Canada Federal Work Permit — Code C16 Work Permit: Francophone Mobility A complete guide to the Francophone Mobility program for French speakers — an LMIA-exempt
Canada Federal Work Permit — Code C16
Work Permit: Francophone Mobility
A complete guide to the Francophone Mobility program for French speakers — an LMIA-exempt pathway to work in Canadian provinces and territories outside Quebec, with the option to apply from inside or outside Canada.
What makes this program so appealing?
You don't need to be physically present in Canada. As long as you meet the requirements — a valid job offer, the required French language level, and the other general conditions — you can submit this application both from outside Canada and from inside Canada.
📋 Table of Contents
What Is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit?
The Francophone Mobility (Mobilité Francophone) program is one of Canada's federal work permit pathways that allows employers outside the province of Quebec to hire French-speaking workers without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This exemption is identified by code C16 in the system of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The goal of this program is to strengthen French-speaking communities across Canada outside Quebec. For this reason, its main focus is on the applicant's oral French language skills.
LMIA-Exempt
Francophone Mobility is considered an "LMIA-exempt" pathway. Instead of an LMIA, the employer must submit the job offer under code C16 in the Employer Portal.
Key Advantage: Apply From Inside or Outside Canada
The most important feature of this program is its flexibility in where you apply from. Your current location is not a barrier to applying; what matters is your eligibility. If you have a qualifying job offer, the required French language level, and meet the general work permit conditions, you can apply through either route:
Applying From Outside Canada
If you have not yet entered Canada, you can submit your application from your country of residence. This is the most common route for applicants outside Canada.
Applying From Inside Canada
If you are currently in Canada with valid status (such as a study permit or work permit) and are eligible to apply from inside, you can apply without leaving Canada.
Note
The exact conditions for both routes (inside and outside Canada) are explained in the "General Work Permit Requirements" section. Eligibility to apply from inside Canada has its own specific conditions.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the Francophone Mobility program, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- ✓Meet the general work permit requirements (explained in a separate section)
- ✓Intend to live and work in one of the 9 provinces or 3 territories of Canada outside Quebec
- ✓Be able to prove your listening and speaking French skills at an intermediate level (equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher)
- ✓Have a job offer that falls under one of the TEER categories in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
Primary Agriculture Exception
If the job offer is for a position in primary agriculture under TEER 4 or 5 categories, that occupation is not eligible for this program. Other categories (TEER 0 to 5) are eligible.
To find the TEER category and NOC code for your occupation, you can use the official National Occupational Classification (NOC) tool or our NOC code guide.
French Language Requirement (NCLC 5)
The language requirement is the heart of this program. You must prove your oral French language skills at NCLC 5 or higher in both speaking and listening.
What Is the NCLC Scale?
The NCLC scale (short for Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens) is Canada's official scale for measuring French language proficiency. Level 5 on this scale is considered intermediate and is the minimum level required for this program.
Which Skills Are Assessed?
For this program, only the oral skills matter, and both must be at least at the NCLC 5 level:
- ✓Speaking (Expression orale) — speaking skill, minimum NCLC 5
- ✓Listening (Compréhension orale) — listening skill, minimum NCLC 5
French reading and writing skills are not core requirements for eligibility under this pathway; the focus is on the two oral skills — speaking and listening.
Which Tests Are Accepted?
| French Test | Description |
|---|---|
| TEF Canada | Test d'évaluation de français — the most common French test for Canadian immigration purposes |
| TCF Canada | Test de connaissance du français — another official test accepted by IRCC |
Your test results must show that your scores in the listening comprehension and oral expression sections are equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher.
General Work Permit Requirements
In addition to the specific Francophone Mobility requirements, you must also meet the general work permit requirements. These conditions are largely the same whether you apply from inside or outside Canada:
- !Prove you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your family during your stay in Canada (and to return home if applying from abroad)
- !Provide all required documents in your application file
- !Provide any other documents the immigration office requests to prove your admissibility
- !Prove that you will leave Canada before your work permit expires
The exact amount of financial resources depends on your family size, the community you will live in, and the type of program. For an estimate, you can refer to the Low Income Cut-offs (LICO) table.
