Applicant
Destination
Visa
Status
- Open | Pilot
Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP)
GSB
TR-SB
SUMMARY
If you are a French-speaker from one of the countries that are members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie in Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, you may be able to get your study permit (➨Page) under this pilot program. (➨immilib.com/FMCSP). You must be applying for a minimum 2-year post-secondary program in Canada that has French as the primary language of instruction.
As a participant in the pilot program you will have access to settlement services throughout your studies and you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence shortly after completing your studies.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
TR-SA
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
1- Citizenship
You must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
- Bénin
- 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
- Haïti
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Niger
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- São Tomé and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Togo
- Tunisia
2- Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from Participating Designated Learning Institutions
You must first obtain an acceptance letter from a post-secondary Designated Canadian educational institution (DLI) before applying for a Canadian study permit.
Your study program must be full-time at the post-secondary level, at least 2 years in duration, lead to a degree or diploma, and have French as the primary language of instruction, with over 50% of classes taught in French.
To apply, you must be accepted into a program of study and receive a letter of acceptance from one of the schools listed below. Be sure to inform the school that you intend to apply for a study permit through the FMCSP. As additional schools may be added to the list in the future, please see (➨immilib.com/DLI-FMCSP) for updated list of participating DLIs.
- Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, Bathurst, New Brunswick
- Université de Hearst, Hearst, Ontario
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
3- Residence
You must live outside of Canada when you apply for a study permit through the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) (➨this page).
4- Language Ability
You must be able to prove that your French speaking, listening, reading and writing skills are at a level 5 or higher in the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens scale (➨Appendix 5).
You can take either of these approved language tests:
- Test d’évaluation de français (TEF Canada)
- Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada)
5- Financial Support
For French-speaking students applying under the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP), the amount of money you need for living expenses depends on the size of the community where your school's main campus is located, and you must also demonstrate sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees (➨immilib.com/Funds-FMCSP).
If you have family members accompanying you, you also need to prove that you meet the study permit financial requirements for each additional person (➨Appendix 9).
6- Previous Studies
You must provide educational transcripts for your most recent secondary or post-secondary education.
7- Letter of Explanation
A letter of explanation or Statement of Purpose helps the visa officer to understand you and your goals. It explains why you want to study in Canada and that you understand your responsibilities as a student.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
TR-MRA
WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
Step 1: Apply to School
The first thing you need to do to get a letter of acceptance is to submit a complete application to a participating post-secondary Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
To be approved you must meet general admission requirements for the program you are applying to. In addition you may need to prove specific subject prerequisites, or submit a personal profile or statement of interest as part of an application to study at a post-secondary institution.
Once you choose a college or university, you must apply to go there. Every school has different rules on how to apply.
Contact the school where you want to study to learn how to apply. Visit their website and complete an application form. It is often the case that an institution’s website will direct you to the appropriate form depending on your situation. Most institutions have a separate application form for international students.
They’ll give you the list of all the documents you need to send them, the cost to apply, tuition fees, health insurance, rent and how much it costs to live in Canada, language tests, etc.
If the school admits you as a student, they will send you an acceptance letter. You need this letter to apply for a study permit.
Step 2: Apply for a Study Permit
If you’re a legal resident of one of the countries listed above and applying to a participating post-secondary Institution, you may be able to get your study permit faster by applying online through the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
With your acceptance letter in hand, you are now ready to apply for your study permit. You should apply for a study permit before coming to Canada. There’s no paper application for the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot.
Validity of Study Permit
A study permit is usually valid for the length of your study program, plus an extra 90 days.
If you have conditional acceptance, your study permit will be valid for the length of the prerequisite courses, plus 1 year. When you get accepted into the main program, you must then apply to extend your stay as a student (➨immilib.com/SP-Extend).
If you don’t finish your courses before the date on your permit, you must apply to extend your stay as a student. If you don’t, you’ll need to stop studying and leave Canada. If you finish your studies early, your permit will stop being valid 90 days after you complete your studies, no matter what day is printed on the study permit.
Step 3: Get your fingerprint and photo taken (Biometrics)
You and any members of your family between 14 and 79 years old need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics). You only need to give your biometrics once every 10 years. If you gave biometrics in the past as part of an application for a visitor visa, work or study permit and they’re still valid, you don’t need to give them again.
You will be contacted to give your biometrics and you will have 30 days from the date on the letter to do it.
In order to give biometrics you need to go to an official biometrics collection service point. You must give your biometrics in person.
Before you go, check the location’s website for its services and fees at (➨ immilib.com/Biometrics).
If you’re applying for your study permit, you will automatically be given a visa or eTA if you need one. If you already have a study permit, make sure that your visitor visa is still valid if you choose to leave Canada and re-enter. If you need an eTA and you’re flying to a Canadian airport, make sure you travel with the passport that’s electronically linked to your eTA. You must travel with your valid study permit, a valid passport and travel document.
If you’re eligible to study without a permit, you’re considered a visitor to Canada. You must meet the entry requirements for travelers from your country of citizenship.
Step 4: Arrival with Study Permit
If your application is approved, you’ll get a letter that says you’re allowed to study in Canada. Bring this letter with you when you travel to Canada. You’ll get your study permit when you arrive in Canada.
The study permit will outline:
- If you’re allowed to work in Canada
- If you’re allowed to travel within Canada
- The specific date you must leave Canada
- Where you can study (a specific DLI listed on your permit)
- how long you can study in Canada
If you’re eligible to apply from within Canada, the study permit will be mailed to your Canadian address.
Step 5: Path to Permanent Residence
You, along with your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, may be eligible for permanent residence after graduation if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a resident of Canada, excluding Quebec.
- You hold valid temporary resident status at the time of your application.
- You have obtained an eligible degree or diploma while participating in the FMCSP.
Please note that additional criteria may apply, and meeting all requirements is essential for eligibility.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
TR-WSYTA
WELCOME TO CANADA!
GWA
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