Church Point, Nova Scotia
Francophone immigration is essential to the growth of Canada’s national identity. Recognizing this, Canada is intensifying efforts to attract French-speaking newcomers who will contribute to the linguistic, social, cultural, and economic vitality of Francophone minority communities (FMCs).
On August 26, 2024, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, unveiled the new Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program, developed in collaboration with designated French-language and bilingual post-secondary institutions (DLIs). Additionally, Minister Miller announced the expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) initiative to include 10 more communities. These announcements were made during the Acadian World Congress in Nova Scotia.
Students in the Francophone Minority Communities Pilot program
Canada recognizes the significant number of French-speaking international students from Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, and acknowledges that study permit approval rates in these regions have historically been low. The new pilot program aims to address this disparity by creating a more equitable pathway to Canada’s International Student Program for a diverse range of international students.
This pilot program, a cornerstone of the Francophone Immigration Policy announced earlier this year, is designed to help Francophone Minority Communities (FMCs) attract and retain international students. To boost approval rates, students and their families will no longer need to demonstrate their intent to leave Canada after their temporary stay. Additionally, the financial requirements will be adjusted to 75% of the low-income cut-off for the municipality where the institution’s main campus is located.
Participants in the pilot program will also benefit from a streamlined transition from temporary to permanent residency after graduation and will have access to settlement services during their studies to aid in their successful integration. With their French language skills and Canadian education, graduates will be well-equipped to contribute to the Canadian workforce and enrich FMCs nationwide.
While a cap on most study permit applications was introduced on January 22, 2024, the FMCSP is exempt from this overall limit. Each designated learning institution (DLI) participating in the program will receive a limited number of acceptance letters for study permit processing under the pilot. For the first year, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept up to 2,300 study permit applications under this program, with a cap for the second year to be set by August 2025.
Ten additional Welcoming Francophone Communities
On January 16, 2024, IRCC unveiled a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at boosting Francophone immigration to Francophone Minority Communities (FMCs), including the renewal and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) initiative.
The selection of the new WFCs was the result of a collaborative, community-driven process led by the Francophone Immigration Networks and the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick, with support from the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada. Each community was chosen based on its potential to foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment for French-speaking newcomers, ensuring that their linguistic and cultural identity is recognized and valued, and that they feel integrated into their new surroundings.
With the addition of these new communities, Canada now has 24 WFCs across the country, all dedicated to providing a warm welcome and strong support for the integration of French-speaking immigrants.
By diversifying the origins of incoming students and strengthening partnerships with community organizations, Canada continues to advance toward its ambitious goals for Francophone immigration outside Quebec, ensuring that these communities remain vibrant and inclusive for years to come.
The new communities are as follows:
| Provinces | New communities selected |
| British Columbia | Nanaimo |
| Manitoba | Red River (Ritchot, Salaberry, Montcalm and St-Pierre-Jolys) |
| Nova Scotia | Chéticamp (including St. Joseph du Moine) |
| New Brunswick | Belle-Baie (including Bathurst and the Pabineau First Nation) Caraquet (including Rivière du Nord and Hautes-Terres) Restigouche West Region (Saint-Quentin and Kedgwick) |
| Saskatchewan | Prince Albert |
| Ontario | Cornwall Cochrane District (Route 11 Corridor) London |
“Promoting French is of prime importance to us. By welcoming Francophone immigrants and supporting them in their integration process, we contribute to the revitalization of these communities, while meeting their skilled workforce needs. We are all the more determined to help more Francophone international students come to Canada and build a future in our dynamic Francophone communities, while contributing to the development of the French-speaking world.”
The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“Supporting the vitality of our Francophone communities in Canada also means welcoming French-speaking international students and immigrants. This is exactly what this pilot program does. It adds to the progress we’re making under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028 to strengthen Francophone immigration and integration in French-speaking minority communities.”
– The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
“The WFC initiative is an eloquent example of the commitment of Francophone and Acadian communities to the overall success of immigrants. Over the past 5 years, numerous leaders and volunteers have mobilized locally to create new services for French-speaking immigrants. They have set up activities to promote living together and inclusion, and have strengthened the attractiveness of our communities with the aim of increasing Francophone immigration. The FCFA is proud to have coordinated the deployment of this initiative at the national level, facilitating dialogue between communities and the sharing of promising practices. We look forward to extending this support to the 10 new communities announced today.”
– Liane Roy, president of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA)
Essential Facts on Francophone Immigration Initiatives in Canada
Participants in the FMCSP program do not need to provide a provincial or territorial attestation letter with their study permit application. Instead, they must submit a letter of acceptance from a participating post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI) that confirms their eligibility for the pilot program. The program will accept up to 2,300 applications for processing in its first year.
Additionally, the spouses or common-law partners of principal applicants can accompany them to Canada and may eventually apply for permanent residence through the pilot program.
The FMCSP webpage will be updated with agreements from participating institutions as they become available.
As for the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) initiative, the 10 new communities include Nanaimo (British Columbia), Red River (Manitoba), Chéticamp (Nova Scotia), Belle-Baie, Caraquet, and Restigouche West Region (New Brunswick), Prince Albert (Saskatchewan), and Cornwall, Cochrane District (Highway 11 corridor), and London (Ontario).
Under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration, the Government of Canada is investing $50 million to support the Francophone Integration Pathway. This includes $11 million over four years to expand the WFC initiative. Other measures in the action plan, such as expanding French and English language training, aim to further facilitate the integration of Francophone immigrants.
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