Mobilité Francophone - for French speakers outside Quebec

The Francophone Mobility work permit is one of the easiest work permits to get outside of the IEC program. Especially because the age doesn’t matter and no LMIA is needed.

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’. 

  1. The Mobilité Francophone is LMIA exempt (no LMIA or expensive and lengthy LMIA process necessary). 
  2. It is a closed work permit that ties you to them for 1 year (or 2 years depending on your citizenship). 
  3. This is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to keep you as their best employee. 
  4. It will only cost the employer a $230 fee. 
  5. 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 Mobilité Francophone? – A general overview

  • Mobilité Francophone is a work permit under the International Mobility Program. It is not to be confused with the ‘International Experience Program’ that 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: No LMIA is required.
  • 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). 

  • There is no pool.
  • There is no country restriction.
  • There is no age restriction. 
  • There is no limit to how many applicants can use this program.
  • There is no limit on how often you can apply for this work permit. 
  • There is no TEER category requirement (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 means an ‘intermediate’ level where you must be able to have a fluent conversation in French in social and professional situations. On the French scale it is similar to a B1 level and higher.

Is Duolingo sufficient proof of French? What language tests are accepted?

No it is not sufficient proof. It is your choice of what sources, software or app you use to learn French at your own pace at home, or if you take a full-time language course at a language school. However, the French language test must be from an official testing centre.

I live in Ontario but do remote work for an employer in Quebec

Remote work for an employer who is located in Quebec is not eligible.

What does 'primary agriculture' mean?

Here is the screenshot from the official Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations 

How do I apply?

Step 1: The employer makes the first steps.

The employer must:

  • create a profile in the Employer Portal
  • create the offer of employment 
  • provide the following information in the offer of employment:
    • about the business
    • your name
    • the job details
    • wage and benefits
  • pay the employer compliance fee of $230
    • The Employer Portal asks for an LMIA exemption code. The employer must select the following: “Francophone mobility R205(a) (exemption code C16)”
    • When asked “Explanation of how the job meets the requirements…” they have to explain how you meet the requirement for this work permit. Something like that the candidate speaks French/is a native speaker, settles outside of Quebec, and has been offered a job. 
    • The best chances for approval are if the job also requires you to speak French.
  • After submission of the job offer, and payment of the fees, the employer will get an offer of employment number
    • A 7-digit number that appears in the “Employment queue” of the Employer Portal
  • With this number you can apply for the work permit.

Step 2: Apply for the work permit

  • To apply online Instructions here 
  • You can use the same GCKey Account if you previously applied for a Canadian work permit or study permit. 
  • If you don’t have a GCKey account, you can create one here under ‘register’. 

  • Once you sign in to your account, follow the steps below:

    1. Go to the Start your application section on the account welcome page.
    2. Click “Apply to come to Canada.”
    3. On the next page, scroll down to the I do not have a personal reference code section.
    4. Click the “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit” button.
    5. On the next page, select “Work.”

If you are applying from inside Canada, make sure you answer these questions correctly in the application questionnaire:

  • How long are you planning to stay in Canada? choose ‘temporarily – more than 6 months‘
  • Do you have a written job offer?, answer “Yes.”
  • Which option best describes your work situation?, choose “I’m applying for an employer-specific work permit with LMIA-exemption.”
  • After a document checklist ist generated, you must upload all required documents in the checklist. 
  • You must submit documents that prove you can speak and listen at an NCLC level 5 or higher. This can be
    • speaking and listening Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) or Test de connaissance du français (TCF) results
    • a written confirmation from a college or university for a program in French 
    • other documents that show education in French
  • Upload your proof of French language ability in the Client Information spot
  • There’s only 1 Client Information field. If you have more than 1 document, you need to combine them into 1 file and upload them together. You can do so with this PDF Merger for example. 
  • Lastly, at the end and before you submit the application, you pay the $155 fee in the last step.

What documents are needed for the application?

The documents list is similar to the Working Holiday application. You have to upload in the “Supporting Documents“:

  • Offer of Employment
  • Passport
  • Digital photo

Police certificates are not required for this type of application. 

In addition, and as already mentioned, the proof of French must be uploaded into the “Client Information” spot. 

Can I use other proof of French?

Yes, if you can provide proof of French from another source, it could be used. For example:

  • a written confirmation from a college or university in a program completed in French (such as an official letter of completion or transcript)
  • other documents that show education in French

However, if the processing officer is not satisfied about the language skills, they may request

  • a TEF or TCF test or
  • an oral assessment (call you to shortly speak to you on the phone in French)

For how long is the work permit issued?

The processing officer can issue the work permit for the duration of the job offer (or until the passport expires, whichever is earlier). So, yes, so you will receive a work permit for 2 years if the job offer has been issued for that long.

Can I go to the USA border to apply for this work permit?

This option called ‘flagpoling’ was once allowed. However, with the changes to the flagpoling rules this option was ended at the USA border starting December 24, 2025 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?

Definitely yes, if you have already used the Working Holiday work permit, you can use this Mobilité Francophone work permit after. The employer only has to complete all the steps in the employer portal to get an ‘offer of employment number’. Then you apply for this work permit online. 

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 the Mobilité Francophone work permit before your current work permit expires maintained status applies:

After you sent off a complete application with all required documents,  you are in maintained status after the current work permit expires. It means, you can keep working under the same conditions of the expired work permit until a decision is made on the Mobilité Francophone work permit application.

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. 

How long is the processing time of the online application?

Sadly, with all the recent changes and the current chaos in the immigration program, the processing time is between 5-6 months. But the good thing is, if you applied for this work permit before your current one expires, you are on maintained status and can keep working. 

You can check processing times > here. 

Can I change employers with this work permit?

No, the work permit is an employer-specific work permit that contains the name of the employer and the location. 

Can I extend this work permit?

It is not possible to ‘extend’ this work permit, but you can apply for a new work permit with a new job offer from the employer. 

Do I need a new language test if I apply for the work permit again?

No new test needed. But I am quoting the official website info: “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, it can improve your chances immensely. The biggest news from the Canadian government: French speakers are a top priority for Canadian immigration until 2027. I quote part of the announcement here. 

IRCC will also continue to support economic growth through Francophone immigration outside Quebec by prioritizing candidates with strong French language proficiency in Express Entry. This reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting and fostering the economic vitality of Francophone communities outside Quebec.

These priorities maintain the focus on bringing in skilled workers with the potential to integrate and contribute to Canada’s future, including by transitioning more temporary residents to permanent residence.

Here are a few main positive factors that come to mind how your chances for Express Entry are improved:

  • Firstly, if your job under this work permit is in TEER 0-3 it will count towards Canadian Experience. 
  • Secondly, you can earn up to 50 additional points for strong French language skills in the Express Entry. 
  • As a result, those extra points will boost your CRS score and make you more compatible in the PR pool. More info here under How you can benefit as a French speaker
  • And last but not least, when you apply for PR via one of the Express Entry streams, you will have high chances of invitation if you have enough points and meet the French-language proficiency category requirement.
    • French-language proficiency means, you must have French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities (reading, listening, writing, speaking).
    • The points for his category are much lower that for the CEC category for example. See screenshot below. 

The list of all previous rounds of invitations for Express Entry > here

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