The Francophone Mobility Work Permit (Francophone Mobility Program) allows eligible French-speaking workers to work in Canada without an LMIA, provided they meet the program requirements. The program is for people who have a job offer from a Canadian employer outside Quebec. Before applying for a work permit, the employer must submit a job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal.
For applications made under the current rules, applicants must show French speaking and listening skills at NCLC level 5 or higher.
The francophone mobility program (Mobilité francophone) work permit skips the LMIA requirement completely. Based on the current regulations of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), this guide provides a detailed explanation of eligibility, the rules, and how to complete the process in 2026.
What is Francophone Mobility Work Permit?
Francophone Mobility is an LMIA-exempt work permit program. Normally, many Canadian employers hiring foreign workers need an LMIA to show that they are filling a position with a foreign worker under the applicable labour market rules. Francophone Mobility is different because eligible employers can utilize the LMIA exemption.
The work must be located outside Quebec. The work permit is tied to the employer and job listed in the application. It is not an open work permit.
Francophone Mobility Program 2026: Quick Information
| Program | Francophone mobility program |
| Work permit | Employer-specific |
| LMIA | Not required if eligible |
| LMIA exemption code | C16 |
| Work location | Outside Quebec |
| French requirement | NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening |
| Job classification | Any TEER category, with the specified agriculture exception |
| Employer compliance fee | $230 |
| Work permit fee | $155 |
| Employer Portal | Required |
| Offer number | 7 digits |
| Application method | Online |
The requirements above are based on the current IRCC Francophone Mobility pages.
Who Can Apply for the Francophone Mobility Program?
For applications submitted on or after June 15, 2023, IRCC lists these main requirements:
- You must meet the general francophone mobility program requirements for a Canadian work permit.
- You must plan to live and work outside Quebec.
- You must be able to speak and listen in French at an intermediate level.
- Your French ability must be equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher.
- You must have a qualifying job offer from a Canadian employer.
- The job can be in any TEER category under the National Occupational Classification, except for primary agriculture occupations classified under TEER 4 and TEER 5.
These rules are different from the requirements that applied to older applications.
Do You Need French Language Proof?
Yes, applicants must provide evidence showing that they can speak and listen in French at NCLC 5 or higher. IRCC states that acceptable evidence may include:
- TEF speaking and listening results
- TCF speaking and listening results
- A transcript from a college or university program completed in French
- An official letter confirming completion of a French-language program
- Other documents showing education in French
For this LMIA exemption, you do not need to prove your ability to read and write in French.
Do You Need an LMIA?
No, an eligible employer does not need to obtain an LMIA for a worker hired through the ‘Francophone Mobility’ stream. Instead, the employer must submit the job offer to IRCC via the ‘Employer Portal’ using LMIA exemption code C16. The employer is also required to pay the ’employer compliance fee’ and provide the ‘offer of employment number’ to the worker.
What Must the Employer Do?
The worker cannot start their application until the employer completes their part. Here is the exact sequence an employer must follow:
- Submit the job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal.
- Select LMIA exemption code C16 for Mobilité Francophone.
- Pay the $230 employer compliance fee.
- Provide the 7-digit job offer number to the worker.
The worker needs this number when filling out the work permit application.
Where Can You Work?
The Francophone Mobility Program is for working outside Quebec. This means the job must be in another Canadian province or territory. For example, eligible employment may be located in:
- Ontario
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
IRCC clearly states that applicants must live and work in one of the nine provinces or three territories outside Quebec.
What Jobs Qualify?
The current rules allow a job offer classified under any TEER category of Canada’s National Occupational Classification.
There is an important exception. Primary agriculture sector jobs under TEER 4 or TEER 5 are not eligible for this program. This means applicants should check the NOC classification of their job before initiating an application.
Francophone Mobility Work Permit Fees
The current IRCC page lists the work permit processing fee at $155 and the employer also has a separate compliance fee of $230.
| Fee | Who pays? | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Work permit processing fee | Worker | $155 |
| Employer compliance fee | Employer | $230 |
Other costs may apply in some cases, including biometrics or a medical examination.
How to Apply for a Francophone Mobility Program Application
You must apply for the Francophone Mobility Work Permit online through the IRCC website. Follow these simple steps.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools:
- A scanner or camera to take clear photos or scans of your documents (passport, job offer, French proof, etc.).
- A valid credit or debit card to pay the fee online.
Step 2: Access Your IRCC Secure Account: You must apply through an IRCC secure account.
- Sign in or create a new account.
