Written by Gabriela Estrada

And how do you apply? is the question most often repeated by our language school users who already have a minimum conversational level of French when they come across this valuable information, which since 2023 began to gain momentum in Canadian immigration: speaking French for the work visa without LMIA. The truth is that even we are excited to read again and again what this golden opportunity represents that exempts you from processing such a mandatory step in the country as the LMIA. Continue reading this article to learn what the LMIA is and how to apply for a work visa if you are already a French speaker.

What is LMIA?

LMIA stands for labor market impact assessmentThis is a document that the foreigner with a job offer must request from the company interested in hiring him/her, and the company, in turn, must request this document from the Canadian government in order to be authorized to hire him/her. Almost literally, the foreigner explains to his employer that he needs a LMIA to be able to work in his company; many times the employers themselves are not aware of what this procedure is, that is why it is important not only to know what it is, but also why the government asks for it, so he will have solid arguments to convince the employer of this step.

Why is the Government of Canada requesting an LMIA?

Canada protects its native population from the typical onslaughts of immigration mobilization and prevents foreigners from taking jobs that could easily belong to Canadians themselves, which is why in most cases it is necessary to demonstrate an employer's need for labor to fill a vacancy in their company, Therefore, the shortage of qualified labor for a job is exactly what must be notified to the government in order to make an assessment of the impact on the labor market and, after confirming the need, the government delivers the authorization document to the company, i.e., the LMIA.

This explanation makes it look simple, but as with any procedure, there are waiting times and so on, including the risk that the potential employer may prefer to skip this step and give the job to someone who is exempt from this requirement. 

This is where the French-speaking foreigner who speaks French at a conversational or B4 level comes into play.

You already speak French, what plan applies to the work visa without LMIA?

Now that you know what the LMIA is, we can explain which plan applies to the visa without having to go through this process. Read in detail what you need to know.

Francophone Mobility Plan/Mobilité francophone

This is the immigration plan that takes you into account if you already speak French. Basically, to apply you must:

• To aspire to a job and place of residence outside Quebec, this province does not count for French-speaking mobility.
• Get a job offer in your field or area of work in any of the TEER/NOC categories, except agriculture. This step involves sitting down to search for jobs on Canadian job portals. Explore our job board.

• Demonstrate a minimum level of French CLB 5, i.e. a command of the language on a conversational level, listening and speaking. To do so, take the TEF or TFC French test. Planeta Immiland can prepare you for these tests, learn more here.
• Obtain LMIA exemption. Once the job offer is obtained, the foreigner must contact his/her employer and explain that he/she must validate it in the Employer portal, under the C16 code, in order to obtain the LMIA exemption, which will be required to apply for the work permit. At Immiland, we can help you negotiate the labor terms of your offer, learn more here.
• Apply to the Canadian government for a work permit. Enter the official IRCC website here.
• To apply for a work visa.

We hope that the description of these steps for your application for a work visa through the French-speaking mobility scheme will be to your liking and benefit. If you need to improve your French language skills to reach the level required by this French-speaking mobility plan, do not hesitate to contact us. At Planeta Immiland, we can help you to understand the French language with a focus on the Mobilité Francophone and guide you to the successful presentation of the TEF and TCF international recognition tests.

We will be happy to help you, contact us here.

With love,

Planet Immiland