New Intake for Canada’s Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot

This pilot program is only available to French-speaking citizens of countries in regions with historically high Canadian study permit refusal rates. Most of the eligible countries are in Africa, with several from the Middle East and the Americas, too.

One of the biggest advantages of the program is that it allows eligible students to apply directly for Canadian permanent resident status at the end of their studies. This is a huge advantage compared to regular study permit holders, who have to find a separate pathway to permanent residence upon completion of their studies in Canada.

The pilot will accept applications until August 25, 2027, or until the quota is reached, whichever comes first.

The francophone pilot offers a few other advantages, including lower financial requirements and access to settlement services during studies.

In this article, we break down which countries are eligible for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, as well as how to apply.

What is the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot?

The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) was initially launched two years ago, in August 2024, as a means to attract more French-speaking international students to areas outside Quebec.

The pilot targets French-speaking students from certain countries in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, that have historically high study permit refusal rates. The pilot not only gives these students a pathway to studying in Canada, but also allows them to apply directly for permanent residence after they graduate (as long as they meet certain conditions).

Who is Eligible for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot?

Speaking French is not enough to qualify for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot. To be eligible, you must be a citizen of one of 33 countries – in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas – that have historically high Canadian study permit refusal rates. These countries were also all members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie when the pilot was introduced.

These are the eligible countries, organized by region:

Africa – Eligible Countries

Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, and Tunisia.

Middle East – Eligible Countries

Egypt and Lebanon.

Americas – Eligible Countries

Dominica, Haïti, and Saint Lucia.

In addition to being a citizen of one of the eligible countries, applicants also must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• be living outside Canada when they apply,
• have a letter of acceptance from a participating designated learning institution (DLI) (refer to the list below),
• prove French-language ability of NCLC level 5 in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, and writing),
• have enough money to meet the pilot’s financial requirements,
• obtain a medical exam and police certificate, if required.

Not all study programs are eligible either. First, the program must be at a participating DLI. Only a handful of DLIs across Canada are participating. Study programs must be at the post-secondary level, full-time, at least two years, lead to a degree or diploma, and have more than 50 percent of courses taught in French.

Spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children may be eligible to accompany study permit holders during their time in Canada.

The program also offers a direct-to-permanent residence applications for students after they graduate. However, to be eligible, you must be residing outside Quebec and intending to reside outside Quebec.

Which Canadian Schools are Participating?

In order to be eligible for the FMCSP, you must have a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) that has signed an agreement with IRCC to participate in the pilot.

As of August 2026, the following DLIs are participating in the program. However, be sure to check the latest list on IRCC’s website to ensure your school is eligible.

• Université de Saint-Boniface, Manitoba
• Collège de l’Île, PEI
• Université Saint Paul, Ontario
• University of Regina, Saskatchewan
• Collège Éducacentre, British Columbia
• Université Sainte-Anne, Nova Scotia
• University of Ottawa, Ontario
• Université Laurentienne, Ontario
• Université de l’Ontario français, Ontario
• York University, Glendon Campus, Ontario
• Université de Hearst, Ontario
• University of Alberta, Alberta
• Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, New Brunswick
• Collège La Cité, Ontario
• Collège Boréal, Ontario
• Université de Moncton, New Brunswick
• Collège Mathieu, Saskatchewan

IRCC aims to add more schools in the future, so be sure to check their list for the latest details.

Please note: The financial requirements for the program vary depending on where the school is located. The schools are divided into five groups based on the population size of the city or town where the school is located. Smaller communities have lower financial requirements.

For a single applicant, the highest proof of funds requirement is CAD $22,895 (for cities of more than 500,000; notably the same amount as for regular study permit applicants), while the lowest is $15,761 (for rural areas). If an applicant has accompanying family members, the proof of funds requirement increases for each.

How to Apply for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot

Follow these five steps to apply for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot:

(1) Get accepted to an eligible program at a participating DLI.

The first step is to find a program that interests you at one of the participating DLIs. When applying to the school, let them know that you’re applying through the FMCSP. They’ll need to state that in your letter of acceptance.

(2) Prepare documents for your study permit application.

In order to apply for your study permit, you’ll need your letter of acceptance, proof of funds, and results from an approved language test showing you have French-language proficiency at or above NCLC 5 in all four abilities (IRCC accepts TEF Canada and TCF Canada).

Certain applicants will also require a medical exam, police certificates, and other documents. Be sure to check the exact IRCC and local visa office requirements for your application.

One advantage of the FMCSP is that applicants don’t need a provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL).

(3) Apply for a study permit.

You can submit your study permit application online, using IRCC’s online portal. Be sure to check the exact requirements on IRCC’s website, as the instructions vary from country to country. It’s important to submit a complete application that meets all program requirements. If in doubt, we recommend booking a consultation with a regulated Canadian immigration consultant to review your application and ensure you meet the requirements.

After submitting an application, most applicants will be contacted by IRCC with a request to submit biometrics. Be sure to do so within IRCC’s requested timeframe.

(4) Travel to Canada and activate your study permit.

If your study permit application is approved, you will receive a port of entry letter of introduction. This letter allows you to travel to Canada and activate your study permit. Your study permit will only be issued once you arrive at the Canadian port of entry.

How to Get Permanent Residence through the FMCSP

One of the biggest advantages of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot is that it allows participants to apply directly for Canadian permanent residence after they complete their studies in Canada.

However, to be eligible for the PR pathway, you have to meet certain eligibility requirements:

• Be living in Canada outside Quebec and intend to reside outside Quebec,
• have received your study permit through the FMCSP;
• have valid temporary resident status when you apply; and
• have completed an eligible degree or diploma at a participating DLI.

As stated above, to be eligible, your completed study program must have been at least two years of full-time study with more than 50 percent of courses in French.

If you meet these requirements, you’ll be able to apply for PR directly through the FMCSP. You won’t have to qualify for another PR pathway, like Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program. You can also apply for an open work permit that will allow you to work while your PR application is processing.

IRCC is expected to publish more information about the PR application later in 2026.

If you’re a French-speaker from one of the eligible countries and you’re interested in studying in Canada and immigration permanently, the FMCSP is a huge opportunity. Not only does it give you an easier process for obtaining a study permit, but it also grants you a direct-to-permanent residence pathways after you graduate.