Francophone Mobility Work Permit: NCLC 5 Language Requirements & Rules (2025)

If you are looking for the Francophone Mobility Program and the NCLC 5 language requirement, you are likely applying for Canada’s Francophone Mobility work permit (also called Mobilité Francophone). This is a Canadian work permit option that can be faster for employers because it is LMIA-exempt (no Labour Market Impact Assessment required) when the requirements are met, and it is designed for people who will live and work outside Quebec.

The main language requirement for the Mobilité Francophone work permit is simple: you must prove French speaking and listening at an intermediate level, which IRCC says is equivalent to NCLC 5 or higher. The rest of this guide explains exactly what that means, what documents IRCC accepts, and how to plan your French practice so you can realistically meet NCLC 5.

What is the Francophone Mobility work permit?

The Francophone Mobility work permit is part of Canada’s International Mobility Program (IMP). In plain terms, it lets an eligible employer hire an eligible French-speaking (or bilingual) worker without an LMIA, as long as the job is outside Quebec and the worker meets IRCC’s French requirement.

If you’re new to the LMIA concept, IRCC explains the LMIA decision point on its page to find out if you need an LMIA.

Current eligibility rules (the NCLC 5 requirement)

For applications made on or after June 15, 2023, IRCC lists these key eligibility requirements for the Francophone Mobility work permit:

• You must meet the general work permit eligibility rules (for example, proving you’ll leave Canada when your permit expires, having enough funds, meeting security/health rules if required, etc.).
• You must plan to live and work in a province or territory outside Quebec.

Eligible: Outside Quebec

To qualify for the LMIA exemption (C16), the physical job location must be in any Canadian province or territory except Quebec.

• You must prove that your French speaking and listening are at an intermediate level, which IRCC says is NCLC 5 or higher.
• You must have a job offer in an eligible NOC/TEER category. IRCC states it can be in any TEER category unless the offer is for a primary agriculture occupation under TEER 4 and 5.

Employers see the same rules summarized on IRCC’s page about how to hire a French-speaking worker outside Quebec.

What “NCLC 5” really means for this work permit

IRCC frames NCLC 5 for Francophone Mobility as “intermediate” French in speaking and listening. Importantly, IRCC also says you do not need to prove French reading or writing to be eligible for this LMIA exemption when applying on or after June 15, 2023 (the requirement is focused on speaking and listening).

Practically, you should aim to be comfortable doing all of the following in spoken French:

• Understand the main idea of workplace instructions and everyday conversations when the topic is familiar.
• Ask and answer questions clearly (times, schedules, responsibilities, basic problem-solving).
• Explain your experience and routine tasks without switching to English when you get stuck.
• Handle a short phone call or in-person conversation about appointments, work updates, or simple issues.

You don’t need “perfect” French. You need reliable, understandable French that matches IRCC’s intermediate standard (NCLC 5+) in speaking and listening.

NCLC 5 score targets for TEF Canada and TCF Canada

If you’re proving French via testing, the most common route is taking an IRCC-approved French test. IRCC’s language test conversion tables show how TEF Canada and TCF Canada scores map to NCLC levels.

TEF Canada: what to aim for (NCLC 5)

For TEF Canada results taken after December 10, 2023, IRCC’s table shows that NCLC 5 corresponds to:

• Listening (compréhension orale): 352–392
• Speaking (expression orale): 387–421

If your TEF Canada is older, the score ranges can differ by date, so use IRCC’s TEF Canada equivalency table that matches your test date.

TCF Canada: what to aim for (NCLC 5)

IRCC’s TCF Canada equivalency table shows that NCLC 5 corresponds to:

• Listening (compréhension orale): 369–397
• Speaking (expression orale): 6

Tip: Even though Francophone Mobility focuses on speaking and listening, TEF Canada and TCF Canada are full tests with multiple sections. Always double-check that your speaking and listening meet NCLC 5+ on the official IRCC tables before you submit.

TEF Canada vs TCF Canada: which test should you choose?

Both tests are accepted by IRCC in many immigration contexts, and IRCC references them as acceptable proof options for Francophone Mobility language ability. Your best choice depends on your comfort and availability in your region.

Choose TEF Canada if you want TEF-style tasks and wide test-centre availability

On the official TEF site, TEF Canada is presented as a test made up of 4 mandatory sections: reading, listening, writing, and speaking. The same site also provides guidance on how to prepare for TEF Canada and offers tools to train for the exam format.

