Francophone Work Permit Program has been extended for two more years

Francophone Work Permit Program has been extended for a period of two years, which allows a Canadian employer to make a job offer to an eligible candidate with a moderate command of French for all National Occupation Classification with the exception of jobs in primary agriculture. This measure, initially reserved for highly skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers, now opens doors to more French-speaking immigrants by offering them the opportunity to gain Canadian work experience and potentially qualify for permanent residence.

The French language proficiency criteria are also updated for all foreign nationals applying for a work permit under the Francophone Mobility Program. The temporary foreign national must have a moderate language proficiency of French for oral comprehension and oral expression. This is equivalent to a level 5 of the language requirements. These new language requirements meet the French language needs for all of these occupations and will expand the pool of eligible French-speaking foreign nationals.

In addition, applicants must now provide proof that they meet these language requirements. This documentary evidence may be, but is not limited to: a French evaluation test or the French competencies test, a diploma or degree from a French college or university, or a document confirming studies at a French-language institution.

Quick facts

• In 2016, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada launched the Francophone Mobility Program under the International Mobility Program’s to help employers recruit highly skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers from Francophone communities outside Quebec.
• The Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption from the Francophone Mobility Program makes it easier for employers to hire skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers to work and gain valuable work experience in Francophone minority communities in Canada outside Quebec.
• The program also helps French-speaking temporary foreign workers qualify for permanent resident programs and increases the likelihood that they will be invited to apply for permanent residence if they have submitted a profile in the Express Entry system.

Under the Francophone Mobility Program, administrative code C16, the work performed by French-speaking foreign nationals destined for a province or territory outside Quebec, formerly designated as having social and cultural benefit under paragraph R205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), is now being designated by the minister under subparagraph R205(c)(ii) as necessary for public policy reasons related to the competitiveness of Canada’s academic institutions or economy.

As of June 15, 2023, all occupations, including those in TEER 4 and 5 (except primary agriculture occupations) are designated by the minister under subparagraph R205(c)(ii), where the foreign national has provided sufficient evidence to satisfy an officer that they hold speaking and listening language skills equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) / Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 or higher. Applicants must also comply with all requirements of section R200.

For more detailed information about Francophone Work Permit Program and eligibility requirements, please feel free to contact our office or complete our online assessment questionnaire: On-line Assessment Questionnaire.