Get Canadian work experience with the Francophone Mobility Work Permit! This permit is part of the International Mobility Program and is a testament to Canada's dedication to promoting bilingualism and the preservation of French, which encourages French-speaking foreign workers to live and work outside of Quebec.

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What are the eligibility criteria?

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Candidates must meet the following specific criteria:

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• Have French language proficiency: applicants must have intermediate or advanced proficiency in French, equivalent to Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canada (NCLC) level 7 or higher.
• Obtain a job offer: candidates must have a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer located in one of the nine provinces or three territories outside Quebec. The position must be classified in TEER skill levels or categories 0, 1, 2 and 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• Submit temporary work permit: candidates must apply for and obtain a temporary work permit to legally fulfill this purpose in Canada and it will be issued for the duration of the job offer.

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What are the benefits of the French-speaking mobility work permit?

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• LMIA Exemption.
• Road to permanent residency.
• Contribution to French-speaking communities.
• Access to French language services.

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How is the application process?

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The process includes several steps:

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• Secure a valid job offer from a Canadian employer located in a province or territory outside Quebec.
• Show your proficiency in French by submitting language test results or other documents.
• Apply for a temporary work permit through the IRCC website or a visa application center in your country of residence.
• Pay the necessary application fees associated with the work permit application.

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LMIA exemption for workers TEER 4 and 5

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As of June 15, 2023, Canadian employers are temporarily exempt from the LMIA(labour impact assessment) for hiring francophone or bilingual workers outside Quebec with TEER/NOC 4 and 5 (with the exception of primary agriculture occupations).

This pilot project is valid for 2 years.

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Who can apply for this permit?

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If you applied on or after June 15, 2023, 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.
• Demonstrate that you speak and listen to French at an intermediate level. This would be equivalent to the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canada (NCLC) level 5 or higher.
• Have an offer of employment for a job that is classified in any Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities category of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, except for primary agricultural occupations.

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If you applied before June 15, 2023, you must have:

• General eligibility requirements for a work permit.
• Eligibility to live and work in one of the 9 Canadian provinces or 3 territories outside Quebec.
• Have been able to satisfy a processing officer that you could score a minimum of 7 on the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canada (NCLC) test.
• An offer of employment in a TEER/NOC 0, 1, 2 or 3 category.

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

• Submit a job offer to IRCC through the Employer Portal using LMIA exemption code C16 for French-speaking mobility.
• Pay a company compliance fee of $230 CAD.
• Provide you with an employment number: a 7-digit number is required for your application.

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They can come to Canada as skilled workers through Express Entry!

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If you wish to immigrate permanently to Canada, you can create your profile in Express Entry, Canada's new system for managing applications in several existing economic immigration programs, such as:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program.
• Canadian experience class.
• Portion of the provincial candidate program.

To create your profile, you will need to identify and prove your proficiency in one of Canada's two official languages, French or English. Make sure that the first official language you choose is the one you are most proficient in so that you can increase your chances of earning higher points in Express Entry's Comprehensive Ranking System.

If you speak both official languages of Canada, you can also provide passing test results in your second official language. Candidates can earn additional points for proficiency in their second official language.

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Now, you can also earn up to 50 additional points for learning high-level French (even if French is your second language), this is in addition to the above points! If you qualify for CLB 7 or higher in all four French languages, you can earn:

• 25 additional points if you obtained CLB 4 or less in English (or if you did not take a test in English).
• 50 additional points if you obtained CLB 5 or more in the four English skills.

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Category-based invitation rounds

We invite candidates to apply for permanent residency based on criteria such as:

• The ability to communicate in a specific official language.
• Work experience in a specific occupation.
• Education.

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What are the requirements for Express Entry?

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• Meet the minimum criteria for expedited entry, including eligibility for one of the three immigration programs it covers.
• Fulfill all the requirements of the instructions for that round.
• When a category-based round of invitations is conducted, IRCC does so:

• Ranking the candidates in the group that meet the category requirements.
• Inviting high-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residency.

• Have test results in French showing a minimum score of 7 in the 4 language skills of the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canada.
• Comply with all the requirements of the instructions for that round.

Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round. Through Express Entry, candidates who have been invited to apply for permanent residence can expect their completed applications to be processed in six months or less.

