The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) helps French-speaking students from eligible countries study in Canada outside Quebec. The pilot offers settlement support during studies and a pathway to permanent residence soon after graduation for those who meet requirements.
On This Page You Will Find
- Who is eligible for the FMCSP
- Details of the pathway to permanent residence
- Which countries qualify
- Study program and institution requirements
- Financial requirements and proof
- Full list of required documents
- Options for bringing family members
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the FMCSP, applicants must:
- Be citizens of an eligible country
- Live outside Canada when applying
- Have a letter of acceptance from a participating designated learning institution (DLI) confirming FMCSP status
- Show proof of enough funds to cover tuition and living expenses for themselves and family members
- Take a medical exam or provide a police certificate if required
- Prove French language ability at level 5 or higher in the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) scale
Additional documents may be requested, which can extend processing time.
Path to Permanent Residence
Graduates of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot may have a direct pathway to permanent residence in Canada. If you successfully complete your studies, you and your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may qualify, provided you meet the following conditions:
- You are living in Canada outside Quebec
- You hold valid temporary resident status when applying
- You earned an eligible degree or diploma while participating in the FMCSP
Additional criteria may apply depending on the immigration program you use to apply for permanent residence. This pathway gives French-speaking graduates an opportunity to remain in Canada, contribute to Francophone minority communities, and build a long-term future.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be citizens of specific Organisation internationale de la Francophonie countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, including:
Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haïti, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, and Tunisia.
Program Requirements
Study programs under the FMCSP must:
- Be full-time and at the post-secondary level
- Last at least two years
- Lead to a degree or diploma
- Have French as the primary language of instruction (more than 50% of courses taught in French)
Participating Institutions
Applicants must apply to participating DLIs outside Quebec. Here is a full list:
| DLI name | DLI number | Campus(es) | Province | Earliest eligible semester | Funds required |
| Collège Boréal | O19395678039 | Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Ottawa, Nipissing, Timmins, Hearst, Kapuskasing | Ontario | September 2025 | Group B |
| Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick | O19391556654 | Acadian Peninsula, Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Dieppe | New Brunswick | September 2025 | Group D |
| Collège de l’Île | O19220114112 | Wellington, Deblois, Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island | September 2025 | Group E |
| Collège Éducacentre | O19832975987 | Surrey | British Columbia | September 2025 | Group A |
| Collège La Cité | O19395422135 | Ottawa | Ontario | May 2025 | Group A |
| Collège Mathieu | O242735687677 | Gravelbourg | Saskatchewan | September 2025 | Group E |
| Université de Hearst | O19395677925 | Hearst, Kapuskasing, Timmins | Ontario | September 2025 | Group E |
| Université de l’Ontario français | O146030735072 | Toronto | Ontario | September 2025 | Group A |
| Université de Moncton | O19391556532 | Edmundston, Moncton, Shippagan | New Brunswick | January 2025 | Group C |
| Université Laurentienne | O19304259382 | Sudbury | Ontario | September 2025 | Group B |
| Université Saint Paul | O19395164265 | Ottawa | Ontario | September 2025 | Group A |
| University of Alberta | O19257171832 | Edmonton | Alberta | September 2025 | Group A |
| University of Ottawa | O19397188593 | Ottawa | Ontario | September 2025 | Group A |
| University of Regina | O19425660270 | Regina | Saskatchewan | September 2025 | Group B |
| York University (Glendon) | O19361109242 | Glendon (Toronto) | Ontario | September 2025 | Group A |
More schools may be added in the future.
Financial Requirements
Applicants must show proof of enough funds to cover tuition, living costs, and travel. The required amount depends on the size of the community where the school’s main campus is located. Proof can include:
- Bank statements (last 4 months)
- Proof of a Canadian bank account in your name
- A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a Canadian financial institution
- Proof of student or education loans
- Bank drafts convertible to Canadian dollars
- Proof of tuition and housing payments
- Letters from sponsors or schools giving financial support
- Proof of scholarships or Canadian-funded programs
If your country has foreign exchange controls, you must prove that you can legally transfer funds for your studies and living expenses.
Bringing Family Members
You may bring your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children to Canada. They may be eligible for:
Family members must:
- Submit applications through their IRCC secure account
- Provide proof of your FMCSP status (for example, your study permit or letter of acceptance)
Required Documents
When applying for a study permit under the FMCSP, you need to include:
- Letter of Acceptance (LOA)
- From a participating DLI
- Must state that you are applying under the FMCSP
- Must confirm that the program meets pilot requirements
- Proof of Financial Support
- Bank statements (last 4 months)
- GIC certificate
- Proof of loans, drafts, or payments
- Proof of scholarship or funding
- Proof of Language Skills
- TEF Canada or TCF Canada results
- Showing French level 5 or higher in all four skills under the NCLC scale
- Medical Exam (if required)
- Needed if you lived or travelled in certain countries for 6 months or more in the past year
- Also required if you will study or work in healthcare, education, or childcare/eldercare
- Police Certificate (if required)
- Visa office instructions will indicate if this is needed
- Applicants must follow country-specific instructions
- Passport and Identity Documents
- A valid passport or travel document
- Identity documents for accompanying family members
- Proof of Family Relationship (if applicable)
- Marriage certificate for spouse
- Birth certificates for dependent children
- Application Forms
- Completed online through the IRCC secure account
Note: A provincial attestation letter (PAL) or territorial attestation letter (TAL) is not required for the FMCSP.
FAQ
Who can apply for the FMCSP?
French-speaking students from eligible Francophonie countries can apply if they meet financial, language, and document requirements and hold an acceptance from a participating DLI.
Which documents are mandatory?
You need a letter of acceptance, proof of funds, proof of French language skills, passport, and in some cases medical and police certificates. Family members must also provide proof of relationship.
What kind of study program qualifies?
The program must be full-time, at least two years long, lead to a diploma or degree, and be taught mainly in French at a participating DLI outside Quebec.
Do I need a provincial attestation letter?
No. Unlike other study permits in Canada, the FMCSP does not require a PAL or TAL, making the application process simpler.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Spouses, partners, and dependent children may join you with their own permits. They must apply through IRCC and provide proof of your FMCSP application.