- On the welcome page, go to the “Start your application” section.
- Click Apply to come to Canada.
- Scroll down to the “I do not have a personal reference code” section and click Visitor visa, study and/or work permit.
- On the next page, select Work.
Step 3: Generate Your Personalized Document Checklist: The system will ask a series of questions to build your checklist. Answering these correctly is critical to getting the right forms:
- Length of stay: Choose either “temporarily – more than 6 months” or “temporarily – less than 6 months” based on your job offer.
- If applying from outside Canada: When asked if you have a job offer and an offer of employment number, answer Yes. When asked what type of work permit you want, choose A work permit with a Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption.
- If applying from inside Canada: When asked if you have a written job offer, answer Yes. When asked which option best describes your situation, choose I’m applying for an employer-specific work permit with LMIA-exemption.
Step 4: Complete the Forms: Before typing, download and read the official instruction guide (Guide 5487 for outside Canada applicants). It explains just what information belongs in each field, preventing simple errors that cause delays.
Step 5: Upload Your Documents: Upload the documents requested in your personalized checklist. You can also add extra supporting files under the “Client information” section.
- Pro Tip: The portal only provides one “Client information” upload slot. If you have multiple supporting files, combine them into a single PDF before uploading.
- Proof of Language: You must upload proof of NCLC level 5 or higher in speaking and listening. Acceptable documents include official TEF Canada or TCF Canada results, or a transcript/official completion letter from a college or university for a program taught in French. (Note: You do not need to prove reading or writing skills for this specific LMIA exemption).
Step 6: Pay Fees and Submit: Pay the standard work permit processing fee of $155 (plus an $85 biometrics fee, if applicable to your country of residence). Review your entire application, then submit.
Francophone Mobility Program Document Requirements
The exact list of required documents depends on your situation. Your personal IRCC checklist should be considered the primary guide.
Documents may include:
- Valid passport
- Job offer or employment information
- 7-digit offer of employment number
- Proof of French language ability
- Work permit application forms
- Education or employment documents when requested
- Biometrics, if required
- Other supporting documents requested by IRCC
French-language proof is particularly important because it is one of the specific Francophone Mobility requirements.
Can You Apply From Outside Canada?
Yes, you can apply online from outside Canada if you meet the requirements. When creating the application, IRCC asks applicants outside Canada to indicate that they have a job offer and an offer of employment number. They should also select the LMIA-exempt work permit option.
Can You Apply From Inside Canada?
Some foreign nationals can apply for a work permit from within Canada, but eligibility depends on their current immigration status and circumstances.
If you are applying from inside Canada, IRCC says you should indicate that you have a written job offer and are applying for an employer-specific work permit with an LMIA exemption.
Before applying from inside Canada, check whether you are eligible to submit an in-Canada work permit application.
Can Your Family Come With You?
Your family may also be able to accompany you to Canada. Whether your spouse or common-law partner receives a work permit depends on their eligibility under Canada’s current work permit regulations. Depending on their circumstances, your children may also be eligible for study options.
Family members have their own application requirements; therefore, the approval of the principal applicant’s work permit does not automatically grant a work permit to every family member.
Is Francophone Mobility a Permanent Residence Program?
No, the Francophone Mobility work permit is a temporary work permit. It does not automatically give you Canadian permanent residence. However, if you later qualify for a different permanent residence program, your work experience in Canada could prove useful. Eligibility for permanent residence depends on the specific program under which you are applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Francophone Mobility is an LMIA-exempt work permit option for eligible French-speaking workers who have a qualifying job offer outside Quebec.
You must generally prove NCLC 5 or higher in French speaking and listening.
No, the employer uses LMIA exemption code C16 when submitting the job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal.
The current work permit processing fee is $155. The employer separately pays a $230 compliance fee.
Yes, you need a qualifying job offer, and your employer must submit the offer through the IRCC Employer Portal before you apply.
No. It is a temporary work permit. You would need to qualify separately for a permanent residence program.
Final Word
The Canada Francophone Mobility work permit can be used by eligible French-speaking workers who have a job offer outside Quebec. The main points to check are your French language ability, job location, job classification, employer’s participation, and general work permit eligibility.
For current applications, French speaking and listening ability must generally be at NCLC 5 or higher. The employer must also submit the job offer using C16, pay the $230 compliance fee, and provide the worker with the 7-digit offer of employment number.
Because Canadian immigration requirements can change, applicants should check the official IRCC page before submitting an application. Here is the Official source: Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
