Canada unveils new PR pathway for French speakers. IRCC has released the eligibility criteria and details on the francophone immigration pathway to Canada, which will open in 2025.

The Francophone Community Immigration Class is a new immigration pathway designed to help French-speaking newcomers settle permanently in Canada. 

In addition, the FCIC is for newcomers who wish to settle in francophone communities outside Quebec. Applicants will require an employment offer and recommendations in order to be eligible. 

This new pathway is presently expected to last for five years. 

Who Is Eligible To Apply Under This New Pathway? 

Newcomers wishing to apply under this new immigration pathway should meet several kinds of eligibility criteria. 

Eligibility Criteria Description 
Certificate Of Recommendation An applicant must have a valid certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization at the time of making their application.
Genuine Offer Of EmploymentAn applicant must show that they have a genuine offer of employment from a designated employer that meets specific conditions.
Work Experience An applicant must have work experience that meets specific conditions.
Note that this requirement can also be waived for international graduates who meet certain conditions.
Language Proficiency The applicant must display French language ability equivalent to a Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 in all language abilities.
Education The applicant must have obtained at least a secondary school level credential.
Intent To Reside The applicant must demonstrate that they intend to reside in the designated community they will work in.
Necessary FundsApplicants must show that they have funds equivalent to one-half of the most recent Low-Income Cut-off (LICO) criteria relevant to their designated community, for one year.

Applicants applying to this program within Canada should ensure that they have valid temporary status at the time of their application and maintain their status until they obtain PR. 

Further Details 

Canada unveils new PR pathway for French speakers. Here are some other details that applicants must know: 

Certificate Of Recommendation 

To obtain a certificate of recommendation, applicants should: 

  • Have the necessary work experience relevant to the Training Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) level of the offered employment
  • Meet the education requirements
  • Possess the required French language proficiency
  • Have a genuine offer of employment in a designated occupation (as established by a designated organization), with wages within acceptable levels and supported by supplementary documentation
  • Intend to reside in the designated community they will be working in

Certificates of recommendation are valid for six months from the date of issue.

Genuine Offer Of Employment 

An applicant must also show that they have a genuine offer of employment from a designated employer for the role that: 

  • Is for non-seasonal, full-time work of an indeterminate period
  • Will entail a minimum of 75% of the employment responsibilities completed in the designated community 
  • Involves work that the applicant is qualified to perform, as indicated by their past work experience and/ or education 
  • The applicant meets the work experience criteria (mentioned below)

Work Experience

In order to be eligible for this pathway, applicants must have work experience that: 

  • Was performed under the employ of a third party (unless acquired as a legally licensed medical practitioner)
  • Was acquired over a continuous one-year period of full-time work, or the equivalent part-time work, in an occupation listed in the National Occupation Classification (NOC)
  • Involved the performance of duties of the role, as described in the NOC system (both in the lead statement as well as the occupation descriptions)
  • Was acquired no earlier than three years prior to the day the applicant applied for permanent residence (PR)

If an applicant gains work experience in Canada, then they can work in Canada. 

The required level of an applicant’s work experience is also determined by the level of the profession they are being hired for, as described by Canada’s TEER criteria: 

TEER Of Job OfferWork Experience Requirements 
TEER Category 0Work experience in TEER Category 0, 1, 2, or 3
TEER Category 1Work experience in TEER Category 0, 1, 2, or 3
TEER Category 2Work experience in TEER Category 1, 2, 3, or 4
TEER Category 3Work experience in TEER Category 2, 3, or 4
TEER Category 4Work experience in TEER Category 2, 3, or 4
TEER Category 5Work experience in the same NOC unit group as the job offer

International students might be exempt from the work experience requirements for the FCIC, provided that: 

  • They maintained their full-time status throughout the duration of their program
  • For those in master’s or doctoral degree programs that were less than two years in length, the applicant was physically present in the designated community where they will be applying to settle in for the duration of the program
  • They obtained their credential within 18 months of their application for PR through the FCIC
  • For other kinds of degrees that were less than two years in length, the applicant was physically present for 16 of the 24 months preceding the day they received their credential in the designated community where they will be applying to settle in

Language Proficiency 

Applicants should take an IRCC-approved language test to probe their French proficiency. 

Education 

A Canadian or international credential should prove the education with an Education Credential Assessment (ECA). 

The ECA should be less than five years old at the time of application. 

Necessary Funds 

Applicants will require funds based on the size of their family. Moreover, family members are counted toward this number irrespective of whether they are accompanying the applicant to Canada. 

What Is The FCIC? 

As Canada unveils new PR pathway for French speakers, let us discuss about the FCIC. 

Well, the FCIC is an initiative under Canada’s Francophone immigration policy. It allows French-speaking newcomers who have professional experience in in-demand professions in a community outside of Quebec to settle permanently in that community. 

Moreover, newcomers admitted via this pathway should intend to reside in the community that nominates them. 

The program involves three key stakeholders: 

  • Designated Communities: A Canadian community outside of Quebec that includes a minority Francophone population and that is included in the list of communities designated by the Immigration Minister as eligible to participate in the FCIC.
  • Economic Development Organizations: An organization that is invested in the local economy of the designated community, and chosen by the Immigration Minister to issue certificates of recommendation to eligible applicants
  • Designated Employers: Employers that have been chosen by the economic development organization to participate in this program through the hiring of eligible applicants

Applicants who obtain an offer of employment for a priority profession from a designated employer who operates in a designated community might be eligible to obtain permanent residence under this new pathway. 

Also, under the FCIC, economic development organizations should publish a list of priority professions by March 31 of every year. 

Which Communities Will Participate In The FCIC? 

Canada unveils new PR pathway for French speakers. IRCC has not released the list of designated communities participating in the FCIC. 

Also, more information on this front will come in the coming months. 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490. You can drop also us an email at [email protected].