Requirements for Applying From Outside Canada
If you are outside Canada, in addition to the conditions above you must have the appropriate type of work permit (in this program, an employer-specific work permit). Full details are available on the official applying for a work permit from outside Canada page.
Requirements for Applying From Inside Canada — Who Is Eligible?
Applying from inside Canada is only possible if one of the following situations applies to you:
- !You hold a valid work permit or study permit
- !Your spouse, common-law partner, or parents hold a valid work permit
- !You, or your spouse/common-law partner or parents, hold a valid study permit
- !You are eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and your study permit is still valid
- !You are awaiting a decision on certain permanent residence applications (such as the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada class)
- !You have been recognized as a Convention refugee or protected person, or you have made a refugee claim
- !You were legally working in Canada without a work permit and now need a work permit for a different job
- !You, or your spouse/partner/parents, hold a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) valid for 6 months or more
- !You are a trader, investor, intra-company transferee, or professional under the CUSMA agreement
Full details are available on the official applying for a work permit from inside Canada page.
Employer Steps (Code C16)
Before you can submit your application, your Canadian employer must complete a few steps. Without these, your application cannot be completed:
Step 1
Submit the Job Offer Under Code C16
The employer submits the job offer to IRCC through the Employer Portal and uses the LMIA exemption code C16 for Mobilité Francophone.
Step 2
Pay the Employer Compliance Fee
The employer must pay CAD $230 as the Employer Compliance Fee.
Step 3
Provide the Offer of Employment Number
The employer gives you a 7-digit Offer of Employment Number. This number is required to submit your application.
Reminder
Until you receive this 7-digit number from your employer, you cannot submit your application. Before you apply, make sure your employer has completed this step.
Who Cannot Apply?
Even if you are otherwise eligible, your application may be refused for the following reasons:
Reasons That May Lead to a Refusal
- ✗
- ✗A history of criminal activity (a police clearance certificate may be requested)
- ✗Being a threat to Canada's security
- ✗Providing false or misleading information in your application (misrepresentation)
- ✗Intending to work for an employer on the list of non-compliant employers with "ineligible" status
- ✗Intending to work for an employer who regularly offers services such as striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massage
- ✗Being inadmissible for any other reason
Please note that your application may also be refused for reasons other than those listed above.
Application Steps
Step 1
Get a Qualifying Job Offer
Obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer outside Quebec, under one of the eligible TEER categories.
Step 2
Prove Your French Language Level
Take the TEF Canada or TCF Canada test and achieve a score equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher in both speaking and listening.
Step 3
Employer Completes Their Steps
The employer submits the job offer under code C16 in the Employer Portal, pays the $230 fee, and gives you the 7-digit offer of employment number.
Step 4
Submit Your Work Permit Application
Submit your application to IRCC — from inside or outside Canada, depending on your situation — along with the offer of employment number and the required documents.
Summary
✅ Key Points You Should Know
- ▸ LMIA-exempt: Francophone Mobility (code C16) is an LMIA-exempt work permit pathway for French speakers
- ▸ Inside or outside Canada: As long as you are eligible, you can apply from both outside and inside Canada
- ▸ Outside Quebec: The place of work must be in one of the 9 provinces or 3 territories outside Quebec
- ▸ French language: NCLC 5 or higher required in both speaking and listening (TEF or TCF Canada test)
- ▸ Job offer: Must be under eligible TEER categories (except primary agriculture in TEER 4 and 5)
- ▸ Employer's role: Submit the offer under code C16, pay $230, and provide you with the 7-digit number
Thinking about permanent residence?
Work experience gained on a Francophone Mobility work permit can support permanent residence pathways. Learn more about Express Entry, the CRS ranking system, and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). French proficiency can significantly boost your score — see ways to improve your CRS score.
Are You Eligible for the Francophone Mobility Work Permit?
The i2Canada team will review your eligibility and stand by you through every step — from assessing your eligibility to submitting your application.
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