Ottawa, Canada’s capital city is set to introduce a new pilot program aimed at attracting and retaining Francophone international students by offering them a direct pathway to permanent residency upon graduation.

In a press release made via its official immigration site, it states that the initiative called the ‘Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot’ (FMCSP), will officially launch on August 26 and is in partnership with designated French-language and bilingual post-secondary institutions.

Canada’s bilingual national identity has been threatened since 1971, causing a population decrease from 6.1 per cent to just 3.5 per cent of Canada’s population outside Quebec. Yet, the country acknowledges that there are significant numbers of French-speaking international students in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, but the study permit approval rate in these regions has historically been low.

Therefore, the new pilot programme aims to make access to Canada’s International Student Programme more equitable for a broader range of international students.

The pilot program is a flagship measure of the Policy on Francophone Immigration announced earlier this year and will benefit FMCs by helping them attract and retain international students.

Participants in the pilot programme will benefit from a direct transition from temporary to permanent status after completing their diploma, with access to settlement services during their studies to aid their successful integration into the community. With their proficiency in French and Canadian education, graduates will be well-positioned to contribute to the Canadian labour market and enrich Francophone Minority Communities (FMCs) across the country.

This pilot is a key component of the new Francophone immigration strategy, designed to increase the French-speaking population outside Quebec. This is riding on the back of Canada’s commitment to promoting Francophone immigration nationwide, and this pilot program will therefore grant select international students permanent residency upon graduation, along with additional benefits.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship says, “Promoting French is of prime importance to us. By welcoming Francophone immigrants and supporting them in their integration process, we contribute to the revitalization of these communities, while meeting their skilled workforce needs. We are all the more determined to help more Francophone international students come to Canada and build a future in our dynamic Francophone communities while contributing to the development of the French-speaking world.”

Similarly, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages emphasized this saying, “Supporting the vitality of our Francophone communities in Canada also means welcoming French-speaking international students and immigrants.

“This is exactly what this pilot program does. It adds to the progress we’re making under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028 to strengthen Francophone immigration and integration in French-speaking minority communities.”

Requirements of the Pilot Program

According to a release by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to improve approval rates, students and their families will be exempt from proving they will leave Canada at the end of their temporary stay.

Additionally, these students will only need to meet 75% of the low-income cut-off for their community, rather than showing proof of CAD 20,635 in their bank accounts. Recognizing the burden of rising housing costs on international students, the program will also provide participants with access to settlement services during their studies to aid their integration into local communities.

Although an annual cap on study permit applications was introduced on 22 January 2024, the FMCSP is exempt from this overall limit. Each participating DLI will receive a set number of acceptance letters specifically for processing study permits under the pilot programme.

For the first year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept a maximum of 2,300 study permit applications through the pilot programme. However, a cap for the second year will be determined by August 2025.