Pilot program gives permanent residence to French-speaking students

Want to study in Canada and obtain permanent residency? Find out how the FMCSP Pilot Program benefits French-speaking students.

Canada's commitment to preserving and promoting bilingualism as well as supporting francophone minority communities outside Quebec has led to the creation of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP). This 2024 program offers francophone students from certain countries a unique opportunity to continue their studies in Canada while opening the door to permanent residence in francophone communities outside Quebec.

The Immiland team prepared this blog on Canadian immigration with the most important aspects to keep in mind for students favored by the new plan. Let's get started!

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Which countries are eligible for the FMCSP?

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The FMCSP is open to citizens of a wide range of countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, including, but not limited to:

• Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Senegal and Tunisia.
• Middle East: Egypt, Lebanon.
• Americas: Dominica, Haiti, St. Lucia.

The objective is to attract French-speaking students from various French-speaking regions around the world, strengthening the cultural and linguistic dynamics of Canada's French-speaking minority communities.

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What are the financial requirements to apply?

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Financial requirements for living expenses are determined by the size of the community where the main campus is located. Here is the breakdown of the required funds (not including tuition):

• Group A (population 500,000 or more): CAD 20,635.00 for a single person, with additional amounts required for family members.
• Group B (population 100,000 to 499,999): CAD 17,772.00 for a single person, with additional amounts required for family members.
• Group C (population 30,000 to 99,999): CAD 17,662.00 for a single person, with additional amounts required for family members.
• Group D (population under 30,000): CAD 16,161.00 for a single person, with additional amounts required for family members.
• Group E (rural areas): CAD 14,206.00 for a single person, with additional amounts required for family members.

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Is it possible to bring the family?

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Yes, participants may bring their spouse or common-law partner and their dependent children. These family members may be eligible for a visitor's visa, a study permit for each son or daughter or an open work permit for the couple, allowing the entire family to integrate and thrive in Canada.

At Immiland, we are allies when it comes to building a new future for your family, in addition, we offer consulting and administration services in various types of Canadian visas. See other services here.

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Does this pilot offer access to settlement services?

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An outstanding feature of the FMCSP is the access it offers to settlement services during the study period. Students can communicate with their institutions or use services such as Connexions Francophones for support. In addition, many communities participating in the pilot are designated as Francophone Welcome Communities, ensuring a warm reception and supportive environment for students.

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Important! Choosing the province and the institution where you will live permanently is a fundamental step, do you already know the French-speaking minority communities involved?

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Who can apply?

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To participate in the FMCSP, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Citizenship: be a citizen of one of the eligible countries that are members of the International Organization of La Francophonie in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.
2. Educational Acceptance: have a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI) participating in the pilot. This letter must specify that the student is applying under the FMCSP.
3. Program requirements: the program of study must be at the post-secondary level, full-time, last at least two years, lead to a degree or diploma and have French as the primary language of instruction. 
4. Financial requirements: Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, which vary according to the size of the community where the main campus is located.
5. Language proficiency: demonstrate proficiency in French at level 5 or higher on the Canadian Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) scale, equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). Test d'évaluation de français (TEF Canada) and Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada) are accepted.
6. Residency: Applicants must reside outside of Canada at the time of application.

Important! Regarding requirement number 2, did you know that your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) must be verified to avoid the risk of a potential scam? In this blog, we discuss a massive scam case in 2023 and offer protection measures. 

To avoid this risk, it is mandatory to verify your LOA. Immiland offers this service, if you want to know more about it, click here.

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Does this pilot lead to permanent residency?

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The FMCSP not only facilitates study in Canada, but also lays the foundation for permanent residency. Graduates who reside outside Quebec, maintain a valid temporary resident status and obtain an eligible degree or diploma through the pilot can apply for permanent residence. This pathway extends to the participant's spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, which greatly benefits the family that dreams of immigrating together.

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Importance of education for permanent residency

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The FMCSP represents a significant opportunity for francophone students to study, settle and contribute to Canada's francophone minority communities. With a clear pathway from education to permanent residency, this pilot program is a testament to Canada's commitment to linguistic diversity and inclusion. 

August 26, 2024, the date of its launch, marks a before and after for eligible students, so do not hesitate to contact our team of lawyers and regulated consultants if you qualify for the visa. If you require an educational consultation, write to us at education@immilandcanada.com.

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Success in your immigration process!

With love,

Immiland