The opening date of the program, as well as the list of participating communities, have been published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Details available in the program guide below.
In December 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) program, a new pathway to permanent residence for French-speaking individuals aiming to settle in francophone communities outside Quebec.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program – Overview
The pilot program is designed to bolster the vitality of francophone minority communities across Canada by attracting skilled French-speaking immigrants. The program is slated to run for five years, during which it will facilitate the integration of French-speaking newcomers into designated communities.
The official launch date and specific allocation for the program has not been announced yet.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program – Participating Communities
Below is the list of participating communities under the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) program:
Each community designates certain employers to make job offers under the FCIP. As of date, no employers have been designated. We will update the page with designated employers as soon as available.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program – Eligibility criteria
Below is a summary of the eligibility requirement of the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) program.
Certificate of recommendation
You must have a valid certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization at the time of application. The economic development organization may issue a certificate of recommendation if it is satisfied that you meet the eligibility criteria for this program.
Job Offer
The following requirements must be met for the job offer:
- Must be from a designated employer approved by an economic development organization.
- Offer should be for permanent, full-time, non-seasonal work.
- Employment must be based in the designated community, with at least 75% of work performed there.
- Applicant must be qualified for the job based on their work experience or education matching the National Occupational Classification (NOC) duties.
Work Experience
The following requirements apply to be eligible to the program:
- At least one year of continuous full-time work (or equivalent part-time) within the three years preceding the application.
- Experience must align with the key tasks and duties described in the NOC code.
- Employment must be with a third-party employer (except for medical practitioners).
- If the work experience was gained in Canada, proper work authorization and temporary resident status were required.
- The required work experience varies depending on the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category of the job offer:
- TEER 0: Experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- TEER 1: Experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- TEER 2: Experience in TEER 1, 2, 3, or 4.
- TEER 3: Experience in TEER 2, 3, or 4.
- TEER 4: Experience in TEER 2, 3, or 4.
- TEER 5: Experience in the same NOC unit group as the job offer.
You can learn how to find your NOC and its TEER category here.
International Graduate Exemption: Applicants with an eligible credential from a post-secondary program are exempt from the work experience requirement if they:
- Studied full-time throughout the program.
- Obtained the credential within 18 months before applying.
- For master’s or doctoral programs shorter than two years, resided in the designated community where employment is located for the entire program duration.
- For other programs of at least two years, resided in the community for 16 of the 24 months before graduating.
Nurses Exemption: For a job offer in NOC codes 33102 (TEER 3) or 44101 (TEER 4), work experience in NOC 31301 (TEER 1) is accepted.
Education
The minimum education requirements are a Canadian high school diploma, or the equivalent outside Canada.
If you studied outside Canada, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). You can learn more about how to request an ECA here.
Language proficiency
The minimum language requirements in French for each of the four language ability (speaking, listening, reading and writing) is CLB5.
For more information on Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and which language tests you are allowed to take, check this page.
Intent to reside
You must express a genuine intention to reside in the designated community.
Proof of funds
You need to have enough money to support yourself and your family when you get to Canada. However, if you are already living and working in Canada with a valid work permit, you do not need to show proof of funds.
The funds required depend on the number of family members (including any dependents that will not immigrate with you). The funds must be yours and must not be borrowed. Below is a table with the required funds, last updated by IRCC on July 29, 2025.
Minimum required funds (2025-2026)
| Family Size | Required Funds |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,507 CAD |
| 2 | $13,080 CAD |
| 3 | $16,080 CAD |
| 4 | $19,524 CAD |
| 5 | $22,143 CAD |
| 6 | $24,975 CAD |
| 7 | $27,806 CAD |
| For every extra family member | $2,831 CAD |
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program – Application Procedure
After obtaining the certificate, you will need to apply for the FCIP online (you can apply on paper only if you can’t apply online and require accommodations, including for a disability).
You must fill out application forms and upload documents such as the job offer, proof of work experience, education, language proficiency, etc. and pay the fees.
Work Permit eligibility
After submission of your permanent residence application under the FCIP, you may be eligible for a 2-year employer-specific work permit. The work permit lets you work while your permanent residence application is being processed.
Your spouse or common-law partner may also be eligible for an open work permit.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program – Application Fees
The application processing fee is $950 and the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) is $575, making a total of $1,525 for a single applicant.
If you include a spouse/partner, you will have to pay the same fees twice, which makes it a total of $3,050 for a couple.
If you include a dependent child, you have to add $260 for each child.
Biometrics fees ($85 for one person, or maximum $170 for a family of more than two) will probably be added to your total. You can find more information on Biometrics in this page.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot Program – Processing Times
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) does not have a target service standard of processing for Francophone Community Immigration Pilot program applications.
As of time of writing, the Francophone Community Immigration Program does not publish average processing times.
