IRCC Expands Francophone Student Pathway to Permanent Residency

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has increased the number of spots available in its Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP). This program helps French-speaking international students study in Canada and later apply for permanent residency.

IRCC will now accept up to 2,970 applications, an increase from last year’s limit of 2,300. The new intake period runs from August 26, 2025, to August 25, 2026.

Easier Language Rules for Applicants

The FMCSP makes it easier for French-speaking students to qualify for study and permanent residency. Applicants need only score level 5 in French under the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). By comparison, Canada’s Express Entry program requires level 7 for French-speaking candidates.

What Makes This Program Special

This pilot offers several benefits for students and their families. Eligible students can get study permits faster and later apply for permanent residency through a special route.

Family members, including spouses or partners, dependent children, and grandchildren who depend on them, can also apply for permanent residency through the same pathway.

After applying, both students and their families can receive open work permits. These permits allow them to work for most employers in Canada while they wait for their permanent residency results.

Who Can Apply

To qualify, students must apply for a study permit before arriving in Canada. They must come from one of the eligible countries that belong to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

Eligible countries include several in Africa such as Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire; Egypt and Lebanon in the Middle East; and Haiti, Dominica, and Saint Lucia in the Americas.

Students must also have a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that works with IRCC under the FMCSP. Their program must be taught mostly in French, last at least two years, and lead to a diploma or degree.

Applicants also need proof of funds showing they can cover tuition, travel, and living costs. The amount must be at least 75% of Canada’s Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the area where their school is located.

How to Apply

Students can find detailed instructions for their country on IRCC’s official website. The application process depends on whether they are applying alone or with family members.

Applicants must carefully answer certain questions to show they are applying under the FMCSP. For example, they should indicate that they meet the exemption from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter.

Once all documents are ready—including test results, proof of funds, and application forms—students must upload everything through their secure IRCC online account.

Why the Increase

IRCC raised the FMCSP intake to strengthen the French-speaking population outside Quebec. The federal government aims to boost the presence of francophones in other provinces, as their numbers have declined in recent years.

This change is part of a broader effort to support French language communities across Canada. Other programs working toward the same goal include Express Entry’s French language category and the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative.

By 2026, IRCC plans for 9.5% of all new immigrants outside Quebec to be francophone, reflecting a strong national focus on bilingual growth and cultural diversity.