On this page you will find:
- What the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot is
- Who can apply and key eligibility rules
- Full job lists by community with NOC 2021 codes
- Language, education and work experience requirements
- Proof of funds table and exemptions
- Employer and candidate application steps
- Frequently asked questions
What is the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot?
The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) offers a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers who speak French and want to live and work in smaller, Francophone-minority communities. Six communities participate and can designate local employers to hire for roles they cannot fill locally. Successful candidates receive a community recommendation to support their permanent residence application and may obtain an LMIA-exempt work permit.
Participating communities
- Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick
- Greater Sudbury, Ontario
- Timmins Region, Ontario
- Superior East Region, Ontario
- St-Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba
- Kelowna, British Columbia
The FCIP has many similarities to the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, aside from the French language requirement.
Who can apply
You must:
- Have a valid job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating communities.
- Show at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of related paid work experience in the past 3 years, unless exempt as a recent graduate of a local public institution.
- Meet minimum French language levels.
- Hold a Canadian credential or an accepted foreign credential evaluation.
- Prove you have enough settlement funds, unless you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit.
Community job lists and priorities
Below are the current priority sectors and occupations for each community. Apply only if your job offer matches a listed occupation in a priority sector for that community.
Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick
Priority sectors and occupations:
- Business, finance and administration
- 11102 – Financial advisors
- 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- 13110 – Administrative assistants
- 14201 – Banking, insurance and other financial clerks
- Health
- 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- Education, law and social, community and government services
- 41220 – Secondary school teachers
- 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- 41402 – Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
- 42201 – Social and community service workers
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- Sales and services – currently not accepting new candidates. Only 15% of total recommendations may go to this category when open.
- 63200 – Cooks
- 64100 – Retail salespersons and non-technical wholesale representatives
- 64101 – Non-technical wholesale sales and account representatives
- 65100 – Cashiers
- 65201 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support
- Trades, transport, machinery and related
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72300 – Plumbers
- 72301 – Pipefitters, gas fitters and sprinkler system installers
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 75101 – Material handlers
- 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
Greater Sudbury, Ontario
Priority sectors: Business, finance and administration; Health; Education, social, community and government services; Arts, culture, recreation and sport; Trades and transport.
Priority occupations:
- 11102 – Financial advisors
- 11202 – Advertising, marketing and public relations professionals
- 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- 13110 – Administrative assistants
- 14200 – Accounting and related clerks
- 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 31120 – Pharmacists
- 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 33103 – Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 41210 – College and other vocational instructors
- 41220 – Secondary school teachers
- 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- 41402 – Business development officers and market researchers and analysts
- 42201 – Social and community service workers
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 42203 – Instructors of persons with disabilities
- 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
- 52120 – Graphic designers and illustrators
- 63100 – Insurance agents and brokers
- 64400 – Customer services representatives – financial institutions
- 65100 – Cashiers
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 73300 – Transport truck drivers
Timmins Region, Ontario
Participating municipalities include Hearst, Kapuskasing, Cochrane, Kirkland Lake and Temiskaming Shores.
Priority sectors: Health; Education and social, community and government services; Trades and transport; Natural resources and agriculture; Business, finance and administration.
Priority occupations:
- 11102 – Financial advisor
- 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- 13110 – Administrative assistants*
- 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 32120 – Medical laboratory technologists
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- 42201 – Social and community service workers
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
- 64400 – Customer services representatives – financial institutions*
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 72201 – Industrial electricians
- 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 73300 – Transport truck drivers
- 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
- 74203 – Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers
- 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
- 83100 – Underground production and development miners
- 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators*
- 95103 – Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
*Denotes occupations flagged by the community with special employer needs.
Superior East Region, Ontario
Priority sectors: Health; Education, law and social, community and government services; Sales and services; Trades, transport, machinery and related fields; Natural resources, agriculture and related production.
Proposed priority occupations:
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 32101 – Licensed practical nurses
- 42201 – Social and community service workers
- 32102 – Paramedics
- 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
- 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
- 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 62020 – Food service supervisors
- 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
- 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
- 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
- 65100 – Cashiers
- 65310 – Light duty cleaners
- 63200 – Cooks
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 65201 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support
- 73201 – General building maintenance workers and superintendents
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 83100 – Underground production and development miners
- 41220 – Secondary school teachers
St-Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba
Priority sectors: Health; Education, law and social, community and government services; Sales and service; Trades, transport and equipment operators; Business, finance and administration.
Priority occupations:
- 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 31302 – Nurse practitioners
- 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
- 31103 – Veterinarians
- 31110 – Dentists
- 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 65310 – Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations – light housekeeping and cleaning work
- 41220 – Secondary school teachers
- 41221 – Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- 65201 – Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support
- 75110 – Trades helpers and labourers
- 14100 – General office support workers
- 72300 – Plumbers
- 72310 – Carpenters
- 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- 11102 – Financial advisors
- 64400 – Customer service representatives – financial institutions
- 64301 – Bartenders
- 63100 – Insurance agents and brokers
- 63200 – Cooks
- 63202 – Bakers
Kelowna, British Columbia
Selected priority sectors: Sales and service; Trades, transport and equipment operators; Education, law, social, community and government services; Health; Natural and applied sciences.
