Learn French. Stay in Canada
Can’t Find Local Talent? Canada’s Francophone Mobility Work Permit Can Fill Your Role Beyond Immigration
By Natasha Antionette Cooke
Global Talent Acquisition Leader | Connect with me on LinkedIn
🌍 The Canadian Talent Crunch and a Francophone Solution
Canada’s labour market is under immense pressure, with talent shortages affecting nearly every sector. Employers across the country, from Quebec to British Columbia, are struggling to find local candidates who meet the needs of skilled roles outlined in the
National Occupational Classification (NOC). As recruitment timelines drag and key roles go unfilled,
FillaRole
steps in with cutting-edge talent-matching tools and strategies that ensure organizations don’t just hire faster—they hire smarter.
One often-overlooked but highly effective solution to this crisis is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit. Designed to facilitate the hiring of
French-speaking
foreign nationals outside of Quebec, this immigration program supports employers looking to recruit skilled talent without going through a
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
🙌 What Is the Francophone Mobility Work Permit?
The
Francophone Mobility Program
is part of Canada’s
International Mobility Program, offering an
LMIA exemption
under exemption code C16. It allows
Canadian employers
to hire
foreign workers who have
French language proficiency, even if the job doesn't require French.
This
closed work permit
offers flexible employment options for
eligible foreign nationals
and provides a faster, smoother
work permit application
process for both the employer and employee. It’s especially advantageous for employers outside Quebec, helping them tap into international
Francophone communities
with strong skills and a desire to contribute to Canada’s economic growth.
💼 Why It Matters for Employers
For organizations using platforms like
FillaRole
to streamline hiring and fill urgent roles, the Francophone Mobility Work Permit offers an additional advantage. By leveraging this pathway,
Canadian employers
can bypass the often-lengthy LMIA process, reduce
processing times, and still maintain compliance through the
Employer Portal.
Employers simply submit an
offer of employment, pay the
employer compliance fee, and ensure the candidate meets
eligibility requirements, including demonstrating French language ability via
TCF,
TEF, or other approved tests aligning with
NCLC (Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens)
scores.
🔍 Eligibility Requirements and Application Process
To qualify for the Francophone Mobility Program:
- The job offer must be for a skilled worker position (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 according to the NOC).
- The foreign national must plan to work in a province or territory outside Quebec.
- The applicant must demonstrate French language proficiency (CLB/NCLC level 5 or higher).
- The role must support the worker's path to permanent residence under federal or PNP immigration programs.
✈️ A Gateway to Permanent Residency
The Francophone Mobility Work Permit is more than just a quick fix for staffing shortages. It’s a stepping stone to
permanent residence. Workers employed under this program often become eligible to apply for
Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), or other pathways that recognize their
work experience
and language abilities.
This is particularly beneficial for employers using
FillaRole
to build a long-term talent strategy. By recruiting
French speakers
under Mobilité Francophone, you’re investing in team members who are more likely to stay, integrate, and grow with your organization.
🎓 Family and Partner Inclusion
Another bonus? The Francophone Mobility Program allows applicants to include
dependent children
and a
common-law partner
or spouse in their application. Spouses may be eligible for an
open work permit, while children can receive
study permits to access Canadian education. This family-friendly aspect enhances
job satisfaction
and strengthens worker retention.
🤖 How FillaRole Helps You Recruit Francophone Talent
Navigating
Canada immigration
rules can be complex. That’s why
FillaRole
offers tools and resources tailored to help
Canadian employers
identify candidates who meet both skill-level and language test criteria. With access to a growing international database, FillaRole filters applicants based on
language skills,
work experience, and
NOC
code compatibility.
Additionally, the platform connects you with certified Registered Canadian Immigration consultant (RCIC) who can advise on
work permit processing, application process
support, and post-hire integration strategies.
🏢 Going Beyond Quebec: Serving Francophone Communities Nationwide
Contrary to popular belief, Francophone talent isn’t limited to Quebec. Canada has vibrant
Francophone communities
in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Alberta. Mobilité Francophone is designed to spread
French language
influence across the nation.
Whether your company is based in tech-friendly Toronto or in a rural town with limited access to skilled labour, this program offers an underutilized solution. With FillaRole, you can reach this diverse talent pool and match with candidates who are both qualified and ready to relocate.
⚡ The FillaRole Advantage: From Search to Success
Here’s how
FillaRole
enhances your hiring journey:
- Real-time matching with pre-vetted Francophone candidates
- Smart filtering based on NOC, CLB/NCLC scores, and TEER
- Employer compliance tracking for IRCC guidelines
- Access to immigration support via certified partners
- End-to-end support for job offer documentation and work permit application steps
From sourcing to onboarding, FillaRole simplifies the process—so you can focus on growing your team, not navigating bureaucracy.
🔹 Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait for Talent to Come to You
Canada’s
skilled workers
shortage isn’t going away anytime soon. But thanks to innovative immigration programs like the
Francophone Mobility Work Permit and platforms like
FillaRole, employers have access to high-potential international talent who are ready to contribute, integrate, and thrive.
So if you can’t find local talent, don’t wait. Go global. Think Francophone. And let FillaRole help you fill your role—faster, smarter, and beyond borders.
