Direct Study-to-PR Pathway for French-Speaking Citizens of Selected Countries

The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) provides a study to permanent residence (PR) pathway for French-speaking students who are citizens of select countries.

If you’re admitted to study in Canada under the FMCSP, you can apply directly for permanent residency upon graduation, provided you meet all program criteria.

The FMCSP provides much more certainty in the pursuit of PR than the traditional study permit to Post-Graduation Work Permit to Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pathway. Getting PR through the CEC can be tough, as Express Entry is competitive and receiving an invitation to apply for PR is not guaranteed.

The FMCSP also requires a lower level of French language proficiency than Express Entry French draws (NCLC 5 vs NCLC 7).

To be eligible for the FMCSP, you must be a citizen of one of the following countries:

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

Eligibility requirements

In order to be eligible for the FMCSP, you are required to meet the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of one of 33 eligible countries;
• Have a *letter of acceptance from a participating designated learning institution (DLI) for an eligible study program** outside Quebec stating you’re applying through the FMCSP;
• Demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to pay for tuition fees and living expenses for yourself and accompanying family members;
• Reside outside Canada at the time of application; and
• Have sufficient French-language proficiency (NCLC 5 in all four language abilities).

*Your school will be responsible for validating your acceptance letter—if they fail to respond to the immigration department by the deadline, your application will be returned.

** Program of study requirements: Your studies must be full-time and span at least two years at the post-secondary level. More than half (over 50%) of the instruction must be in French, and the program must lead to a diploma or degree—not a certificate or any other credential.

You may also be required to obtain a police certificate and complete a medical exam.

Eligible designated learning institutions

Before applying to this pilot, you must have a letter of acceptance from one of the 14 participating French-language or bilingual DLIs outside Quebec.

Some institutions have just one eligible campus, while others have several campuses taking part in the pilot:

More institutions may be added to the list of participating DLIs as they confirm their participation in the FMCSP.

Applying to the FCMSP

To apply for a FMCSP study permit, you must first apply to a study program at a participating DLI and receive a letter of acceptance.

The letter of acceptance must state that you are planning to apply under the FMCSP and that you meet the study program requirements required to do so.

FMCSP study permit applicants do not require a provincial attestation letter.

In most cases, eligible foreign nationals must apply online through their IRCC Secure Account.

In select circumstances, you may be able to apply through your local visa office.

You will be asked to provide the following documentation when submitting your study permit application:

• The original or electronic copy of a letter of acceptance from a participating DLI stating you are applying under the FMCSP and that you meet program of study requirements;
• Proof of financial support;
• A language test from one of the two approved language test providers (TEF Canada or TCF Canada);
• Your medical exam (if applicable); and
• Your police certificate (if applicable).

During the application process, you must also indicate “Yes, I meet an exception from submitting a provincial or territorial attestation letter” in the relevant section.

The application processing fee for the FMCSP is $150. Once this fee is paid, you will be informed whether you need to provide biometrics—if biometrics are required, you have 30 days to provide them in person at your nearest visa application centre.

If your application is successful, you will receive your port of entry (POE) letter of introduction indicating you have been approved for a study permit through the FMCSP. You must show this letter to officials upon arriving in Canada.

Depending on your entry requirements, you will also be sent either an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor visa.

Your study permit will be issued at the POE after the officer verifies that you are eligible to enter the country, and it will remain valid until the end of your school program.

As a participant in the FCMSP, you will have access to settlement services during your studies.

Your spouse, common-law partner, and/or dependent children may be able to accompany you to Canada if they are eligible for a visitor visa, study permit, or open work permit.

The FCMSP was launched on August 26, 2024, with a set cap of 2,300 FCMSP study permit applications for the first year. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will announce its 2025 cap in August of this year.

Proof of financial support

In addition to demonstrating you have enough funds to pay your tuition fees and travel costs, you are required to show you have enough money to cover living expenses for you and your family.

The amount you need to cover living expenses is dependent on the size of the community in which your school’s main campus is located, as well as number of family members coming with you to Canada.

For a family of one, this can range from $14,206 to $20,635.

To show you meet the financial requirement, you may use any combination of the following documents:

• A Canadian bank account in your name showing funds you’ve transferred to Canada;
• A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) issued by a recognized Canadian financial institution;
• Proof of a student loan or education loan issued by a bank;
• Personal bank statements covering the last four months;
• A bank draft that can be converted into Canadian dollars;
• Receipts or proof of payment for tuition and on-campus housing, if applicable;
• A letter from the individual or institution providing you with financial support; and/or
• Evidence of funding received from a Canadian source, such as a scholarship or a Canadian-funded education program.

Should your country impose foreign exchange controls, you must provide evidence that you can legally export funds for all of your expenses.

Obtaining PR

You may be eligible to apply for Canadian PR if you meet the following criteria at the time of application:

• You currently live in Canada, outside Quebec;
• You hold valid temporary resident status in Canada; and
• You have earned an eligible degree or diploma through participation in the FMCSP.

Certain applicants may be subject to additional criteria, according to an IRCC spokesperson.

Under the FMCSP, you can be considered for PR without needing a job offer or going through the Express Entry system.