Francophone Mobility Work Permits (C16): IRCC Data Shows Low but Increasing Interest

According to ATIP data obtained by Matthew Iwama (RCIC# R508275), IRCC issued only 9,850 Francophone Mobility Work Permits (LMIA exemption C16) between January 2022 and March 2026 (yes, over four years). In addition, 8,200 work permit extensions were issued under the Francophone Mobility program during that period.

While overall numbers have remained small, interest seems to be growing. In 2022, 2,500 initial work permits and extensions were issued under the category. This number grew to 4,760 by 2025 — a 90 percent jump. And the first three months of 2026 suggest demand could be accelerating further.

That said, the real question that emerges is: Are in-Canada applicants really learning French? The relatively low C16 numbers suggest the trend may not be nearly as widespread as the buzz around it suggests.

Key Takeaways

• IRCC issued 9,850 initial Francophone Mobility work permits and 8,200 extensions from January 2022 to March 2026.
• Initial permits and extensions increased by about 90 percent between 2022 and 2025.
• Most Francophone Mobility permits were issued to candidates in Ontario. BC, Alberta, and New Brunswick also received a significant share.
• Despite growing interest in learning French for immigration, C16 remains a relatively small work permit pathway.

Francophone Mobility Work Permit Numbers Are Increasing

Francophone Mobility allows Canadian employers outside Quebec to hire eligible French-speaking or bilingual foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

The program became considerably more accessible in June 2023.

Applicants who apply under the current rules need intermediate French speaking and listening skills equivalent to at least NCLC 5. They can also work in any TEER category except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5.

Before June 15, 2023, applicants needed French proficiency at an NCLC 7 level and an offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.

The ATIP data shows use of the program increasing around the same period.

Between 2022 and 2025, the number of initial permits and extensions increased by about 90 percent.

2026 is particularly noteworthy. IRCC data shows that around 2,585 permits and extensions were issued during the first three months of the year. That is already more than half the number issued during all of 2025.

If this pace continues for the entire year, the total will exceed 10,000. Although there’s no certainty that a similar number of Francophone Mobility work permits will be issued throughout the year, the 2026 jump signals increased interest in the pathway.

Most C16 Work Permits Were Approved for Ontario, BC

Unsurprisingly, most Francophone Mobility Work Permits were issued to foreign workers in (or heading to) Ontario. The province has the largest French-speaking population outside of Quebec, followed by New Brunswick.

Around 6,090 initial permits and extensions were recorded for Ontario between January 2022 and March 2026. British Columbia followed with around 3,885, while Alberta had approximately 3,570.

New Brunswick, which is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, also stands out. Approximately 2,500 initial permits and extensions were issued for the province between January 2022 and March 2026, despite New Brunswick having a much smaller population than Ontario, BC, or Alberta.

Relatively fewer Francophone Mobility work permits were issued to workers in other provinces and territories.

Francophone Work Permits Were More Common Outside Major Cities

The ATIP data also provides an interesting look at where Francophone Mobility workers are heading within provinces. The data tracked work permits approved for Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and “all other destinations.”

Across Canada, approximately 8,735 initial permits and extensions were recorded for CMA destinations, compared with around 9,320 for other destinations.

That means approximately 52 percent of C16 work permits were issued to workers in destinations outside CMAs.

However, this varied significantly between provinces.

In Ontario, approximately 3,505 permits and extensions were recorded for CMA destinations (58 percent) compared with 2,585 elsewhere (42 percent). Alberta showed a similar pattern, with around 2,100 in CMA destinations (59 percent) and 1,470 elsewhere (41 percent).

However, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia saw more C16 work permits issued for non-CMA regions. For instance, for BC, 55 percent (2,140) of work permits were for areas outside major cities, while in New Brunswick, over 73 percent (1,835) of Francophone work permits were meant for candidates working outside CMAs.

Francophone Mobility Is Skewed Towards Skilled Workers

IRCC expanded Francophone Mobility in 2023 so that workers in most TEER categories could qualify.

However, the ATIP data suggests the program remains heavily concentrated among workers in TEER 0 to 3 occupations.

• TEER 2: Most C16 permits were issued for TEER 2 occupations, with approximately 4,585 initial permits and extensions.
• TEER 3: Around 4,025 permits and extensions were issued for TEER 3 occupations that typically require a college diploma or apprenticeship training.
• TEER 1: Approximately 2,205 were issued for occupations that typically require a university degree.
• TEER 5: Around 1,715 were issued for occupations that usually require no formal education.
• TEER 0: Approximately 1,440 were issued for management occupations.
• TEER 4: This category had the fewest, at approximately 760 permits and extensions.

That said, thousands of permits in the ATIP data don’t have a specified TEER category, so the occupational breakdown does not account for every permit issued.

However, the data suggests that expanding eligibility to most TEER 4 and 5 occupations has not fundamentally changed who is using the program.

Application Requirements for Francophone Mobility (C16) Work Permits

If you apply for a Francophone Mobility work permit on or after June 15, 2023, you must:

• meet the general requirements for a Canadian work permit;
• intend to live and work outside Quebec;
• demonstrate French speaking and listening ability at NCLC 5 or higher; and
• have an offer of employment in an eligible occupation.

Jobs in TEER 0 through 5 can qualify, except primary agriculture occupations in TEER 4 and 5.

Your employer must also complete several steps before you apply. They need to submit an offer of employment through IRCC’s Employer Portal and pay the $230 employer compliance fee. The employer then provides you with the seven-digit offer of employment number you need for your application.

The key advantage is that your employer does not need to obtain an LMIA. However, Francophone Mobility is an employer-specific work permit. Unlike an open work permit, it authorizes you to work according to the employer and conditions listed on your permit.

You should also be prepared to demonstrate your French ability beyond simply submitting a test result. Francophone Mobility applicants may be invited for phone and in-person interviews, where an officer assesses their language proficiency.