French Language Requirements

Requirement for Work Permit

Knowledge of French is not required to obtain an initial work permit to work in Quebec, nor is it, at this time, required to renew a work permit.

Starting in December 2028, a beginner level of oral French will be required after 3 years in Quebec to obtain a work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and Certificat d’acception du Québec (CAQ). 

• The requirement will only apply after 3 years in Quebec as a temporary foreign worker on a work permit. Time spent in Quebec as a student or a visitor will not count towards the 3 years of residence. 

• The minimum language level will be beginner (level 4) oral expression and comprehension.  

• There is no written component. 

• Though for now only targeting LMIA-based work permits, French language requirements may be extended to other types of work permits.  

For more information, please refer to Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration's website or contact your Faculty's  immigration advisor.  

Requirement for Permanent Residence

Almost all programs for permanent selection by Quebec require knowledge of French (oral and written proficiencies). Spouses can be required to have a beginner level of spoken French. 

The Stream 4 – Exceptional Talent of the Skilled Workers Selection Program, open to research chair holders and university professors, does not require knowledge of French, though it may be an invitation factor.  

There are also no language requirements to sponsor a spouse or another eligible family member.  

Please refer to Permanent Residence for an overview of the different programs. 

Resources on Campus

The Mon Français Program provides French language courses for international tenure-stream and ranked CAS colleagues. Spouses of eligible faculty members are also welcome and encouraged to participate. The goal of the program is to help new faculty become conversant in French in order to facilitate engagement with the broader community in Montréal and in Québec, and to prepare them for the Test d'évaluation du français adapté pour le Québec (TEFAQ). McGill will reimburse the TEFAQ fees for eligible faculty members and their spouses.

McGill also has various French-language instruction options to suit the needs of current students and employees. For full information, please refer to Learn French, French at Work Program and Language Learning Guide.

Schooling in French for Accompanying Children

Visit the McGill Family Care website for general information about access to English schools, the French “Welcome Class”, and mandatory schooling in French.