After selection

Francisation Québec: learning French for free, before and after you arrive

Québec's free French courses: online from abroad, then full-time or part-time once you live in Québec. Who is eligible and how to register.

Published on November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

French matters at every stage of an immigration project in Québec: it counts in selection, then in daily life and at work. The Government of Québec offers several ways to learn it free of charge, some of them before you even arrive. These services are handled by Francisation Québec, within the Ministère de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (MII, formerly MIFI). Here is the offer described on Québec.ca as of November 5, 2026.

Who can take the free courses?

According to Québec.ca, government French courses are free for anyone aged 16 or older who lives in Québec and is no longer subject to compulsory school attendance. The offer also covers people who plan to settle in Québec. Financial assistance may be available under certain conditions.

The exact conditions depend on the type of course and on where you live.

Before you arrive: two options

1. Online courses for people selected by Québec

These are for you if you live abroad and hold a valid CSQ or CAQ.

Free, but with no financial assistance.
Two formats: tutored courses (a resource person leads the online classes and corrects your work) or self-study (you work on your own and are assessed automatically along the way).
Levels: intermediate and advanced with a tutor; intermediate and specialized job-field modules in self-study. The modules cover four fields: administration, law and business; engineering and applied sciences; health and nursing; tourism and commerce.
Pace: about six hours a week, on your own schedule.
Equipment: a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone.

To register, create an account on the Francisation en ligne platform (offered in French only) using your individual reference number, which appears on your CSQ, your CAQ or another message from the ministry. You will then get an email telling you either that you are accepted right away (if your level is already known) or that you need to take a placement test. Be careful: being absent for more than 16 days in a row deactivates your access, which you can ask the ministry to restore.

2. Partner language schools

Schools around the world have a partnership with the Government of Québec. You pay for these courses, but part of the cost can be refunded once you live in Québec:

up to CAD $1,800 per person, with only one refund each;
only for group courses (in class or remote), taken and completed abroad, within three years before you obtained your CSQ or first CAQ, or between that date and your arrival;
you must have been 16 or older when you enrolled, the course must fall within a period covered by the school's partnership, and you must live in Québec when you apply;
advanced C-level courses of the Common European Framework of Reference are not eligible;
your spouse and dependent children aged 16 or older can also benefit.

The claim is done in two stages. Before leaving, have the school fill in and sign the refund form, along with the certificate, transcript and receipt for each course. Once in Québec, fill in your part and mail the file within two years of your arrival. If the file is complete, the refund is paid within two months.

These schools also welcome people who are not selected yet and want to improve their French for their project. A partial refund is still possible if they later obtain a CSQ or CAQ and meet the same conditions.

Once in Québec: full-time, part-time or online

For courses aimed at immigrants, you must have been born outside Canada, be 16 or older and live in Québec. Temporary workers and students can register as long as they respect the conditions of their status; an international student, for example, must be enrolled in a recognized program that remains their main occupation.

Full-time: 25 to 30 hours a week, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., in sessions of about 10 weeks, at beginner and intermediate levels. For a first application, courses generally start within 50 working days.
Part-time: 6, 9, 12, 16 or 20 hours a week, during the day, in the evening or on weekends, in sessions of 10 or 11 weeks. For a first application, courses generally start within 70 working days.
Fully online: at your own pace, from the intermediate level. This is the suggested option if you would rather start right away.

Specialized courses by job field are also offered remotely.

Financial assistance for full-time courses

If you are eligible, you could receive $230 per week to take a full-time course. You apply in the same form as your course registration. This assistance is not available, for example, if you already receive certain benefits (employment insurance, social assistance, parental insurance and others) or if you are an asylum seeker.

Depending on your situation, you may also get:

a childcare refund of up to $25 per training day for each child;
transportation assistance of $25 per week for some people who already receive benefits; it cannot be combined with the $230 and does not apply to remote courses.

These requests must be made within 60 days of the start of the session. Have your Social Insurance Number ready (or, failing that, an ITN or TTN).

How to register, in short

Abroad with a CSQ or CAQ: the Francisation en ligne platform.
In Québec, full-time: the ministry's online admission form, which you can save and finish later.
In Québec, part-time: the Apprendre le français platform, with your Arrima credentials if you have an account.

Note that these platforms are in French only. Your chosen training location or a partner organization can help you fill in the application.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the online courses on my phone?

No. Québec.ca states that a cell phone cannot be used: you need a computer or a tablet.

I am a beginner and still abroad. Where should I start?

The online courses for selected people start at the intermediate level. Partner schools offer levels according to their own programs, including beginner.

Track your file with CSQ Tracker Pro

CSQ Tracker Pro is an independent app, not affiliated with the Government of Québec. Its step-by-step journey tracker can help you keep track of your progress, including your French training. It also offers an estimated PSTQ score simulator, a list of Arrima invitation rounds taken from Québec.ca, chat rooms for candidates invited on the same date (with automatic translation) and a PEQ eligibility checker.

Official sources

Information checked on November 5, 2026. Rules can change: always check Québec.ca before acting.

General information only, not legal advice. CSQ Tracker Pro is independent and is not affiliated with the Government of Québec, the ministère de l’Immigration et de l’Intégration or IRCC. Québec.ca remains the reference for every rule and form.