Choose TCF Canada if you prefer the TCF structure and official sample materials

France Éducation international describes TCF Canada’s test structure as 4 mandatory tests (listening, reading, written skills, and verbal skills). If you want to practice with authentic-style questions, they also publish examples of TCF tasks.

If you’re deciding between them, pick the test you can book sooner and prepare for more consistently. For Francophone Mobility, your goal is straightforward: get speaking and listening to NCLC 5+.

Step-by-step: how the Francophone Mobility application works

Francophone Mobility is an employer-specific work permit. That means both the employer and the worker have required steps.

1) Get a qualifying job offer outside Quebec

You must have a job offer for work outside Quebec, and it must be in an eligible TEER category (with the specific primary agriculture exception described on IRCC’s eligibility list).

2) Your employer submits the offer in the Employer Portal (code C16)

Before you can apply, IRCC says your employer must submit an offer of employment through the Employer Portal sign-in using the LMIA exemption code C16 for Mobilité Francophone and pay the employer compliance fee (IRCC lists the fee as $230 on the Francophone Mobility pages). Your employer then gives you the 7-digit offer of employment number you need for your application.

For broader context, IRCC explains that under the IMP, employers generally submit an offer and pay the compliance fee before the worker applies on the how to hire under IMP page.

3) You apply online with your documents (including French proof)

IRCC’s application instructions walk you through starting an online work permit application and generating your personalized document checklist. You’ll upload the required documents, including:

• Your job offer details and the employer’s offer of employment number.
• Your French proof showing NCLC 5+ in speaking and listening (test results or qualifying French education documents).
• Any other documents requested in your personalized checklist.

4) Make sure you still meet the general work permit rules

Even if you meet Francophone Mobility’s special requirements, you must still meet the work permit eligibility requirements that apply to all applicants.

How to Study for NCLC 5: A Practical French Plan

Because Francophone Mobility focuses on speaking and listening, your study time should match the requirement. Here’s a structured plan you can adapt (even if you’re busy with school or work):

Weekly targets (minimum effective plan)

• Listening: 30–45 minutes/day, 5 days/week (short, repeated audio beats long passive listening).
• Speaking: 20–30 minutes/day, 5 days/week (record yourself and correct; conversation practice is best).
• Test-format practice: 1–2 sessions/week using official materials (so the exam feels familiar).

What to do in your speaking sessions

• Monologue drills: pick a simple topic (work tasks, your studies, a problem you solved) and speak for 60–90 seconds without stopping.
• Repair strategies: practice phrases like “Je veux dire…”, “Comment dire…”, “Pouvez-vous répéter ?” so you don’t freeze under pressure.
• Role-play: simulate workplace scenarios (asking for clarification, giving an update, scheduling).

What to do in your listening sessions

• First pass: listen for the main idea; don’t pause.
• Second pass: replay and write 5–8 key words you heard.
• Third pass: answer “who/what/when/where/why” out loud in French.

Common mistakes that cause delays or refusals

• Planning to work in Quebec: Francophone Mobility is specifically for work outside Quebec, so make sure your destination and job location match the program rules on IRCC’s eligibility section.
• Missing or wrong Employer Portal steps: if the employer hasn’t submitted the offer properly (code C16) and provided the offer number, your application can’t be built correctly. Employers should follow IRCC’s how to hire instructions.
• Uploading the wrong language proof: IRCC expects proof of speaking and listening at NCLC 5+ (or acceptable French education documents). Follow the “Submit proof of language ability” instructions on the Francophone Mobility checklist guidance.
• Confusing reading/writing requirements: for this LMIA exemption, IRCC states you don’t need to prove French reading/writing. Don’t spend most of your study time there unless you need it for other goals (like permanent residence pathways later).
• Using the wrong score chart: TEF Canada score ranges can vary depending on when you took the test. Always verify your score with IRCC’s official NCLC conversion tables.

Bottom line

Often, getting the job offer is the hard part—don't let the language requirement stop you at the finish line. NCLC 5 is an achievable intermediate goal, especially since you only need to prove Speaking and Listening.

If you want a simple goal to remember: build confident, consistent French speaking and listening, then prove it with documents IRCC accepts.

Recommended Reading

• TEF Canada Guide (2025)
• TEF vs TCF: Which should you choose?
• NCLC 5 vs NCLC 7 Requirements