Canada Study Permit Via Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot Program
Good news for French-speaking people from select countries, Canada has announced the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot program. The program grants Canada study permit and provides a way to stay in any of the Francophone minority communities outside of the Canadian province of Quebec after completion of graduation.
Easy Canada Study Permits for French Speaking People
People from approved countries with French language skills can easily get a Canada study permit. Participants of the FMCSP program can avail of settlement services during their study program. Further, FMCSP participants can apply for Canada PR after their graduation in Canada. The program will start from August 26, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria for Canada Study Permit
As per the Canada immigration official website, you have to meet certain requirements to be eligible for a Canada study permit via FMCSP program. The first one is to be a citizen of an eligible country and live outside of Canada when applying. You must prove your French language skills, i.e. level 5 or higher for French speaking, listening, reading and writing in the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens scale.
A letter of acceptance must be from a participating DLI Canada (Designated Learning Institution). The letter of acceptance from a participating DLI must clearly state that you are applying under FMCSP program and meet following one:
Be at the post-secondary level
Be a full-time Student
Be 2 years or more of study
Study program lead to a degree or diploma
French as primary language of instruction
Moreover, you must have financial sources to prove you can support your studies and stay in Canada. You may be asked for additional documents.
Living Expenses for FMCSP Program
Canada has divided financial requirements into 5 categories, and living expenses are different for each of the categories.
Group A Living Expenses with Population 500,000 and Above
Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
1 | CAN$20,635 |
2 | CAN$25,690 |
3 | CAN$31,583 |
4 | CAN$38,346 |
5 | CAN$43,492 |
6 | CAN$49,051 |
7 | CAN$54,611 |
If more than 7 people, each additional family member | CAN$5,559 |
Group B Living Expenses with Population 100,000 to 499,999
Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
1 | CAN$17,772 |
2 | CAN$22,124 |
3 | CAN$27,199 |
4 | CAN$33,023 |
5 | CAN$37,454 |
6 | CAN$42,242 |
7 | CAN$47,030 |
If more than 7 people, each additional family member | CAN$4,788 |
Group C Living Expenses with Population 30,000 to 99,999
Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
1 | CAN$17,662 |
2 | CAN$21,987 |
3 | CAN$27,031 |
4 | CAN$32,819 |
5 | CAN$37,223 |
6 | CAN$41,982 |
7 | CAN$46,741 |
If more than 7 people, each additional family member | CAN$4,759 |
Group D Living Expenses with Population under 30,000
Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
1 | CAN$16,161 |
2 | CAN$20,119 |
3 | CAN$24,734 |
4 | CAN$30,031 |
5 | CAN$34,060 |
6 | CAN$38,414 |
7 | CAN$42,768 |
If more than 7 people, each additional family member | CAN$4,354 |
Group E Living Expenses for Rural Areas
Number of family members (including the applicant) | Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition) |
1 | CAN$14,206 |
2 | CAN$17,685 |
3 | CAN$21,741 |
4 | CAN$26,397 |
5 | CAN$29,939 |
6 | CAN$33,767 |
7 | CAN$37,594 |
If more than 7 people, each additional family member | CAN$3,827 |
Eligible Countries for FMCSP Program
The list of eligible countries for the FMCSP (Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot) program are members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie in Africa, the Middle East, Caribbean countries and the Americas. There are a total of 33 countries that are eligible for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot program.
- Benin
- 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
- Haiti
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Niger
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- São Tomé and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Togo
- Tunisia
Family Members Allowed for Canada Immigration via FMCSP
People with a FMCSP study permit can bring family members to Canada. This includes spouse or common law partner and dependent children. Family members can travel to Canada on Canada visitor visa, Canada study permit or via Canada work permit. Applicants need to apply online along with study permit.
Condition to Canada PR
The exciting thing about the FMCSP program is the eligibility for Canada permanent residency after completion of study. Even your family members can also apply for Canada immigration. Minimum criteria for Canada PR includes:
- To become Canada permanent resident, you must be a resident of Canada but outside of Quebec province.
- Have a valid temporary resident status of Canada when you apply Canada PR
- Have passed and received an eligible degree or diploma under the FMCSP program
Benefits of Canadian Citizenship
Being a Canadian citizen, you have right to vote in federal, provincial and municipal elections. Canadian citizenship also allow people to contest in elections either as independent candidate or by joining any political party. Further, you need not to renounce citizenship of your home country to become a Canada citizen. Canada passport visa free countries include 187 destinations the US, Schengen states, UK, Japan, Singapore and others.