Francophone Mobility Program
The francophone mobility work permit allows people who speak conversational French and who have job offers from Canadian companies (outside Quebec) to come and work in Canada. Foreigners mostly come to Canada with LMIA work permits. LMIA stands for “Labour Market Impact Assessment.” In short, it means that when Canadian companies want to hire foreign workers, they must prove to the government that local workers are not available and that they need to hire foreign workers. The government must first approve this, and then the companies can provide LMIA positive letters to foreign workers to apply for a work permit.
The Francophone mobility program is primarily aimed at increasing the number of people who speak French in Canada. Because it is in the government’s interest, they have made the entire process very easy. Companies do not need to prove to the government that they cannot find local workers and that they need to bring in foreign workers. Additionally, there is no LMIA process. Essentially, a company provides a job offer, and the foreign worker applies for a work visa.
Requirements of the francophone mobility program
The program will have the following requirements until June 2025:
- French knowledge (B1 level or CLB 5 in speaking and listening in French. Note that writing and reading scores are not important). TCF or TEF tests are required. You can see the equivalency of CLB 5 to different test scores in this link. If you received your education in French in school, college, or university, you don’t have to provide official test scores to prove your French skills. Instead, you can obtain a written confirmation from your educational institution, such as a transcript, diploma, official completion letter, or any document that shows you studied in French.
- Any job offer from a Canadian company located outside of Quebec. In the past, only skilled positions (TEER 0, 1, 2, 3) were eligible, but now even low-skilled positions (TEER 4, 5), such as drivers, waiters, cleaners, etc., are also eligible. Canadian employers must provide a signed job offer and register it in their employer portals. Additionally, employers are required to pay a fee of 230 CAD per job offer in their employer portals.
Regarding work experience, a worker’s previous work experience must align with the position offered. They should be able to provide employment letters from their previous employers. Your employment history should demonstrate that you are a suitable candidate for the job being offered and that you are capable of performing the duties associated with the position.
Process in action
Typically, work visas are issued for 2 years under the Francophone Mobility Work Permits. However, this does not mean that you cannot stay in Canada beyond the initial 2-year period. As long as you have ongoing employment with Canadian employers, your work permit can be extended.
Visa Types Issued
Main Applicant: Work Visa
Spouse: Work Visa
Children: Visitor or Study Visas, depending on their age (school-age children typically receive study visas, and children under 6 receive visitor visas)
Upon arrival at a Canadian airport, you will be granted a work permit, which allows you to work in Canada. The main applicant will receive a closed work permit, which means they can only work for a specific employer. If the main applicant loses their job or wishes to work for a different company, the new employer must provide a job offer within Canada, and the worker must apply for a new work permit to change their employer. Spouses, on the other hand, will receive open work permits, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada.
Children are eligible to attend public schools in Canada at no cost.
To apply for permanent resident status, workers typically need to accumulate at least one year of Canadian work experience, in addition to demonstrating language skills.
If you live in Canada with permanent resident status for a minimum of 3 years, you become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. Obtaining Canadian citizenship grants you additional benefits and rights.
Visa fees:
- Main applicant 155 CAD
- Spouse 255 CAD
- 100 CAD or 150 CAD based on the age of a child (whether it’s a student visa or visitor)
- Biometric fee- 85 CAD per 1 person or max 170 CAD per family
- Medical test fee (depends on the number of family members and country)