What Is the Francophone Mobility Program?
The Francophone Mobility Program is a Canadian immigration initiative designed to attract French-speaking workers to Canada outside Quebec. It allows employers to hire foreign nationals without completing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which normally takes 4-6 months and costs significant fees.
This program recognizes Canada's bilingual identity and addresses skill gaps in francophone communities, particularly in provinces like New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Ontario. If you're a French speaker seeking Canadian employment, this program can significantly speed up your work authorization process.
Who Can Apply to the Francophone Mobility Program?
Elibility criteria are straightforward but specific. You must:
- Hold a valid job offer from a Canadian employer outside Quebec
- Demonstrate Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher in French
- Have basic English proficiency (CLB 5 minimum)
- Meet the job requirements listed in your offer
- Be eligible to work in Canada
You don't need prior work experience in your specific field, and there's no points-based selection system. The program prioritizes French language skills above all else.
Processing Times for Francophone Mobility Work Permits
One of the biggest advantages of this program is speed. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to process applications within 4 weeks from submission. In practice, most applications receive decisions within 2-4 weeks if documentation is complete and accurate.
Compare this to the typical work permit processing time of 4-6 weeks for other streams, and the LMIA exemption saves employers even more time upfront. The faster timeline means you could be working in Canada within a month of applying, rather than waiting 6+ months with traditional streams.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
The application process requires coordination between you and your employer.
Your employer's role: They create an Employer Portal account with IRCC and submit a job offer using LMIA-exemption code C16. The job offer must include your title, duties, hours, wage, location, and employment start date. Employers must also confirm they made reasonable efforts to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Your role: Once your employer submits their offer, you receive a reference number. You then apply for a work permit through the IRCC's online portal, providing proof of French language proficiency, your passport, medical exam (if required), and police certificate. You'll also need to pay the work permit application fee, currently $155 for adults.
Submit everything together for fastest processing. Incomplete applications cause delays.
Language Requirements and Testing
French proficiency is the cornerstone of this program. You must provide proof of CLB 7 in French, which is considered "advanced intermediate" ability.
Accepted tests include:
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
- Test de français international (TFI)
- DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française)
- DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française)
- TEF Canada
Test results must be from the past two years. If you completed your post-secondary education in French, you may be exempt from providing a test result. You'll also need CLB 5 in English, which can be demonstrated through IELTS, TOEFL, or CELPIP tests.
Geographic Restrictions and Opportunities
The Francophone Mobility Program specifically targets provinces with lower francophone populations. You cannot use this program to work in Quebec, as Quebec has its own immigration processes.
The program is most active in:
- New Brunswick (Canada's only officially bilingual province)
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- British Columbia
- Alberta
Employers in these provinces can most easily access the program. However, the program is available nationally outside Quebec, so any employer meeting the criteria can participate.
Converting to Permanent Residence
Many applicants ask: How do I get PR in the Francophone Mobility Program? The work permit itself isn't a direct pathway to permanent residence, but it opens doors to several PR options.
Once you have a valid work permit and one year of Canadian work experience, you typically become eligible for:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): You'll need CLB 7 in French and CLB 5 in English (which you already have), plus one year of skilled work experience. This is the fastest route for most francophone mobility workers.
French-Language Pathway under Express Entry: Starting in 2024, IRCC prioritizes French-speaking candidates in Express Entry draws when they meet language thresholds. With your existing CLB 7 French, you receive additional points, significantly improving your chances of an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Provinces like Manitoba and New Brunswick actively recruit francophone workers through PNPs, which often have lower requirements than federal programs.
You don't need to complete permanent residence before your work permit expires, but starting the process early ensures you have another valid status lined up.
Can You Extend Your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Through This Program?
No, the Francophone Mobility Program cannot extend an existing PGWP. If your PGWP is expiring, you have two options:
- Apply for a new work permit using the Francophone Mobility stream (if you have a job offer)
- Apply for another work permit category with your employer
However, if you're currently on a PGWP and secure a job offer from a Canadian employer, switching to a Francophone Mobility work permit is often faster and more straightforward than renewing a PGWP. The PGWP is tied to your education, but a Francophone Mobility permit is tied to your job offer and language skills.
If your PGWP is about to expire, book a consultation with Go Far Global to discuss your options before your status lapses.
Common Mistakes Applicants Make
Our RCICs at Go Far Global frequently see these errors costing applicants time:
Overestimating language proficiency: Many applicants claim CLB 7 but score CLB 6. Test scores must match exactly. If your results show CLB 6, you're ineligible.
Incomplete employer documentation: Employers who rush through the portal submission often miss required fields. Work with your employer to ensure every section is completed accurately.
Applying without a confirmed job offer: You cannot apply speculatively. The job offer must be finalized before you submit your work permit application.
Missing the language requirement deadline: Language test results expire after two years. Ensure your results are current when applying.
What Sets the Francophone Mobility Program Apart
Unlike other work permit streams, this program eliminates the LMIA process entirely, saving employers $1,000+ and reducing hiring timelines from six months to four weeks. For workers, it's a direct route to Canadian employment without competing in points-based draws.
The program also recognizes that francophone communities across Canada face specific labor shortages. By removing barriers for French speakers, Canada makes itself more accessible to international talent while strengthening regional economies.
Read more about immigration news affecting work permits and employment in Canada.
Next Steps: Apply With Confidence
The Francophone Mobility Program is one of Canada's most efficient pathways to work authorization. If you're a French speaker with a Canadian job offer and CLB 7 French proficiency, you could be working in Canada within weeks.
The process is straightforward, but small mistakes in documentation or language testing can cause rejections or delays. Go Far Global's licensed RCICs have helped dozens of francophone workers successfully navigate this stream and transition to permanent residence.
Book a consultation with our team to review your specific situation, confirm your eligibility, and ensure your application is submitted correctly the first time.