Canada’s Francophone Mobility work permit gives eligible French-speaking foreign workers a route to work for Canadian employers outside Quebec without requiring the employer to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Officially known as the Francophone Mobility work permit, the pathway operates under Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP) and uses LMIA exemption code C16.

The current rules are broader than they once were. Since June 15, 2023, eligible employment can generally fall within any NOC TEER category, with a specific exclusion for primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and TEER 5. The French-language threshold is also set at NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening.

Francophone Mobility is nevertheless an employer-specific work permit, not an open work permit or permanent residence program. Eligibility depends on the worker, the proposed employment and the Canadian employer all meeting their respective requirements.

This guide explains those requirements and the application process for Francophone Mobility in 2026.

Understanding the Francophone Mobility Work Permit

Francophone Mobility is an LMIA exemption intended to facilitate the recruitment of French-speaking and bilingual foreign workers to communities outside Quebec.

In a standard LMIA-based hiring process, an employer may have to demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect Canada’s labour market. An eligible Francophone Mobility hire does not require this assessment.

Instead, the employer uses the International Mobility Program and submits the employment directly through IRCC’s Employer Portal under exemption code C16 - Mobilité Francophone.

The worker then applies for an employer-specific work permit using the information supplied by the employer.

The LMIA exemption simplifies one part of the hiring process, but it does not remove the normal requirements for obtaining a Canadian work permit.

Francophone Mobility Eligibility in 2026

Eligibility can be understood through three separate assessments:

the applicant, the job offer and the employer.

All three must meet the applicable requirements.

 Who is eligible for francophone mobility program

A Francophone Mobility applicant must:

• meet Canada’s general requirements for obtaining a work permit;
• intend to live and work in a province or territory outside Quebec;
• demonstrate French speaking ability at NCLC 5 or higher;
• demonstrate French listening ability at NCLC 5 or higher;
• have an eligible offer of employment from a Canadian employer; and
• provide the documentation required for the work permit application.

Meeting the Francophone Mobility criteria does not guarantee approval. The applicant must still be eligible for temporary entry and work authorization under Canada’s immigration rules.

Depending on the circumstances, IRCC may require biometrics, a medical examination or additional documentation before issuing the work permit.

French-Language Requirement: NCLC 5 in Speaking and Listening

The current Francophone Mobility language threshold is NCLC 5 or higher in French speaking and listening.

NCLC, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens, is Canada’s benchmark system for assessing French-language ability.

The distinction between Francophone Mobility and many permanent residence programs is important: applicants are not required to demonstrate French reading or writing ability for the C16 exemption.

The language requirement is therefore:

Older resources may refer to a higher French threshold. Those should not be relied upon for a current application. The Francophone Mobility criteria were expanded on June 15, 2023, and the current threshold is NCLC 5 in speaking and listening.

Proving French-Language Ability

A standardized French test is one way to establish eligibility, but it is not necessarily the only way.

IRCC identifies evidence such as:

• TEF speaking and listening results;
• TCF speaking and listening results;
• written confirmation from a college or university showing completion of a program in French;
• transcripts;
• an official letter confirming completion of French-language studies; or
• other documentation demonstrating education completed in French.

The evidence needs to demonstrate that the applicant can speak and understand French at a level equivalent to at least NCLC 5.

This means applicants should not assume that TEF or TCF is mandatory in every Francophone Mobility case. What matters is whether the evidence submitted adequately demonstrates the required French ability.

Francophone Mobility Employment Requirements

Francophone Mobility requires an eligible Canadian job offer.

It is not a job-search permit. A foreign national cannot obtain a Francophone Mobility work permit first and then use it to look for an employer in Canada.

The employment arrangement must already exist before the worker applies because the employer must complete the Employer Portal process and provide the applicant with an offer of employment number.

Employment Must Be Outside Quebec

The applicant must intend to live and work outside Quebec.

Francophone Mobility can therefore support qualifying employment in:

Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Employment in Quebec does not qualify for the C16 Francophone Mobility exemption.

This reflects the broader purpose of the policy: supporting Francophone immigration and Francophone communities outside Quebec.

Eligible NOC and TEER Categories

Francophone Mobility is no longer restricted to higher-skilled TEER categories.

Under the current rules, an offer of employment can generally fall within:

TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5.

This makes Francophone Mobility potentially available across a wide range of occupations and industries.

There is one significant occupational exclusion.

Primary Agriculture

Job offers for primary agriculture occupations classified under TEER 4 or TEER 5 do not qualify under the current Francophone Mobility criteria.

