Canada: Extension and Expansion of Francophone Mobility Program Announced

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has extended the Francophone Mobility Program for an additional two years. The program was originally launched in 2016 and seeks to attract French-speaking foreign nationals to relocate outside of Quebec through a streamlined temporary work permit process that exempts them from the Labour Market Impact Assessment requirement. Additionally, the government relaxed several requirements under the program: applicants are now eligible for a work permit under the program if they submit documents that prove French language abilities at an intermediate level - equivalent to Canadian language proficiency (NCLC) level 5 or higher. Previously, applicants had to prove French fluency at level 7. Furthermore, applicants can have an offer of employment for a job under any Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system (except primary agriculture occupations). Previously, only those with offers of employment for jobs classified under a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 categories of the NOC could qualify for this program.