French Language Proficiency: A different opportunity in Canada
(3-4 min estimated read time)
If there’s one thing the latest draws have shown, it’s that Canada is seriously valuing French language proficiency.
The recent 6,000 invitations issued under French-language streams caught our attention, not just because of the volume, but because of the low CRS thresholds, which are noticeably below what we see in regular draws.
For us, this signal is a clear message: being French-proficient opens doors in ways that aren’t always obvious in the mainstream Express Entry system. Learning and improving French can create unexpected advantages, from increased CRS points to eligibility for provincial programs. For students, temporary workers, and international graduates, developing your French language skills can open pathways that many English-only applicants may not even know exist.
OINP French Mobility Stream
One of the paths we find most interesting for students and workers without a PGWP is the OINP French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream. This provincial nomination targets French-speaking candidates in the Express Entry pool, rewarding bilingual skills with lower CRS thresholds than the regular draws.
To qualify, you need:
- A profile in Express Entry
- French proficiency (usually CLB 7)
- English proficiency (minimum CLB 6)
- Relevant skilled work experience and education
- The intention to live in Ontario.
Once nominated, you receive +600 CRS points, which almost guarantees an ITA for permanent residence.
From our perspective, this is a smart route for anyone looking to leverage French skills, especially students or temporary workers who don’t have a PGWP yet.
Open Work Permit (French Mobility)
Another option we see as highly strategic is the French Mobility Open Work Permit (OWP). Unlike the LMIA route, this doesn’t require a Labour Market Impact Assessment. You only need:
- A job offer from a Canadian employer
- French proficiency, usually CLB 5 or higher
- Legal status in Canada, if applying from inside the country
This route is a game-changer for students or temporary workers without a PGWP. It allows you to start working in Canada, gain valuable Canadian experience, and position yourself for permanent residence under the French-speaking streams.
From our perspective, it’s an underutilized path that takes advantage of Canada’s growing focus on francophone talent, and it can be faster and more accessible than the traditional LMIA-dependent work permits.
Case scenario – students without PGWP
Maria is finishing her career college in Montreal. She doesn’t have a PGWP and worries about LMIA jobs.
By leveraging her French skills, she applies under the OINP French mobility and secures an open work permit with a job offer.
Within months, she gains Canadian experience and positions herself for PR.
Bringing it to Northia
At Northia, we see this growing focus on French as a real strategic advantage, not just a trend. Francophone draws, provincial nominations, and mobility work permits are reshaping how candidates can build their future in Canada, especially those who don’t follow the traditional PGWP path.
Our role is to help you connect the dots. We assess your French and English levels, education, work history, and current status in Canada to identify which Francophone pathways actually make sense for your profile. For some clients, that means entering the Express Entry pool with a clear provincial nomination strategy. For others, it’s securing a French Mobility Open Work Permit to gain Canadian experience without relying on an LMIA.
We also plan ahead. Immigration policies evolve, CRS cut-offs fluctuate, and provincial priorities change. That’s why we don’t work with shortcuts, but with solid, adaptable strategies that grow with your profile over time.
If you have French skills, even if you’re not fluent yet, there may be opportunities you haven’t considered. At Northia, we help you turn language into leverage, and leverage into permanent residence.
SOURCES:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-express-entry-french-speaking-skilled-worker-stream?
