairly simple. The only ‘work’ the employer has to do: register for the employer portal and submit the job offer online. It is done in less than 30 minutes.
>> Here is the employer portal enrolment guide and user guide for the employer<<
Common questions for the application process
What is the 'Francophone Mobility' work permit? – A general overview
- The Francophone Mobility work permit is a work permit under the International Mobility Program (IMP). It should not be confused with the ‘International Experience Program’ (IEC) which has completely different requirements.
- It is an employer-specific work permit, so you can only work for the employer who made this work permit possible.
- The most awesome part: You do not need an LMIA.
- You do not have to be a citizen of a French country. It is open to all nationalities who speak French.
- Temporary measure until 2025: All TEER categories are allowed; it does not have to be a skilled TEER job!
- Exception (and not allowed): jobs in a primary agriculture occupation under TEER 4 and 5
- Spouses and common law partners might be eligible for a spousal open work permit.
More information to this program is found here and here on the official government website.
Do I have to go into a pool and wait for in invitation like the Working Holiday?
Nope, that’s why this is the easiest LMIA exempt work permit you can get outside of the IEC Program. The requirements are totally different than the IEC program (like the Working Holiday).
- This program has no pool, meaning you don’t have to compete with others.
- It has no country restrictions, so applicants from anywhere can apply.
- There is no age limit, making it open to all age groups.
- Additionally, there’s no limit on how often you can apply for this work permit.
- Finally, it currently has no TEER category requirement, although this might change in the future.
What are the requirements for the Mobilité Francophone?
- You must live and work in a province outside of Quebec.
- You must be able to prove you can speak and listen in French at an intermediate level (level 5 or higher in the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) scale)
- However, you don’t need to prove you can read or write in French to be eligible for this LMIA exemption.
- It means, there is no requirement for a minimum level of reading and writing in French. Only for speaking and listening.
- You must have an offer of employment for a job that’s classified under any Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system unless the offer of employment is for a job in a primary agriculture occupation under TEER 4 and 5
What does 'level 5 and higher on the NCLC scale' mean?
It refers to an intermediate level of French proficiency. At this stage, you are expected to have fluent conversations in both social and professional settings. This level on the NCLC scale closely corresponds to a B1 level or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Is Duolingo sufficient proof of French proficiency? What language tests are accepted?
I live in Ontario but do remote work for an employer in Quebec
Remote work for an employer based in Quebec does not qualify for the Mobilité Francophone work permit. The employer must be located outside of Quebec.
What does 'primary agriculture' mean?
Here is the screenshot from the official Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
How do I apply for the Mobilité Francophone work permit?
How will I receive my work permit?
If you’re in Canada
IRCC will mail the nice colourful and shiny work permit to the Canadian address you provided in your application, and it may take up to 6 weeks to arrive.
Once your work permit is approved, you will receive a notification letter in your GCKey account. You can start working immediately after receiving this notification. Therefore, you don’t have to wait for the physical work permit to arrive in the mail before you begin working.
➡️ Log into your GCKey account and in the Document Status you will find an entry:
Document: “work permit”
Status: “your document is valid”
Do not confuse it with the other entry about the eTA validity!
➡️ The ‘Status Updated Date’ is the date the work permit was approved and printed and the date you can start working.
If you’re outside of Canada
After your work permit is approved, you will receive a letter in your GCKey account, called the Port of Entry Letter of Introduction.
Be sure to bring this letter with you when you travel to Canada and present it at the port of entry. Upon arrival, you will receive your work permit at that location.
Once you have the permit, take a moment to review it carefully. If you spot any mistakes, request the officer to correct them before you leave the immigration desk.
For how long is the work permit valid?
The officer can issue the work permit for the length of your job offer, or until your passport expires—whichever comes first. So, if your employer submitted a job offer for two years, you will receive a work permit for that same duration.
I am in Canada; can I go to the USA border to apply for this work permit?
This option called ‘flagpoling’ was possible in previous years. However, with the changes to the flagpoling rules this option was ended at the USA border starting December 24, 2025
As a result, the only way to apply for this work permit is online.
