Canada Introduced New Permanent Residency Program for French-Speaking Immigrants

The requirements for eligibility and specifics of a new francophone immigration stream that is scheduled to begin in 2025 have been announced by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Supporting French-speaking immigrants in obtaining permanent residency in Canada is the goal of the Francophone Community Immigration Class (FCIC).

This program is intended especially for people who wish to relocate to francophone areas outside of Quebec. Candidates must match the program’s recommendation criteria and have a valid job offer to be eligible.

It is anticipated that the effort will last for five years.

This piece will:

1. Describe the program’s eligibility requirements.
2. Give a summary of the recently declared immigration pathway.

Find Out if You Qualify for Canadian Immigration

Who Can Apply for the Francophone Community Immigration Class?

To apply under this pathway, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements. These criteria ensure that applicants are well-suited to settle and thrive in the designated francophone communities.

Eligibility Requirements and Details

Criteria	Description
Certificate of Recommendation	Applicants must hold a valid certificate of recommendation from an approved economic development organization when submitting their application.
Genuine Job Offer	Applicants need to present a valid job offer from a designated employer, meeting all specified conditions.
Work Experience	Candidates should have relevant work experience that satisfies specific requirements. International graduates may be exempt from this if they meet certain conditions.*
Language Proficiency	A French language proficiency level of NCLC 5 or higher in all language skills is required.
Education	Applicants must have completed at least a secondary school education credential.
Intent to Reside	Applicants must demonstrate their intention to live in the designated community where they plan to work.
Financial Resources	Candidates must prove they have financial resources amounting to at least 50% of the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) for their community for one year.

When applying, applicants who are already in Canada must confirm that their temporary status is still in effect and keep it that way until they are granted permanent residency.

The goal of this initiative is to help French-speaking immigrants integrate successfully while promoting economic development in francophone areas outside of Quebec.

Certificate of Recommendation

To qualify for a certificate of recommendation, applicants must fulfill several requirements:

• Relevant Work Experience: Possess work experience that aligns with the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) level of the job offered.
• Genuine Job Offer: Secure a valid job offer in a designated occupation, as identified by an authorized organization, with wages meeting the acceptable standards set by Canada’s Job Bank or the designated organization. The offer must also be backed by appropriate supporting documentation.
• French Language Proficiency: Demonstrate sufficient French language ability, as required by the program.
• Education Requirements: Meet the minimum education qualifications.
• Intent to Reside: Show a clear intention to settle in the community associated with the offered employment.

Certificates of recommendation remain valid for six months from the date they are issued.

Genuine Offer of Employment

Applicants must provide evidence of a legitimate job offer from a designated employer for a role that:

• Work Type: Is non-seasonal, full-time, and for an indefinite period.
• Community Involvement: Requires the applicant to perform at least 75% of their work duties within the designated community.
• Qualifications: Aligns with the applicant’s qualifications, supported by their prior education and work experience.
• Work Experience Criteria: Matches the specific work experience requirements (detailed below).

Work Experience

To meet the work experience criteria for this pathway, applicants must ensure that:

• Duration: The experience was acquired over one continuous year of full-time employment or an equivalent amount of part-time work.
• Recency: The work was performed within the three years immediately preceding the date of the permanent residence application.
• NOC Compliance: The role aligns with the duties described in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, including both the lead statement and detailed occupational responsibilities.
• Third-Party Employment: The experience must have been gained while working for a third party, except in cases where the applicant worked as a legally licensed medical practitioner.

This comprehensive framework ensures that applicants are well-equipped to contribute meaningfully to their designated communities while meeting Canada’s economic and linguistic priorities.

Additional Work Experience Requirements

Work Experience Gained in Canada

If an applicant’s work experience was acquired in Canada, it must have been completed under legal authorization to work in the country.

Work Experience and TEER Categories

The level of work experience required depends on the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category of the job offer, as outlined in Canada’s TEER system:

TEER Category of Job Offer	Work Experience Requirements
TEER Category 0	Experience in TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
TEER Category 1	Experience in TEER Categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.
TEER Category 2	Experience in TEER Categories 1, 2, 3, or 4.
TEER Category 3	Experience in TEER Categories 2, 3, or 4.
TEER Category 4	Experience in TEER Categories 2, 3, or 4.
TEER Category 5	Experience in the same National Occupation Classification (NOC) unit group as the job offer.

Exemptions for International Graduates

International graduates may qualify for an exemption from the work experience requirement under the following conditions:

1. Full-Time Study: The applicant maintained full-time enrollment throughout the program.

2. Recent Graduation: The credential was obtained within 18 months before applying for permanent residence through the FCIC.

3. Graduate Degree Duration:

• For master’s or doctoral programs lasting less than two years, the applicant must have been physically present in the designated community where they plan to settle for the entire program.

4. Other Degrees:

• For other degree types lasting less than two years, the applicant must have been physically present in the designated community for at least 16 of the 24 months before obtaining their credential.

This flexible approach ensures that the program accommodates international graduates while maintaining its focus on building strong ties to designated communities.

Language Proficiency

To demonstrate French proficiency, applicants must complete an IRCC-approved language test.

Education Requirements

Applicants must provide proof of their educational qualifications through:

1. A Canadian credential, or
2. An international credential accompanied by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The ECA must have been issued within the last five years at the time of application.

Financial Requirements

Applicants must show they have sufficient financial resources based on their family size. All family members are included in this calculation, regardless of whether they plan to accompany the applicant to Canada.

What is the Francophone Community Immigration Class (FCIC)?

The Francophone Community Immigration Class (FCIC) is a key initiative under Canada’s Francophone immigration strategy. It is designed to allow French-speaking professionals with experience in in-demand occupations to settle permanently in designated communities outside Quebec.

Key Program Features:

• Residency Commitment: Applicants must demonstrate their intent to live in the community that nominates them.
• Stakeholders: The program relies on collaboration between three main entities:
  1. Designated Communities: These are communities outside Quebec with a minority Francophone population. The Immigration Minister designates eligible communities for participation in the program.
  2. Economic Development Organizations: These organizations focus on local economic growth within the designated community. They are authorized by the Immigration Minister to issue certificates of recommendation to qualifying applicants.
  3. Designated Employers: Employers selected by economic development organizations to hire eligible applicants under this pathway.

Applicants with a job offer in a priority occupation from a designated employer within a designated community may qualify for permanent residence (PR) through this program.

Priority Occupations

Economic development organizations involved in the FCIC must publish a list of priority occupations by March 31 of each year.

Designated Communities and Organizations

The IRCC has not yet announced the list of designated communities or economic development organizations that will participate in the FCIC.

This pathway emphasizes collaboration between communities, employers, and local organizations to help French-speaking newcomers integrate into Canada’s economy and society, enhancing Francophone presence outside Quebec.