Extend Your Stay in Canada: LMIA-Exempt and Work Permit Options Most Applicants Miss

Canada continues to introduce flexible and accessible immigration pathways for temporary residents who wish to extend their stay, continue working, and move closer to permanent residence (PR).

Two powerful — yet often overlooked — options include:

• The Francophone Mobility Work Permit (LMIA-Exempt)

• Concurrent processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

These pathways can be life-changing for international students, skilled workers, and foreign professionals already in Canada who are facing work permit expiry or limited CRS scores.

Let’s break them down clearly ????

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Why Extending Your Legal Status in Canada Matters

Maintaining valid status in Canada is crucial because it allows you to:

• Continue working legally

• Gain Canadian work experience for Express Entry

• Improve eligibility under Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

• Stay eligible for future PR pathways like CEC, AIP, RCIP, and Francophone streams

Many applicants assume that an LMIA is the only solution — but that’s not always true.

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Francophone Mobility Work Permit (FMWP): An LMIA-Exempt Opportunity

The Francophone Mobility Work Permit (FMWP) is one of the most accessible Canadian work permits available today — especially for applicants with basic to intermediate French skills.

???? What Makes the FMWP Unique?

• ✅ No LMIA required

• ✅ Open to applicants inside or outside Canada

• ✅ Accepts limited French proficiency

• ✅ Job offers available in almost all occupations

• ✅ Supports long-term PR planning

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Eligibility Requirements for Francophone Mobility

To qualify, applicants must meet the following conditions:

✔ Intent to Live Outside Quebec

You must plan to work in any province or territory except Quebec.

✔ French Language Ability (Lower Than Most Programs)

You need NCLC Level 5 in:

• Speaking

• Listening

Reading and writing are not required.

✔ Accepted Proof of French Ability

You can prove French through:

• Approved French language test results

• A post-secondary diploma or transcript in French

• A letter confirming education completed in French

This flexibility makes the program extremely attractive.

✔ Valid Job Offer

• Any TEER category (0–5) is acceptable

• Primary agriculture TEER 4–5 roles are excluded

Employer Responsibilities Under FMWP

Before you apply, your employer must:

• Submit a job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal

• Use LMIA exemption code C16 (Mobilité Francophone)

• Pay the $230 employer compliance fee

• Provide you with the 7-digit offer of employment number

Once this is done, you can proceed with your work permit application.

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Real-Life Use Case: Who Can Benefit?

International Student

A graduate working in Ontario with basic French studied during school can secure an LMIA-exempt work permit — helping them gain Canadian experience for Express Entry CEC.

 Healthcare Worker

A nurse or personal support worker with conversational French can extend their stay while preparing for PNP healthcare streams.

IT or Skilled Worker

A tech professional whose PGWP is expiring can avoid LMIA delays and continue employment legally.

How to Apply for the Francophone Mobility Work Permit

Step 1: Create or log into your IRCC account

Step 2: Start a new work permit application

Step 3: Answer eligibility questions based on your location

• Inside Canada → employer-specific LMIA-exempt permit

• Outside Canada → LMIA-type selected (system routing only)

Step 4: Complete online forms

Step 5: Upload documents and French proof

Step 6: Pay the $155 processing fee and submit

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Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): Concurrent Processing Option

Another valuable option exists for workers whose permits are about to expire.

What Is Concurrent Processing?

Normally, a worker must wait for a positive LMIA before applying for a work permit.

However, under IRCC’s special measures:

You may apply for a work permit while the LMIA is still being processed.

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✅ Eligibility for Concurrent Processing

You may qualify if:

• Your current work permit expires in two weeks or less

• Your employer has already submitted the LMIA application

• The LMIA was filed with reasonable lead time

Once applied, you receive maintained status, allowing you to continue working legally while IRCC processes your file.

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⏳ Important 60-Day Rule

After submitting your work permit:

• IRCC allows 60 days to upload proof of a positive or neutral LMIA

• Failure to submit within this timeframe may result in refusal

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⚠️ Low-Wage LMIA Moratorium: What You Must Know

Canada currently restricts LMIA approvals under the low-wage stream in regions with unemployment rates of 6% or higher.

Affected cities include:

• Toronto

• Brampton

• Vancouver

• Calgary

• Edmonton

• Ottawa

• Hamilton

• Kitchener-Waterloo

• Windsor

• London

• Several BC and Alberta regions

???? High-wage positions are not affected by this moratorium.

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???? Wage Threshold Requirements

To qualify under the high-wage stream, employers must offer:

• The provincial wage threshold or

• The wage paid to similar employees in the same role

The offered wage must also meet or exceed Job Bank prevailing wages under the NOC code.

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How These Work Permits Support Permanent Residence

Both options can significantly strengthen PR eligibility through:

• Express Entry – Canadian Experience Class

• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

• Francophone immigration streams

• Employer-driven PR pathways

Maintaining continuous work status often makes the difference between approval and refusal.

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Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Your Status Expire

Many applicants lose valuable time — and opportunities — simply because they are unaware of these options.

Whether you are:

• An international graduate

• A skilled worker

• A healthcare professional

• Or someone struggling with LMIA delays

Canada still offers solutions — if you apply strategically.

With the right work permit pathway, you can legally extend your stay, strengthen your profile, and move one step closer to Canadian permanent residence.

Your PR journey doesn’t end with a work permit expiry — it evolves with the right guidance.