How IRCC supports francophone immigration outside Quebec

Canada has two official languages, but most French-speaking newcomers settle in Quebec. IRCC has said for years that it wants to change that, and it has backed the goal with concrete programs for French speakers who want to live anywhere else in the country. If you speak French at an intermediate level or better, these programs can shorten your route to permanent residence noticeably.

Extra Express Entry points for French

The Comprehensive Ranking System awards additional points for French ability on top of the points every candidate gets for their first official language. To earn them you need a French test result, TEF Canada or TCF Canada, at level NCLC 7 or higher in all four abilities. If your English is also CLB 5 or better you get the higher bonus; with weaker or no English you still get a smaller one.

• Strong French (NCLC 7+) plus English at CLB 5 or higher: the full additional-points bonus.
• Strong French (NCLC 7+) with English at CLB 4 or lower: a smaller bonus, still worth having.
• French can also be your first official language, in which case it earns the regular language points as well.

For many candidates this bonus is the difference between sitting below the general cut-off and clearing it. It is also one of the few ways to add points without a job offer, a nomination or more education.

Category-based draws for French speakers

Since 2023 IRCC has run category-based Express Entry rounds that invite only candidates who meet a specific attribute. French-language proficiency is one of those categories, and it has been among the most frequently used. To be eligible you need NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities and an active profile in the pool.

The cut-off scores in French-language rounds have generally been well below the all-program rounds, sometimes by a wide margin. IRCC has said the category remains a priority, so it is worth keeping your French test valid and your profile current if you qualify.

The Francophone Mobility work permit

Francophone Mobility is a stream of the International Mobility Program. It lets an employer outside Quebec hire a French-speaking worker without a Labour Market Impact Assessment, which removes the slowest and most uncertain step in the usual work permit process. IRCC widened the stream in 2023 so that it now covers most occupations rather than only higher-skilled ones, with primary agriculture the main exception.

• You need a job offer from an employer located outside Quebec.
• You must show moderate French ability, generally NCLC 5 in speaking and listening, through a test or acceptable proof of French-language education.
• The permit is employer-specific, and the work experience you gain can later support an Express Entry or provincial nominee application.

The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

The newest piece is a community-driven pilot that gives designated francophone minority communities outside Quebec their own permanent residence pathway. Participating communities identify local employers and in-demand jobs; a candidate with a qualifying offer, French ability and the intention to settle in that community can apply for permanent residence through the pilot. The list of communities is short and set by IRCC, so check the current list before you plan around it.

Provincial streams and settlement support

Several provinces run their own French-speaking streams inside their nominee programs, Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream being the best known, and Manitoba actively recruits French speakers for its francophone communities around Winnipeg and beyond. Once you arrive, IRCC-funded settlement services are available in French through the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative and francophone settlement agencies.

What to do first

1. Book a TEF Canada or TCF Canada test and aim for NCLC 7 in every ability.
2. Create or update your Express Entry profile so the French results are on file before the next French-language round.
3. If you already have an employer in mind outside Quebec, ask whether the role fits Francophone Mobility.
4. Look at provincial French-speaking streams in the province where you want to live.

Do I need to be a native French speaker?

No. The programs are based on tested ability, not origin. NCLC 7 is an upper-intermediate level that many people reach with a year or two of serious study.

Can I use a DELF or DALF certificate?

Not for Express Entry. IRCC only accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada for immigration purposes, and results must be less than two years old when you apply.

Does this apply if I want to live in Quebec?

Quebec selects its own economic immigrants through its own programs. The measures above are specifically for French speakers settling in the other provinces and territories.

Not sure which francophone pathway fits your profile? Book a consultation

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