Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot:

New Study Program in French That Can Lead to Permanent Residence in Canada 

If you're a French-speaking student from Africa, the Middle East, or the Caribbean, Canada just opened a new door for you. A recently announced immigration pilot allows eligible students to pursue post-secondary studies in French outside of Quebec and apply for permanent residence after graduation.

This new option, called the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, is designed to help international students not only study in Canada—but also settle here permanently.

What Is the Francophone Student Pilot?

The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) is a new immigration initiative that encourages French-speaking international students to study in French outside of Quebec.

Students who qualify will benefit from a study permit with fewer requirements, the possibility of applying for permanent residence directly after graduation, and support for their spouse and children to join them in Canada.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this program, you must meet all of the following:

Citizenship:
Be a citizen of one of the 31 eligible countries:

• Africa:
  Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Tunisia

• Middle East:
  Lebanon

• Americas & Caribbean:
  Haiti, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Language:
Prove your proficiency in French by scoring at least NCLC level 5 on an approved French test (TEF Canada or TCF Canada). 

• Where to take it: At a certified testing centre in your home country. You must book early—availability can be limited. 

• Cost: Varies by country, typically $200–$300 USD

Education:
Be accepted into a Majority French-language program that is: Full-time, Two years or longer, over 50% of the classes are taught in French, offered by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) outside Quebec (Includes public universities and colleges that participate in the pilot)

Finances:
Show that you have sufficient funds to cover: Tuition for the first year, living expenses (adjusted based on city size—lower in smaller cities), Travel costs to Canada

After Graduation: Apply for Permanent Residence

Once you complete your French-language program, you can apply for permanent residence, even if you don’t have Canadian work experience.

This is one of the few programs in Canada that leads directly to PR from student status, making it an excellent opportunity for French-speaking students.

Final Thoughts

The Francophone Student Pilot is a unique opportunity for citizens of eligible countries to:

• Study in French at a recognized Canadian institution

• Gain access to lower financial requirements (especially in smaller cities)

• Apply for permanent residence right after graduation

• Bring your family with you to build a life in Canada
  

 Need Help Applying?

📅 Book a consultation with Rita Benkhalti, our Regulated Immigration Consultant at North Horizon Immigration,  and start today your journey to Canada.

Sources:

https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/organisation/publications-guides/bulletins-guides-operationnels/residents-temporaires/permis-etudes/programme-pilote-etudiants-communautes-francophones.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/fmc-student-pilot/path-to-pr.html