Reference francisation: Francisation Québec free courses, how to apply

The reference documents behind the courses are covered below. For the wider picture, see Learn French in Canada, Learn French for free and TCF Québec.

Source: Québec.ca, application page dated 22 June 2026, with the other pages listed under Sources.

What do you need to apply, by route?

Each route asks for a different document, and each uses its own platform. The table shows what the pages say.

Several platforms are French only [6][7]. Each page links to its own button, so start from the Québec.ca page for your route.

What is a reference francisation number and where do you find it?

It is your individual reference number from the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI). For the fully online course, the page says it is on a CSQ, a CAQ or any other personal communication sent by the MIFI [1]. The part-time page adds the asylum claimant’s document, and an IRCC acknowledgement of an asylum claim or an interview notice [5].

If you have no number, the fully online page tells you to fill in the contact form, choose the subject “Programmes de francisation” and say you have no number [1]. It adds that the Registraire - Francisation en ligne (FEL) will contact you [1].

What is Francisation Québec?

Francisation Québec is the government’s single access point for French-learning services. Québec.ca names three groups it serves: adults living in Québec (16 and over), people thinking of settling there, and workers in Québec businesses [3]. Since 1 June 2023 the province’s French course offer has been grouped under it, within the MIFI [3].

The page lists several types of free courses, general and job-specific, full-time and part-time, in person, at a distance or online [3]. It says financial aid may be offered, depending on the format [3]. Québec.ca’s Learn French page says the free courses are for people 16 and older living in Québec who are not subject to mandatory school attendance, and for people planning to settle there [2].

What courses does Québec.ca list?

The Learn French page lists four formats for people living in Québec.

All four are listed for persons 16 or older at registration and living in Québec [2]. The page says financial assistance is available to immigrants under certain conditions for full-time, part-time and specialized courses [2]. These are course formats, not a promise about how far you will get.

Who can take the fully online courses?

Immigrants living in Québec can, if they were born outside Canada, are 16 or older, and are in one of the listed situations [4]. The situations include Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, an authorization to apply on site for permanent residency, a valid CSQ or CAQ, a temporary residence permit for work, studies or humanitarian or public interest reasons, or an asylum application [4]. Spouses and dependent children may also apply if they are at least 16 and live in Québec [4].

Does an Arrima account work for Francisation Québec?

Yes, for the part-time application: the page says that if you have an Arrima account, you must use the same credentials to log in to the “Apprendre le français” platform [5]. It does not say that Arrima replaces the reference number or the proof of status [5]. The steps are to create or log in to an account, click “Créer un nouveau dossier”, choose the part-time course for immigrants and fill in the form, which you can save and finish later [5].

How long until a course starts?

For a first part-time application, the page says courses generally start within 70 working days, counted from the working day after the MIFI receives your form [5]. It also says your course could start before that [5]. For people who would rather start now, it points to a fully online course from the intermediate stage [5].

The Canadian-born full-time page says you must be available Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. when you apply, and that a course can start at any time of the year [7].

Lingwell, a French-learning app that is not public yet, has a waitlist.

What are the Francisation Québec reference documents?

They are three documents that Francisation Québec’s general French courses rest on, and Québec.ca calls them a common reference for teaching adults whose first language is not French and for assessing their skills [8]. The first is the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français. It has three stages, each with four levels: beginner (1 to 4), intermediate (5 to 8) and advanced (9 to 12) [8]. Each level describes listening, speaking, reading and writing [8].

The other two are programmes-cadres. The main one covers levels 1 to 8 for schooled adult immigrants, and an adapted one covers adults with little schooling or literacy, at levels 1 to 4 in speaking and listening and 1 to 3 in reading and writing [8]. To see how test scores map onto the scale, read TCF Québec.

What is the Références francisation platform?

Références francisation is a separate site from the course applications above, so do not confuse it with your reference number. Its own home page says the Government of Québec developed it to offer tools, resources and activities that make learning French easier, notably the French used in Québec in various fields of work [9]. It says the content is practical, in open access and meant for learning on your own, and that teachers can use it in class [9].

The home page lists material by field, for learning on your own or in a course. The fields include la cuisine (cooking) and restaurant work, accounting, information technology, la santé (health) and nursing [9]. It also lists a section titled “Test de classement de Francisation Québec” [9]. This page did not open that section, so read it there before you rely on it.

What French words come up when you apply?

The Québec.ca pages for these routes are mostly in French. Tap a word to hear it.

• apprendre: to learn; the admission platform is called “Apprendre le français” [5].
• le formulaire: the form; the part-time application can be saved and finished later [5].
• le numéro: the number, as in your individual reference number [1].
• le niveau: the level; the Échelle québécoise runs from level 1 to level 12 [8].
• un emploi: a job; specialized courses are organized by field of employment [2].
• le cours: the course [2].

Try the quick check.

Common mistakes

• Applying without your reference number. The online and part-time pages ask for it or for proof of status [1][5]. Look on your CSQ, CAQ or other MIFI communications first.
• Treating every route as the same form. The documents and platforms differ between the online, part-time and Canadian-born routes [1][5][7].
• Waiting for a start date that has not passed. The 70 working days apply to a first part-time application and are a general figure [5].
• Assuming “free” removes every condition. The pages set age, residence and status conditions [2][4].
• Relying on this page as current. Québec.ca pages change. Check each official page’s date against the date at the top of this one.

Sources