Francophone Mobility Work Permit
Speak French? Established Canadian employers can hire you without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for positions anywhere in Canada outside Quebec. We handle your work permit from French test to arrival.
What is Francophone Mobility?
An IRCC work permit that lets Canadian employers hire French-speaking workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), for jobs located outside Quebec.
- LMIA-exempt – exemption code C16 (Mobilité Francophone)
- Employer-specific work permit linked to a real job offer
- Open to all NOC TEER job levels (0 to 5)*
- Program status: open
*Except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5.
Key benefits for applicants
No LMIA needed
Employers skip the lengthy and costly Labour Market Impact Assessment, so they can hire you faster.
Only intermediate French
NCLC 5 in speaking and listening is enough. Reading and writing are not assessed for this exemption.
All job levels
Jobs in any NOC TEER category (0 to 5) qualify, except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5.
Bring your family
Often with options for accompanying family: your spouse or partner may get an open work permit and children may study.
Express Entry option
Some candidates may also qualify for Express Entry under the French-language category.
Welcoming communities
24 Welcoming Francophone Communities across Canada help newcomers settle in.
Who can apply?
Requirements for applications submitted on or after 15 June 2023.
- 1General work permit requirementsValid passport, admissibility to Canada and intent to follow the conditions of your permit.
- 2Live and work outside QuebecThe job must be in one of the 9 provinces or 3 territories outside Quebec.
- 3French at NCLC 5 or higherSpeaking and listening at an intermediate level, shown with TEF Canada, TCF Canada or proof of French education.
- 4A valid Canadian job offerAn offer of employment in any NOC TEER category (except primary agriculture TEER 4 and 5).
- 5Employer has used code C16Your employer submits the offer under exemption code C16 and gives you the 7-digit offer of employment number.
Not eligible
- Jobs located in Quebec
- Primary agriculture occupations in NOC TEER 4 and 5
Good news
Before June 2023 the program needed NCLC 7 and TEER 0–3 jobs only. Today it is much more accessible.
French language requirement – NCLC 5
You must show you can speak and listen in French at an intermediate level: NCLC 5 or higher.
Accepted proof includes
Upload your proof of French in the client information field of your application.
- An approved French test – TEF Canada or TCF Canada (speaking & listening)
- Confirmation from a college or university of a program taught in French (transcript or completion letter)
- Other documents showing education in French
| NCLC | Listening & readingscore / 699 | Writingscore / 699 | Speakingscore / 699 | Tests 1 Oct 2019 – 10 Dec 2023each test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < NCLC 4 | 0 – 305 | 0 – 267 | 0 – 327 | 0 – 299 |
| NCLC 4 | 306 – 351 | 268 – 329 | 328 – 386 | 300 – 349 |
| NCLC 5 | 352 – 392 | 330 – 378 | 387 – 421 | 350 – 399 |
| NCLC 6 | 393 – 433 | 379 – 427 | 422 – 455 | 400 – 449 |
| NCLC 7 | 434 – 461 | 428 – 471 | 456 – 493 | 450 – 499 |
| NCLC 8 | 462 – 502 | 472 – 511 | 494 – 517 | 500 – 532 |
| NCLC 9 | 503 – 545 | 512 – 557 | 518 – 555 | 533 – 565 |
| NCLC 10 | 546 – 572 | 558 – 576 | 556 – 591 | 566 – 699 |
| NCLC 11 | 573 – 614 | 577 – 618 | 592 – 641 | |
| NCLC 12 | 615 – 699 | 619 – 699 | 642 – 699 |
Tests taken from 11 December 2023 unless noted. Source: TEF Canada score–NCLC correspondence chart and IRCC (canada.ca).
Minimum for Francophone Mobility
NCLC 5 in speaking and listening.
