The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot program is set to launch on August 26, in partnership with designated French-language and bilingual post-secondary learning institutions.

The Canadian government has said it recognises that large pools of French-speaking prospective international students exist in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, and that the study permit approval rate in these regions has historically been low, which this initiative will work towards increasing.

Under the program, up to 2,300 students will be welcomed into participating DLIs, outside of current caps on international enrolments in Canada, with each institution allocated a limited number of acceptance letters that can be issued for the purpose of processing study permits under the pilot program.

Although 2,300 is the maximum number of study permit applications that IRCC will accept for the pilot program in its first year, a cap for the following year of the program will be set by August 2025, IRCC clarified.

To improve approval rates, student participants and their families will be exempt from having to demonstrate that they will leave Canada at the end of their temporary stay.

Other measures include the required financial threshold being adjusted to reflect 75% of the low-income cut-off associated with the municipality where the institution’s main campus is located.

Pilot program participants will also benefit from a direct pathway from temporary to permanent status after obtaining their diploma and they will have access to settlement services while studying to help them integrate successfully into their communities.

“Promoting French is of prime importance to us,” said Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship.

Promoting French is of prime importance to us

Marc Miller, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship

“By welcoming Francophone immigrants and supporting them in their integration process, we contribute to the revitalisation of these communities, while meeting their skilled workforce needs,” Miller continued.

“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.”

Citizens from 33 countries are eligible for the program, as listed by IRCC.

The government said it hopes that by coupling proficiency in French and a Canadian education, graduates will be able to contribute to the Canadian labour market and enrich the “linguistic, social, cultural and economic fabric” of Francophone minority communities across the country.

The pilot is a flagship measure of Canada’s policy on Francophone immigration, which was announced earlier this year.

“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,” said Randy Boissonnault, minister of employment, workforce development and official languages.

According to Boissonnault, the program adds to progress being made under the the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028 to strengthen Francophone immigration and integration in French-speaking minority communities.