Despite this flagpoling dilemma, there is one thing you can try, but it is not a guarantee: Fly out of Canada (and outside of the USA) and return by plane to apply for the work permit at the airport with all required documents. For example a trip to Mexico.
Can I apply for this work permit following the Working Holiday if I already work for the employer?
Yes, absolutely. If you’ve already used a Working Holiday work permit, you can still apply for a Mobilité Francophone work permit afterward. Your employer must first complete all required steps in the Employer Portal to obtain an offer of employment number. Once that’s done, you can apply for the work permit online.
Do I also need health insurance for this work permit?
No, health insurance is not mandatory for the Mobilité Francophone work permit since it is not part of the International Experience Canada (IEC) program. However, it’s strongly recommended to have insurance, as medical expenses in Canada can be very costly.
Since this permit is not part of the IEC program, IEC health insurance providers will not offer coverage.
You could look into > BestQuote < which is a well known Canadian broker that has quite a few affordable policies to choose from. I recommend getting a quote from BestQuote and asking them any questions you might have.
If I still have a valid work permit, will I get maintained status if I apply for this work permit?
Yes. If you apply for a Mobilité Francophone work permit before your current work permit expires, you will have maintained status (formerly known as implied status).
Once you submit a complete application with all required documents, your maintained status automatically takes effect when your current work permit expires. This means you can continue working under the same conditions as your current work permit until a decision is made on your new application.
To qualify for maintained status, you must:
- Apply before your current work permit expires,
- Submit all required documents and meet all eligibility requirements for the new work permit, and
- Remain in Canada while your new application is being processed.
Very important!
While in maintained status you must remain in Canada. If you leave Canada you will lose this status and cannot continue to work anymore after you return. You then must wait for the new work permit to be approved.
When you try to re-enter, a border services officer will assess your situation and decide whether or not to allow entry. This decision is entirely at the discretion of the officer, there is no guarantee you will be allowed to return.
You should be ready to provide:
- Proof of a return or onward flight within six months, and
- Financial evidence showing you can support yourself during your stay.
How long is the processing time of the online application?
Unfortunately, with all the recent changes in the immigration program, processing times are currently 5 months and longer.
The good news is that if you apply for this work permit before your current one expires, you’ll benefit from maintained status, which allows you to continue working legally while you wait for a decision.
You can check processing times > here.
Can I change employers with this work permit?
No, this work permit is employer-specific, which means it is tied to the employer named on your permit and the location of the job. If you are laid off or choose to leave your job, you will need to find a new employer willing to complete the process in the Employer Portal and pay the $230 compliance fee. Once that is done, you can apply for a new work permit for that employer.
You don’t need to wait until your work permit application is approved to start your new job for a new employer. You can request an authorization to work. For more information on changing employers, click on the official government website >> here.
Can I change this work permit to an 'open work permit'?
You cannot simply “switch” from a closed work permit (which ties you to a single employer) to an open work permit (which allows you to work for any employer).
The only exception is if you’re in an abusive work situation. In such cases, you might be eligible for an open work permit if you’re being exploited.
If you would like to have an open work permit, you’ll need to apply separately, and you’ll have to meet the specific eligibility requirements for that permit.
Can I extend this work permit?
You cannot extend this work permit; however, you can apply for a new one if your employer provides a new job offer. There is no limit to how many times you can apply for this type of work permit.
Do I need a new language test if I apply for the work permit again?
You do not need to take a new French test. However, I’m quoting the official website information here:
“The determination of whether the applicant has a moderate French-language proficiency at the CLB or NCLC level 5 or higher was made at the time of initial application; therefore, a proof-of-language test result is not required upon renewal unless the processing officer has concerns.”
Can this work permit help my chances in the PR application?
Yes, absolutely, it can significantly boost your chances. The biggest news from the Canadian government: French speakers are a top priority for Canadian immigration until 2027.
Fin out more >> here << about why learning French can boost your chances for Canadian immigration.