Correct NOC classification therefore remains important even though the pathway covers a broad range of occupations.

The NOC code should reflect the actual duties of the position rather than simply the job title.

Employer Requirements Under Francophone Mobility

The Canadian employer must complete its part of the process before the foreign worker submits the work permit application.

The employer does not need an LMIA, but several International Mobility Program requirements still apply.

Employer Portal Submission

The employer must submit the offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal.

The appropriate LMIA exemption is:

C16 - Mobilité Francophone

Employer Compliance Fee

The employer must pay the $230 employer compliance fee when submitting the offer through the Employer Portal.

This is separate from the work permit processing fees paid by the applicant.

Offer of Employment Number

After the Employer Portal submission is completed, the employer receives a 7-digit offer of employment number.

That number must be provided to the foreign worker and included in the work permit application.

Signed Employment Offer

The employer should also provide the applicant with the signed offer of employment.

The worker can then proceed with the Francophone Mobility work permit application once the required employer-side process has been completed.

Francophone Mobility Is LMIA-Exempt

Francophone Mobility’s main advantage for employers is the LMIA exemption.

An employer hiring an eligible worker under C16 does not need to complete the standard LMIA process.

However, LMIA-exempt does not mean that the employer has no immigration obligations.

The Employer Portal submission, $230 compliance fee and offer of employment number remain essential parts of the process.

Employers participating in the International Mobility Program are also subject to employer compliance requirements.

Francophone Mobility Work Permit Duration

There is no universal fixed validity period for a Francophone Mobility work permit.

Applicants should therefore be cautious about claims that Francophone Mobility automatically provides a two-year or three-year work permit.

When completing the online application, IRCC asks applicants to indicate the intended period of stay based on the offer of employment.

The actual period of work authorization is determined through the work permit process and can also be limited by factors such as passport validity.

The expiry date printed on the issued work permit is the date that ultimately governs the worker’s authorization.

Work Permit Extensions

A worker may be able to obtain further work authorization if they continue to meet the applicable requirements.

An extension is not automatic.

The worker’s circumstances, continued employment and immigration status should be reviewed before the existing work permit expires. The employer may also need to complete the applicable employer-side process for the new work permit application.

Francophone Mobility Is an Employer-Specific Work Permit

Francophone Mobility generally results in an employer-specific work permit rather than an open work permit.

The worker’s authorization is therefore connected to the approved employment.

A worker who wants to move to another employer should not assume that the existing Francophone Mobility permit allows them to begin the new job.

The new employment and required work authorization must be assessed before the worker starts working for another employer.

Applying From Outside Canada

Francophone Mobility applications can be submitted from outside Canada.

The employer must first complete the Employer Portal process and provide the worker with the offer of employment number.

The applicant then completes the online IRCC questionnaire and work permit application.

For an outside-Canada application, IRCC instructs eligible applicants to identify the application as a:

“work permit with a Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption.”

The online system then generates a personalized document checklist based on the applicant’s answers.

If the application is approved, the applicant generally receives a port of entry letter of introduction.

The letter is not the work permit itself.

The actual work permit is normally issued when the applicant enters Canada, provided they continue to meet the applicable entry and work permit requirements.

Applying From Inside Canada

Some foreign nationals already in Canada can also apply for Francophone Mobility.

IRCC instructs eligible in-Canada applicants to identify the application as an:

“employer-specific work permit with LMIA exemption.”

There is an important distinction here.

Being physically present in Canada does not automatically make someone eligible to apply for a work permit from within Canada.

The applicant must separately meet the rules governing in-Canada work permit applications and maintain the appropriate immigration status.

This should be assessed before the application is submitted.

Documents Required for Francophone Mobility

IRCC generates a personalized document checklist for each applicant, so the exact requirements can vary.

A Francophone Mobility application may include:

• valid passport;
• 7-digit offer of employment number;
• signed employment offer;
• proof of French-language ability;
• TEF or TCF results, where applicable;
• French-language education records, where applicable;
• educational credentials;
• professional qualifications required for the position;
• employment experience documents;
• work permit application forms;
• digital photograph;
• biometrics, if required;
• medical examination results, if required; and
• additional documents requested by IRCC.

The personalized IRCC checklist should always take precedence over a general online document list.

Francophone Mobility Application Process

The application starts with the employment offer, not with the worker’s work permit application.

Step 1 - Secure Eligible Employment

The worker obtains an eligible job offer for employment outside Quebec.

