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Pathway guide

Francophone Mobility (C16)

Francophone Mobility (exemption code C16) lets employers outside Quebec hire a worker who speaks French at an intermediate level (NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening) without an LMIA. It covers jobs at any TEER level except lower-skilled farm jobs, and the job itself does not have to be in French. IRCC lists this work permit as open.

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Who it’s for

  • Employers in any province or territory other than Quebec
  • Employers hiring French-speaking or bilingual workers for jobs at any skill level
  • Employers recruiting through IRCC outreach officers, Job Bank or Destination Canada events

What it asks for

  • The worker must live and work outside Quebec; remote work for a Quebec employer does not qualify
  • The worker must prove French at NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening
  • Any occupation qualifies except lower-skilled (TEER 4 or 5) farm, nursery or greenhouse jobs
  • Officers check the offer is genuine, with a real need and reasonable, affordable wages
  • Submit the offer with code C16 and pay the $230 compliance fee before the worker applies

What the employer does

  • Find a candidate, for example through IRCC outreach officers, Job Bank or Destination Canada.
  • Confirm the candidate has TEF or TCF results, or other proof, at NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening.
  • Sign in to or create an account in the Employer Portal and submit the offer using LMIA exemption code C16 (Mobilité Francophone).
  • Pay the $230 employer compliance fee.
  • Give the candidate the 7-digit offer of employment number and the signed offer of employment.
  • The candidate applies for the Francophone Mobility work permit and pays the $155 processing fee.

Documents you’ll usually need

  • Signed offer of employment and employment agreement
  • The worker's TEF or TCF results, or proof of studies in French
  • Proof that the work location is outside Quebec
  • Proof that the worker meets the job requirements in the NOC
  • Employer Portal receipt for the compliance fee

Fees and timing

  • Employer compliance fee: $230
    Official source
  • Work permit processing fee: $155
    Official source
  • TEER 0 or 1 jobs may get Global Skills Strategy processing, which IRCC aims to complete in 2 weeks
    Official source
  • IRCC says GSS applications will probably take more than 2 weeks while it recovers (help centre, modified 2026-09-28)
    Official source
Watch out for
  • The rules changed on June 15, 2023: before then only TEER 0 to 3 jobs qualified and the language level was NCLC 7.
  • A new language test is not needed at renewal unless the officer has concerns, but every other requirement must still be met.
  • Officers may ask for a TEF or TCF result or an oral assessment if other proof is weak.
  • Telework for an employer located in Quebec is not eligible.
  • Officers look for hiring patterns, such as many workers from one region for the same position.

Official pages

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Checked against official sources on October 16, 2026. The employer assessment checks your answers against these requirements, and a lawyer reviews anything unusual.