List of 25 priority occupations for 2025:
- 62020 – Food service supervisors
- 65310 – Light duty cleaners
- 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
- 64409 – Other customer and information services representatives
- 65200 – Food and beverage servers
- 62000 – Chefs
- 63202 – Bakers
- 63200 – Cooks
- 60010 – Corporate sales managers
- 62024 – Cleaning supervisors
- 64314 – Hotel front desk clerks
- 72200 – Carpenters
- 72410 – Electricians
- 72310 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
- 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants
- 44101 – Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
- 43100 – Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
- 42201 – Social and community service workers
- 33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 33109 – Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- 31103 – Veterinarians
- 22112 – Forestry technologists and technicians
Work experience rules
Your experience must be paid, not self-employed, and align with your NOC description and main duties. It must be in a similar TEER to your job offer:
| Job offer TEER | Acceptable work experience TEER |
| 0 or 1 | 0, 1, 2 or 3 |
| 2 | 1, 2, 3 or 4 |
| 3 or 4 | 2, 3 or 4 |
| 5 | Same 5-digit NOC code |
Healthcare exception: If your work experience is NOC 31301 (Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses – TEER 1), your job offer can be in NOC 33102 (TEER 3) or NOC 44101 (TEER 4).
Include with your application: recent work permit if any, employer reference letters with dates, duties, NOC, pay and hours, employer contact details, T4s and NOAs if applicable, contracts and pay stubs.
Graduate exemption for local studies
You do not need work experience if you graduated from a public post-secondary in the recommending community and:
- Completed a program of 2 years or more, studied full-time, obtained the credential within the last 18 months and lived in the community at least 16 of the last 24 months, or
- Completed a master’s or higher (up to 2 years), studied full-time, obtained the degree within the last 18 months and lived in the community for the length of your studies.
This exemption does not apply if more than half the program was language study or distance learning, or if a scholarship requires you to return home.
Language requirements
You must prove French at minimum NCLC 5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking using one of:
- TEF Canada
- TCF Canada
Use your score report to find your NCLC equivalency. Results must be less than 2 years old at the time you apply. Include a copy with your application.
Education and credential assessments
Provide either:
- A Canadian credential (secondary or post-secondary from a public institution), or
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) that is less than 5 years old from a designated organisation.
Designated organisations: CES (University of Toronto), ICAS, WES, IQAS, ICES. Some regulated professions need a profession-specific assessment:
- Architects – CACB when licensure is required.
- Physicians – Medical Council of Canada for primary medical diploma.
- Pharmacists – Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada when licensure is required.
How employers participate
- Confirm your business operates in a listed priority sector and intends to fill a listed occupation.
- Apply to the community to become a designated employer.
- Recruit a qualified French-speaking candidate and issue a genuine, full-time, non-seasonal job offer.
- Work with the community office on the candidate’s recommendation and any LMIA-exempt work permit support letter.
How candidates apply
- Choose a community and verify that your occupation is on its priority list.
- Secure a job offer from a designated employer that matches the list.
- Gather documents: language test results, education proof or ECA, work experience letters, passports and funds proof.
- Obtain the community recommendation and apply for permanent residence.
- If needed, apply for an LMIA-exempt work permit to start work while PR is processing.
Practical tips
- Align your NOC accurately – title alone is not enough.
- Meet or exceed NCLC 5 in each ability to avoid refusal.
- If you studied locally, check whether you qualify for the graduate exemption.
- For regulated jobs, start licensure steps early.
- Keep funds liquid and in your name or your accompanying spouse’s name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which six communities are part of the FCIP?
The pilot currently includes the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick, and in Ontario the Greater Sudbury, Timmins Region and Superior East communities. It also includes St-Pierre-Jolys in Manitoba and Kelowna in British Columbia. Each community maintains its own priority sectors and occupation lists that guide employer designations and candidate recommendations.
Do I need French test results if I studied in French?
Yes. You must submit valid results from TEF Canada or TCF Canada showing at least NCLC 5 in each skill. Diplomas alone do not replace the test. Test results must be less than two years old on the date you apply. If your score is below NCLC 5 in any skill, retest before applying.
Can I qualify without work experience as a recent graduate?
Possibly. If you graduated from a public post-secondary in the recommending community and meet program length, full-time study and residency requirements, you may be exempt from the one-year work experience rule. The exemption does not apply to programs that are mostly language study or distance learning, or to scholarship recipients who must return home.
What if my occupation is regulated in Canada?
You can be recommended and apply for PR, but you may also need a licence to work. Architects, physicians and pharmacists often require profession-specific assessments from CACB, the Medical Council of Canada or the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. Check the provincial regulator early to avoid delays in starting work after landing.
How much settlement money do I need and when is it checked?
Amounts depend on family size and are updated annually. For example, a family of four needs $19,524. Funds must be available when you apply and again when a visa is issued. If you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit, you are exempt from the funds requirement, but keep proof of employment.
