Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is set to accept nearly 700 more applications through its Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program, aimed at creating a pathway for international students to transition from study to permanent residence (PR).
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This increase raises the total number of applications IRCC will accept under the FMCSP to 2,970, up from 2,300 in the previous year.
The application period for the FMCSP will run from August 26, 2025, to August 25, 2026.
Key Features of the FMCSP
One of the main advantages of the FMCSP is its relaxed French language requirements. To qualify, applicants need only a level 5 proficiency in French, based on Canada’s Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). This is significantly lower than the level 7 required for Express Entry’s category-based draws.
Under the FMCSP, eligible Francophone students who are accepted into designated programs at approved Canadian institutions can receive expedited study permits. After completing their studies, these students can then apply for permanent residence through a dedicated PR pathway.
In addition, immediate family members of FMCSP applicants are also eligible for PR through the same process.
Moreover, once they apply for PR, both the student and their immediate family members may be eligible for open work permits (OWPs), enabling them to work for most employers and industries while awaiting their PR decision.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
To apply under the FMCSP, international students must meet the following criteria:
- Submit a study permit application before arriving in Canada.
- Be a citizen of an eligible country within l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), from a specific region (see list of eligible countries below).
- Have received a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) participating in the FMCSP that:
- Confirms enrollment in a full-time, postsecondary program (over two years) taught primarily in French (more than 50% of courses in French).
- States that the student is applying under the FMCSP and that the program leads to a diploma or degree.
- Provide French language test results (minimum score of 5 in each of the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, based on NCLC).
- Show proof of sufficient funds, covering not only tuition and travel costs but also at least 75% of the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the municipality where the DLI’s main campus is located.
- Be admissible to Canada, with no issues related to the applicant or their family members.
Eligible Countries
- Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia.
- Middle East: Egypt, Lebanon.
- Americas: Haiti, Dominica, Saint Lucia.
Application Process
The process for applying through the FMCSP varies depending on the applicant’s country of origin. To ensure they follow the correct steps, applicants should:
- Visit the IRCC’s “How to Apply” website for the FMCSP and select their country of application.
- Indicate if they are applying alone or with an accompanying family member applying for a work permit.
- Based on the applicant’s responses, the website will generate a customized checklist of required documents, including application forms, academic documents, proof of funds, and other essential paperwork.
- Once all documents are gathered, applicants must upload them to their IRCC secure account, ensuring to include French language test results in the “Client information” section under “Optional documents.”
Important: When submitting the application, students must answer questions correctly to specify they are applying under the FMCSP:
- If applying alone: When asked, “Do you have a provincial or territorial attestation letter?”, the answer should be “Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter.”
- If applying with a family member: When asked, “Which exception do you qualify for?”, the response should be “I am an applicant who meets another exception listed on the IRCC website.”
Why is IRCC Increasing Its Intake for the FMCSP?
The increase in intake for the FMCSP is part of IRCC’s broader effort to support the growth of francophone communities outside Quebec. The Canadian government has set ambitious targets for francophone immigration, with the aim of reversing the decline of French-speaking populations outside Quebec.
To achieve this, IRCC has introduced several initiatives, including:
- Express Entry’s French language proficiency category
- The Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative
- The FMCSP
Through these efforts, IRCC plans to allocate 9.5% of its immigrant landings in 2026 to francophone immigrants outside of Quebec, in alignment with the department’s Policy on Francophone Immigration.
This expansion of the FMCSP aligns with IRCC’s goal to bolster the demographic weight of French speakers outside Quebec and ensure the vitality of francophone communities across Canada.
