Francophone Mobility is an LMIA-exempt work permit for French speakers with a job offer outside Quebec; it needs NCLC 5 in speaking and listening only. For PR, Ontario's Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream closed as of May 30, 2026 (Ontario announced the redesign on June 26), so the main French routes are now Express Entry's French category draws (NCLC 7 in all four skills) and francophone priorities in provinces such as New Brunswick and Manitoba.
Key takeaways
- Francophone Mobility: job offer outside Quebec, NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, no LMIA.
- It is a work permit, not PR. PR through French draws needs NCLC 7 in all four skills.
- Ontario closed its French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream as of May 30, 2026.
- New Brunswick and Manitoba have run francophone-focused selections; details change often.
- TEF Canada or TCF Canada results work for all of these routes.
On this page
Two French routes sit outside the usual Express Entry story. Francophone Mobility is a work permit: a job offer outside Quebec, NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, and no LMIA. Provincial nominee programs (PNPs) can nominate French speakers for PR. The biggest one, Ontario's French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream, closed as of May 30, 2026, and many websites have not caught up.
What is Francophone Mobility and who qualifies?
#Francophone Mobility (exemption code C16) lets a Canadian employer outside Quebec hire a French-speaking worker without a Labour Market Impact Assessment. In summary:
NCLC 5 in speaking and listening means at least 6/20 in TCF Canada speaking and 369 in TCF listening, or 226/450 speaking and 181/360 listening on TEF Canada's ancien score. See CLB 5 vs CLB 7 for both levels side by side.
What happened to Ontario's French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream?
#Ontario used to pull French speakers from the Express Entry pool through this stream (NCLC 7 French, CLB 6 English). In 2026 Ontario redesigned its program:
Ontario's 2026 OINP changes (per ontario.ca)
- April 2026French-targeted invitationsOntario reported invitations aimed at French-speaking candidates across several streams.
- May 30 – June 26, 2026Eight streams closedClosed as of May 30 and announced on June 26, including Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker. They were replaced by a single Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
- August 4, 2026New EOI portalA new expression-of-interest system opened. EOIs under closed streams were withdrawn automatically.
The new Workforce Priority stream is built around job offers (with separate paths for TEER 0–3 and TEER 4–5 occupations). Whether and how it prioritises French in future rounds is up to Ontario, so check the official OINP updates page before you plan around it.
Which other provinces favour French speakers?
#| Province | What has been reported | French level to plan for |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | Strategic Initiative stream for French-speaking workers; francophone-focused invitations in 2026 | Check NB's current criteria |
| Manitoba | Francophone Community allocations in Skilled Worker draws (e.g. January 2026) | Check MPNP's current criteria |
| Other provinces | Some give extra weight to French in their scoring | Varies |
Province rules change often, sometimes with little notice. Treat this table as a starting point and read the province's own page before paying for anything.
Québec runs its own selection. Its French levels are set out in our PSTQ French requirements guide, along with where the PEQ stands.
Which route fits you?
#Francophone Mobility is built for you. Get a TEF or TCF Canada result with NCLC 5+ in speaking and listening (see upcoming TEF and TCF Canada dates), and keep working towards NCLC 7 for PR later. French isn't the only way to PR, though: see whether French is mandatory for Canada PR.
Express Entry French draws are the main route. No job offer needed; see PR with French and no job offer and French draw cut-offs.
Francophone Mobility and these PNPs are for outside Quebec. Quebec runs its own selection; see TEF AQ and TCF Québec vs TEF/TCF Canada.
- Myth
Ontario's French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream is still open.
FactIt closed as of May 30, 2026, as part of Ontario's redesign of the OINP.
- Myth
Francophone Mobility needs NCLC 7 in all four skills.
FactIt needs NCLC 5 in speaking and listening only. NCLC 7 in all four is the Express Entry French bonus and draw level.
- Myth
Francophone Mobility works for jobs in Montréal.
FactNo. It is for jobs outside Quebec.
Check yourself
1 of 3.Which French skills does Francophone Mobility test at NCLC 5?
2 of 3.When did Ontario's French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream close?
3 of 3.Is Francophone Mobility a PR program?
There is also a federal route for French speakers with a job offer in a small francophone community: the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP), which asks for NCLC 5.
Questions people ask
NCLC 5 or higher in speaking and listening. Reading and writing are not assessed for this work permit.
No. Ontario closed it as of May 30, 2026, and introduced a single Ontario Workforce Priority stream with a new EOI portal from August 4, 2026.
Yes. Either result can show NCLC 5 in speaking and listening. IRCC also accepts some proof of education in French.
Not directly. It is a work permit, but Canadian skilled work experience can later count for the Canadian Experience Class, and NCLC 7 in French opens French draws.
New Brunswick and Manitoba have run francophone-focused selections, and other provinces give some weight to French. Criteria change often, so check each province's official page.
Terms in this guide
- French-language proficiency draw
- Category-based draw
- CLB
- NCLC 7
- Express Entry
- TCF Québec
- CRS French bonus
- Ancien score
Each one is defined in plain English in the TEF & TCF Canada glossary.
Sources
- IRCC: Francophone Mobility, check if you can apply
- Ontario: 2026 OINP updates
- IRCC: Category-based selection
Rules and fees change. Always confirm with IRCC and your test centre before you pay.
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