TEF scores needed
| NCLC | Listeningscore / 699 | Readingscore / 699 | Speakingscore / 20 | Writingscore / 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLC 10+ | 549 – 699 | 549 – 699 | 16 – 20 | 16 – 20 |
| NCLC 9 | 523 – 548 | 524 – 548 | 14 – 15 | 14 – 15 |
| NCLC 8 | 503 – 522 | 499 – 523 | 12 – 13 | 12 – 13 |
| NCLC 7 | 458 – 502 | 453 – 498 | 10 – 11 | 10 – 11 |
| NCLC 6 | 398 – 457 | 406 – 452 | 7 – 9 | 7 – 9 |
| NCLC 5 | 369 – 397 | 375 – 405 | 6 | 6 |
| NCLC 4 | 331 – 368 | 342 – 374 | 4 – 5 | 4 – 5 |
Listening and reading are scored out of 699; speaking and writing out of 20. Source: IRCC TCF Canada equivalency chart (canada.ca).
Minimum for Francophone Mobility
NCLC 5 in speaking and listening.
TCF scores needed
Positions we are currently processing
We are working with several established Canadian employers, providing visa services for French-speaking workers in positions outside Quebec.
- 1Restaurant managersFood service management
- 2Cooks, food counter attendants & kitchen helpersFood service
- 3Hotel room attendantsHospitality
- 4Truck driversTransportation
- 5Retail salesRetail
- 6Health care & child careCare sector
- 7Cleaning & farm work*General labour
- 8IT, accounting & administrative rolesProfessional & office
- +More roles availableSend us your profile
*Primary agriculture occupations in NOC TEER 4 and 5 are excluded from Francophone Mobility. Final eligibility depends on each candidate's profile and the job offer.
Employer steps and our application process
What the Canadian employer does first
Before you apply for your work permit, your employer must:
- 01Submit the job offerThrough the IRCC Employer Portal using exemption code C16 (Mobilité Francophone).
- 02Pay the compliance feeThe $230 CAD employer compliance fee.
- 03Share the offer numberGive you the 7-digit offer of employment number for your application.
How we help: we coordinate with the employer so the offer is submitted correctly under C16 and the job details match your application.
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1
Free assessment
We review your profile, work experience and French level to confirm you are a fit.
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2
French proof (NCLC 5)
Guidance on booking TEF Canada or TCF Canada, or the right French-education evidence.
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3
Employer coordination
We work with the Canadian employer so the job offer is submitted correctly under code C16.
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4
Documents & forms
A personalised checklist, completed forms and correctly answered IRCC questions.
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5
Submission & biometrics
Online submission to IRCC, fee payment and biometrics scheduling.
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6
Approval & arrival
Port of entry letter, pre-arrival guidance and work permits for accompanying family.
Common questions
Still unsure? The fastest answer is a short call with our licensed consultant.
What is the Francophone Mobility work permit?
It is an LMIA-exempt, employer-specific Canadian work permit (exemption code C16). It lets Canadian employers hire French-speaking workers for jobs anywhere in Canada outside Quebec without a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
What level of French do I need?
You need NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening. On TEF Canada (tests from 11 December 2023) that means at least 387 in speaking and 352 in listening. On TCF Canada it means at least 6/20 in speaking and 369/699 in listening.
Do I need to read and write in French?
No. Only speaking and listening are assessed for the Francophone Mobility exemption. Reading and writing results are not required.
Can I work in Quebec with this permit?
No. The job must be located in one of the 9 provinces or 3 territories outside Quebec.
Which jobs qualify?
Jobs in any NOC TEER category (0 to 5) qualify, except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5. We are currently processing positions such as restaurant managers, cooks, hotel room attendants, truck drivers, retail sales, health care, child care, IT, accounting and administrative roles.
Can my family come with me?
Often, yes. Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit, and your dependent children can go to school in Canada.
What does the Canadian employer have to do?
Before you apply, the employer submits the job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal using exemption code C16, pays the $230 employer compliance fee and gives you the 7-digit offer of employment number.
Can this lead to permanent residence?
Canadian work experience combined with French ability can strengthen a future permanent residence application. Some candidates may also qualify for Express Entry under the French-language category. Final eligibility depends on each profile.
Do you charge any advance fees?
No. We charge no advance fees. All professional fees are payable only after processing is complete.
Parlez-vous français? Canada is hiring.
Email your resume and French test results (TEF Canada or TCF Canada). Recruiters and partners with suitable candidates are welcome too. We charge no advance fees.
Based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) information on canada.ca. A valid Canadian job offer is required. Final eligibility depends on each candidate's profile and the job offer; decisions are made solely by IRCC. Fees and requirements are subject to change.