👤 About the Author
Natasha Antionette Cooke is a global Talent Acquisition Leader with a passion for helping businesses solve hiring challenges through strategic innovation and human-centered design. With a background in international recruitment and digital transformation, Natasha empowers employers to navigate complex talent markets using tools like
FillaRole
and sustainable immigration strategies.
Refuse to process regions in Canada are affecting nearly all metropolitan areas in Canada, and more regional changes were announced on October 10th. The regions that are still available to keep your trained and employed foreign workers or obtain new if local people are not available are: BC - Victoria Saskatchewan - Saskatoon Ontario - Thunder Bay New: Peterborough Quebec - Drummondville, Trois-Rivieres, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Saguenay PEI - Entire province The following regions, before October 10th, qualified and no longer qualify to keep their foreign workers in low-wage positions: BC - Kelowna Alberta - Red Deer, Lethbridge Saskatchewan - Regina Manitoba - Winnipeg Ontario - Sudbury, Guelph All other metropolitan cities in Canada do not qualify to keep their foreign workers in low-wage positions. The other occupations businesses qualify to keep their workers are: Rural communities outside of the metropolitan areas. Health care workers Care home workers Construction workers Food Manufacturing Seasonal businesses requiring workers for 120 or 270 days or less Simplify Hiring, Stay Compliant Canada’s hiring landscape is shifting quickly, with refuse-to-process regions expanding, new unemployment data set to be released in October, and employers under pressure to act fast. Fill a Role was built to give you an advantage. If you’re an employer, this means fewer wasted hours and faster hires. If you’re a job seeker, it means your application rises to the top where employers can see it. Don’t wait until the next round of immigration changes catches you off guard. Start posting with Fill a Role today.
Canada’s Staffing Challenges Saskatchewan-built platform aims to reduce agency nurse reliance and fill critical roles with permanent hires. Saskatchewan, Canada – August 20, 2025 – FillaRole has officially launched FillaRole Health, a Saskatchewan-built, AI hiring and onboarding platform, designed for Canada’s healthcare sector. It gives busy HR teams one centralized tool to post jobs, track applicants, manage interviews and onboard hires, without the spreadsheet chaos. The platform arrives at a crucial moment: Saskatchewan alone spent over $70 million on contract nurses in 2024, nearly triple the cost just two years ago. In Nova Scotia, the 2024 bill hit $141.7 million despite policy changes, while BC and Quebec are each spending over $1.5 billion annually on agency staffing. The physician shortage is just as troubling. Manitoba recently contracted a consultant $5.25 million to recruit 150 physicians and only two were hired. Across Canada, billions are being diverted to temporary and stop-gap staffing initiatives. “We’re watching the healthcare system drown in contract costs,” said Keli Propp, CEO of FillaRole. “FillaRole Health offers a long-term solution: permanent hires, both local and international, without the 40% premium in wage costs that health authorities are paying right now. You can curb it now or let the bill keep climbing.” To strengthen their presence in the Canadian healthcare space, FillaRole has joined the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network, which is dedicated to accelerating the adoption of Canadian technology in healthcare. Through this collaboration, FillaRole gains access to new tools, strategic insights, and opportunities that drive meaningful change with this solution for patients, providers, and communities across Canada. All-in-One Platform Purpose-Built for Healthcare FillaRole Health combines essential hiring systems into one streamlined pl atform: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) : AI-powered job descriptions, resume scraping and one-click interview invites. Immigration & Compliance Software : Built-in LMIA-exempt tracking, international recruitment support and permit workflows. T alent Pool Building : Advertise positions worldwide, funnelling applicants into one centralized pool. Track their engagement to spot the most promising candidates. Additional features include automated posting to 19+ job boards, intelligent applicant ranking, customizable document templates, real human support and performance reports within 48 hours. All of which are securely hosted on Canadian servers. Designed for the Frontlines of Care FillaRole Health is especially suited for: Long-term care homes Private clinics and pharmacies Mental health and allied health practices Regional health authorities Medical recruiters supporting multiple locations The platform prioritizes local hires first, automatically filtering candidates by licensing and credentials, while tracking documentation and renewal dates. All but eliminating those dreaded back-and-forth email chains. The Time to Fix Healthcare Hiring Is Now FillaRole’s core platform already supports 100,000+ users and nearly 40,000 applicants across Canada and was selected earlier this year for VentureLAB’s Accelerated Growth Program. With the launch of FillaRole Health by a Canadian team with decades of experience in HR technology and immigration workflows, the company brings its proven hiring engine directly to Canada’s most urgent frontline staffing crisis. “You shouldn’t need six tools and an immigration lawyer to fill one role,” added Propp. “FillaRole Health makes hiring healthcare workers fast and finally affordable again.” To learn more about FillaRole Health or the CAN Health Membership Program, visit: www.fillarole.ca/healthcare About FillaRole FillaRole is an AI-powered hiring platform developed to simplify employment for Canadian businesses. By automating job postings and applicant sorting, FillaRole enables employers to save time, improve efficiency, and focus on hiring the right talent. Proudly Canadian, FillaRole supports local and international hiring with expert guidance every step of the way. Media Contact: Keli Propp CEO, FillaRole Email: kpropp@fillarole.ca Phone: 306-805-0113