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You can come to Canada as a provincial candidate through the French-speaking options of the Provincial Nominee Program!

This program is for workers who:

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• They have the skills, education and work experience required to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory.
• They want to live in that province and become permanent residents of Canada.

Each province has its own "flows" (immigration programs targeting certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a sequence of programs, provinces and territories may target students, business people, skilled workers and semi-skilled workers.

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Flow of French-speaking skilled workers from Ontario Express Entry

Through this option, the province of Ontario can propose eligible candidates who have a high proficiency in French and relevant work experience to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

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What are the eligibility criteria?

• Language proficiency: Candidates must demonstrate a high proficiency in English and French. A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 in French and CLB 6 in English is required.
• Work experience: candidates must have at least one year of full-time work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupation.
• Federal Express Entry Profile: Candidates must be eligible to enter the Express Entry pool and have an active profile.
• Intention to reside in Ontario: candidates must demonstrate a genuine intention to live and work in Ontario.

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Benefits of Express Entry

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• Enhanced CRS Points: If nominated by Ontario under this line, candidates will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. These points significantly increase their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence in the subsequent fast-track entry lottery.
• Accelerated processing: the fast-track flow of French-speaking skilled workers prioritizes the processing of applications, allowing candidates to receive their nominations andinvitation to apply₍ ITAs) more quickly.
• Provincial nomination: being nominated by a province through Express Entry gives candidates an advantage in the federal immigration process by demonstrating their potential to contribute to the local economy and society.
• Opportunity to settle in Ontario: Successful candidates have the opportunity to settle with their families in the dynamic province of Ontario, with access to high quality education, health care and a range of employment opportunities.

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Application process

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• Create a quick entry profile and indicate your interest in migrating to Ontario.
• Receive a Notice of Interest (NOI).
• Submit the application: once the NOI is received.
• Wait for nomination. If the application is successful, the candidate will receive an Ontario provincial nomination, earning an additional 600 CRS points.

New Brunswick Strategic Initiative: for French-speaking workers with the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the New Brunswick economy and who are ready to live and work permanently in New Brunswick . More details in this guide.

Northwest Territories: If you have a valid job offer from an NWT employer, you can apply for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP). It includes all NOC skill levels categories 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. You canapply here.

Manitoba: the program selects candidates from the Express Entry pool based on specific criteria, including proficiency in English or French.

Prince Edward Island: includes the LMIA which has a specific stream for French-speaking skilled workers.

Nova Scotia: includes the Nova Scotia Demand line, a fast track registry that selects candidates from the Express Entry list.

Alberta: the program focuses on specific occupations and industries, including the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

They can also find a job through the Destination Canada Mobility Forum!

This is an annual event organized by the Canadian government that allows skilled French-speaking and bilingual candidates to learn about the country's various francophone immigration programs. Participation is free, but spaces are limited. You must register to receive an invitation by clicking here.

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Benefits of studying and working in French-speaking communities outside Québec

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• Take advantage of employment opportunities in French and English.
• Learn or improve your English language skills.
• Permanent residents can receive free language courses.
• Attend French language schools.
• Benefit from community, health or childcare services in French.
• Get the support of your community to help you settle in and feel at home from the start.

Community, educational and health care services are provided by the provinces and territories. Their availability in French depends on the region.

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We invite you to discover what these 14 communities have to offer: Prince George, British Columbia, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Moose Jaw and Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, Seine River Region, Manitoba, Sudbury, Northern Ontario, Hamilton, Southwestern and Central Ontario, Iqaluit, Nunavut, Hawkesbury, Eastern Ontario, Labrador City-Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador, Haut-Saint-Jean, New Brunswick, Évangéline Region, Prince Edward Island, Municipality of the District of Clare, Nova Scotia, Calgary, Alberta, Whitehorse, Yukon.

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At Immiland Canada, we are happy to provide you with this information to evaluate your profile and see if you are eligible to apply. To check with our team to see if you are eligible for each of these programs, you can click here.

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If you wish to study French or improve your level in this language, we invite you to take a free test by clicking here. We also invite you to visit our French and English language school Planeta Immiland. Here we prepare you for the IELTS, the CELPI, the CAEL, and we also have a conversation club for you to practice speaking French.

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With love, 

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Immiland