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This employer-focused guide explains the Francophone Mobility Program (FMP), how it simplifies the process of hiring French-speaking international workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and why it's a game-changer for industries like healthcare, construction, and IT. With insights on eligibility, process, and tips for fast-tracking your hiring, this blog helps Canadian businesses tap into a world of untapped bilingual talent.
📚 Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is the Francophone Mobility Program?
- Key Benefits for Employers
- Who Can You Hire Under This Program?
- Step-by-Step Guide for Employers
- Required Documents & Employer Commitments
- Francophone vs. LMIA: Why Employers Prefer FMP
- Real-World Use Cases: Healthcare & Trades
- Common Mistakes Employers Should Avoid
- How to Get Started Today
- Conclusion & Next Steps
✍️ Introduction
Canada’s labour market continues to face talent shortages — especially in healthcare, skilled trades, and technology. But what if there was a fast, cost-effective way to bring qualified international talent into your workforce without the delays and paperwork of an LMIA?
That’s where the Francophone Mobility Program (FMP) comes in. Whether you run a nursing home in Ontario or a construction firm in Alberta, this federal program allows you to hire French-speaking talent from abroad — faster and easier than ever before.
1. What is the Francophone Mobility Program?
The FMP is a federal immigration stream designed to encourage more French-speaking skilled workers to settle and work outside of Quebec. Under this program, eligible candidates can get an employer-specific work permit without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
This simplifies your hiring process and opens doors to international workers who are already trained, often bilingual, and ready to contribute to your business immediately.
2. Key Benefits for Employers
- ✅ No LMIA Required: Skip the time-consuming LMIA application.
- ✅ Faster Hiring: Candidates can get work permits in weeks, not months.
- ✅ Bilingual Talent: Access to French-English professionals across sectors.
- ✅ Program Cost Savings: No advertising or government processing fees like the LMIA process.
- ✅ Retention Advantage: Workers under this stream are eligible to apply for permanent residence, improving long-term retention.
3. Who Can You Hire Under This Program?
You can hire any skilled worker who meets these key criteria:
- Speaks French as their first language or can communicate at a CLB 7+ level in French.
- Has a valid job offer for a position located outside of Quebec.
- Is applying for a job in a skilled occupation (TEER 0–3 under NOC).
📌 Common occupations include:
- Personal Support Workers
- Registered Nurses and Nurse Aides
- Construction Managers
- Welders and Electricians
- Software Developers and IT Technicians
4. Step-by-Step Guide for Employers
Step 1: Find a qualified French-speaking candidate.
Step 2: Issue a formal job offer with job title, wage, location, and duties.
Step 3: Provide an Offer of Employment through the Employer Portal (IMM5802).
Step 4: Pay the employer compliance fee ($230).
Step 5: Share the job offer number with the candidate so they can apply for the work permit.
Step 6: Wait for the candidate to receive approval and travel to Canada.
5. Required Documents & Employer Commitments
- A genuine job offer (full-time, non-seasonal)
- Proof that the role aligns with NOC TEER 0–3
- Willingness to support the candidate for a minimum of 1 year
📎 You’re not required to provide relocation support, but offering assistance helps with faster onboarding and retention.
6. Francophone vs. LMIA: Why Employers Prefer FMP
When it comes to hiring international talent, Canadian employers often weigh the options between the Francophone Mobility Program (FMP) and the traditional Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. One of the most significant advantages of the FMP is the speed. While LMIA applications can take several months to process, the FMP typically results in work permits within just a few weeks, allowing businesses to onboard talent faster and meet urgent staffing needs.
Cost is another major factor. The government processing fee for an FMP work permit is just $230, whereas LMIA applications often exceed $1,000 — not including the cost of mandatory advertising and recruitment campaigns. For many small and medium-sized employers, this can make a big difference in their hiring budget.
In terms of candidate quality, the FMP also offers access to a unique pool of bilingual professionals who are fluent in both French and English. These candidates are particularly valuable in provinces like Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec, where French-language services are in demand. In contrast, the majority of LMIA-based candidates are English-speaking only.
Finally, the process itself is much simpler under the FMP. Employers using the LMIA pathway must navigate a bureaucratic maze of forms, job market assessments, and proof of recruitment efforts. By comparison, the FMP is significantly more streamlined, reducing the administrative burden and allowing employers to focus on selecting the right candidate, rather than wrestling with paperwork.
7. Real-World Use Cases: Healthcare & Trades
Case Study: Ontario Long-Term Care Facility
A care home in Ottawa struggling to hire PSWs used the FMP to bring in 4 French-speaking PSWs from Morocco. The staff integrated seamlessly and even improved client satisfaction among French-speaking residents.
Case Study: Construction Company in Alberta
Faced with delays due to lack of skilled workers, a mid-size firm used the program to hire two electricians and a welder from Senegal. All were working within 2 months.
8. Common Mistakes Employers Should Avoid
- ❌ Offering positions located in Quebec (not allowed under FMP).
- ❌ Not validating the candidate’s French level before issuing the offer.
- ❌ Listing incorrect NOC codes (ensure NOC aligns with TEER 0–3).
- ❌ Forgetting to submit the employer compliance fee and job offer number.
9. How to Get Started Today
- Browse verified francophone talent through BeGlobal’s marketplace
- Book a free consultation to assess job eligibility
- Let us help you issue the offer letter and complete the portal process
- We’ll guide the candidate through every step — from permit to arrival
👉 Schedule a Free Employer Strategy Call
✅ Conclusion
Canada’s workforce needs skilled, bilingual professionals — and the Francophone Mobility Program is the answer for smart employers looking to scale, save, and simplify.
Whether you're in healthcare, skilled trades, or a growing startup, FMP lets you bring in world-class workers without the red tape of LMIA.
Hiring doesn’t have to be hard. Let’s make it simple — and global.
