FCIC: Francophone Communities in Canada 2025

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced eligibility criteria and details for a new immigration pathway for Francophone communities in Canada, set to open in 2025.

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

The FCIC program is intended for newcomers who wish to live in Francophone communities outside the province of Quebec. Applicants will need a job offer and a nomination certificate to qualify.

This new immigration pathway is expected to run for five years.

1. Who is Eligible for this New Immigration Program?

Applicants seeking to apply under this pathway must meet specific eligibility criteria:

• Nomination Certificate: Applicants must have a valid nomination certificate from an economic development organization at the time of application.
• Valid Job Offer: Proof of a valid job offer from a designated employer, meeting specific conditions.
• Work Experience: Must have work experience meeting specific conditions.
• Language Proficiency: French language proficiency equivalent to Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 in all language skills.
• Education: Possess an educational qualification equivalent to at least a high school diploma.
• Intent to Reside: Demonstrate intent to reside in the designated community where they will work.
• Required Financial Funds: Show they have financial resources equivalent to half the most recent Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the designated community, for one year.
• In-Canada Applicants: Ensure they have valid temporary status at the time of application and maintain it until permanent residence (PR) is granted.

2. Additional Details

a. Nomination Certificate

To receive a nomination certificate, applicants must:

• Have relevant work experience matching the TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities) level of the job offered.
• Possess a valid job offer in a designated occupation (as determined by the designated organization) with a salary within the acceptable range (based on Canada’s Job Bank or designated organization standards).
• Meet the French language proficiency requirements.
• Fulfill educational requirements.
• Show intent to reside in the designated community where they will work.

Nomination certificates are valid for six months from the date of issuance.

b. Valid Job Offer

Applicants must demonstrate a valid job offer from a designated employer for a position that is:

• Non-seasonal, full-time, and indefinite.
• At least 75% of the work is conducted in the designated community.
• Suitable for the applicant’s qualifications, proven by previous work experience and/or education.
• In line with the work experience criteria (described below).

c. Work Experience

To qualify, applicants must have work experience:

• Obtained within one year of continuous full-time work or equivalent part-time work in an occupation under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• Completed within three years before applying for PR.
• Including the role’s duties as outlined in the NOC system (including main statements and job descriptions).
• Performed under third-party employment (unless the applicant is a licensed medical practitioner).

If the work experience was obtained in Canada, the applicant must have been legally authorized to work in Canada.
The required level of work experience is also determined by the job’s level under Canada’s TEER criteria.

Note for International Graduates: They may be exempted from the work experience requirement under the FCIC if:

• They maintained full-time status throughout their program.
• They received their certificate within 18 months of applying for PR through FCIC.
• For Master’s or Ph.D. programs shorter than two years, applicants must have resided in the designated community where they apply for settlement throughout the program.
• For other qualifications shorter than two years, applicants must have resided in the designated community for 16 out of 24 months before the date of qualification issuance.

d. Language Proficiency

Applicants must take a language test approved by IRCC to demonstrate their French proficiency.

e. Education

Education must be proven by providing a Canadian certificate or an international certificate with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
The ECA must be less than five years old at the time of application.

3. Which Communities are Designated for the FCIC?

IRCC has yet to release the list of designated communities (as well as the designated economic development organizations) participating in the FCIC.