The NOC code, TEER category and actual duties of the position should be reviewed.

Step 2 - Establish French Eligibility

The applicant gathers evidence demonstrating NCLC 5 or higher in French speaking and listening.

Step 3 - Employer Completes the Employer Portal Submission

The Canadian employer submits the employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal using C16 - Mobilité Francophone.

Step 4 - Employer Pays the $230 Compliance Fee

The employer completes the required payment as part of the submission.

Step 5 - Employer Provides the Employment Number

The worker receives the 7-digit offer of employment number and signed employment offer.

Step 6 - Worker Submits the Work Permit Application

The applicant completes the appropriate online IRCC work permit application and receives a personalized document checklist.

Step 7 - Supporting Documents Are Submitted

The worker uploads the required employment, language, identity and other supporting documentation.

Step 8 - Application Is Submitted to IRCC

After the applicable processing and biometrics fees are paid, the application can be submitted.

IRCC then assesses the applicant’s eligibility for the work permit.

Family Members of Francophone Mobility Workers

A Francophone Mobility work permit does not automatically provide work authorization to the principal applicant’s family.

A spouse or common-law partner may qualify for an open work permit only if the current family open work permit requirements are met.

Canada significantly changed these rules in January 2025. Eligibility can depend on factors such as the principal worker’s occupation, TEER category, remaining work authorization and whether the worker falls within an eligible permanent residence pathway.

Dependent children are also subject to separate immigration rules. Under the general family open work permit measure for high-skilled workers, dependent children are no longer eligible for an open work permit for new applications under that measure.

Where children will accompany the worker and study in Canada, their study permit requirements should be assessed separately.

Francophone Mobility and Permanent Residence

Francophone Mobility is not a permanent residence program and approval does not guarantee PR.

It is a temporary work permit pathway.

However, the Canadian work experience gained while legally working under Francophone Mobility may become relevant to a future permanent residence application.

Depending on the worker’s profile, this could include eligibility through Express Entry, the Canadian Experience Class, a Provincial Nominee Program or another applicable immigration pathway.

French ability itself can also be relevant to Canada’s permanent residence selection system.

The work permit and permanent residence strategy should nevertheless be treated as separate immigration assessments. Holding a Francophone Mobility work permit does not, by itself, establish eligibility for permanent residence.

Francophone Mobility Requirements 2026: At a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TEF mandatory for Francophone Mobility?

No. TEF and TCF results can be used to demonstrate French ability, but IRCC also identifies other forms of evidence, including qualifying documentation showing education completed in French.

Is NCLC 7 required?

No. Under the current Francophone Mobility requirements, applicants need NCLC 5 or higher in French speaking and listening.

Can TEER 4 and TEER 5 workers qualify?

Yes. Employment can generally fall within any TEER category. The exception is primary agriculture occupations classified under TEER 4 or TEER 5.

Does Francophone Mobility provide a two-year work permit?

Not automatically. There is no universal two-year validity period. The work authorization issued depends on the application and employment circumstances and may also be affected by factors such as passport validity.

Can a spouse receive an open work permit?

Possibly. A spouse or common-law partner must separately meet Canada’s current family open work permit requirements.

Does Francophone Mobility lead directly to PR?

No. Francophone Mobility is a temporary work permit pathway. Permanent residence requires separate eligibility under an applicable immigration program.

Final Takeaway

Francophone Mobility is broader than many workers and employers realize.

The current rules allow qualifying employment across most NOC TEER categories and require an intermediate level of French - NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening. For employers, the ability to hire an eligible French-speaking worker without obtaining an LMIA can remove a significant step from the recruitment process.

But the pathway still requires coordination between the worker and employer.

The worker must meet the French-language, employment and general work permit requirements.

The job must be outside Quebec and fall within the permitted occupational criteria.

The employer must complete the C16 Employer Portal submission, pay the $230 compliance fee and provide the worker with the offer of employment number.

Only after these pieces are in place should the work permit application move forward.

For someone considering Francophone Mobility in 2026, eligibility should therefore be assessed as a complete application - worker, job and employer - rather than simply asking whether the applicant speaks French.

This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.

Sources

1. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Francophone Mobility Work Permit.
2. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Francophone Mobility: Check if You Can Apply.
3. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Francophone Mobility: How to Apply.
4. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Hire a French-Speaking or Bilingual Foreign Worker Outside Quebec.
5. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Francophone Mobility: After You Apply.
6. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). International Mobility Program.