New Francophone Immigration Pathway Expands in Three Canadian Communities

Three Canadian regions—Acadian Peninsula (New Brunswick), St. Pierre Jolys (Manitoba), and Kelowna (British Columbia)—have officially announced their involvement in the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP), a new permanent residency route designed to attract French-speaking foreign nationals to communities outside Quebec.

This initiative is part of Canada’s broader efforts to increase Francophone immigration and meet local labour market demands through community-based selection.

Also Read Canada launches a new regional PR program to boost French-speaking immigration

What Is The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)?

The FCIP, which began earlier this year, is a trial program designed to connect French-speaking candidates with job openings in select Canadian towns. The purpose is to promote economic growth and cultural variety in locations with a sizable Francophone population outside Quebec.

Eligible candidates who receive a position offer from an approved employer in a participating community may be suggested for permanent residency (PR). A temporary two-year work visa may also be provided to allow them to start working while their PR application is being processed.

Participating Communities and Priority Focus

Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick

Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick The Acadian Peninsula has listed four designated employers as of time of publishing:

• Distillerie Fils du Roy, Paquetville.
• Pinokkio Pizzeria, Resto Bar.
• Subway, Shippagan.
• Tim Hortons, Neguac.

St. Pierre Jolys, Manitoba

There are no designated employers announced at the moment from this community.

Kelowna, British Columbia

Priority Sector	Priority Occupations
Sales and Service Occupations	Bakers (NOC 63202)
	Cleaning supervisors (NOC 62024)
	Cooks (NOC 63200)
	Corporate sales managers (NOC 60010)
	Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200)
	Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
	Hotel front desk clerks (NOC 64314)
	Light duty cleaners (NOC 65310)
	Other customer and information services representatives (NOC 64409)
	Retail sales supervisors (NOC 62010)
Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations	Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers (NOC 72410)
	Carpenters (NOC 72310)
	Construction trades helpers and labourers (NOC 75110)
	Electricians (except industrial and power system) (NOC 72200)
	Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers (NOC 73102)
	Roofers and shinglers (NOC 73110)
Occupations in Education, Law, Social, Community and Government Services	Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)
	Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100)
	Social and community service workers (NOC 42201)
	Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101)
Health Occupations	Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102)
	Other assisting occupations in support of health services (NOC 33109)
	Veterinarians (NOC 31103)
Natural and Applied Sciences and Related Occupations	Forestry technologists and technicians (NOC 22112)

Kelowna has only announced two designated employers at time of publishing:

• De Dutch Kelowna.
• London Drugs Kelowna.

How the Program Works: Priority Sectors, Jobs, and Employer Designation

Only firms that actively hire in priority sectors and for recognized professions are qualified to be recognized under the FCIP. A foreign national must possess an offer of employment from one of these companies to be eligible for a community recommendation, which must be submitted before applying for PR.

Eligibility Criteria For Candidates

To be considered for permanent residency under the FCIP, individuals must satisfy the following criteria:

• Job Offer: must have an offer in a priority profession from a specified company.

• Work Experience: A minimum of 1,560 hours in a relevant capacity during the last three years (waived in some situations for international graduates).

• French language proficiency: A minimum of NCLC 5 across all competencies.

• Education: A minimum of a Canadian secondary school diploma or foreign equivalent.

• Proof of Funds: Show enough funds to settle in Canada.

Other Communities in the Program

In total, six communities have been selected to pilot the FCIP:

1. Sudbury, Ontario – Program details available
   
2. Timmins, Ontario – Program details available
   
3. Superior East Region, Ontario – Yet to launch official FCIP site
   
4. Acadian Peninsula, NB
   
5. St. Pierre Jolys, MB
   
6. Kelowna, BC

Conclusion: A Strategic Step Toward Francophone Inclusion.

The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot highlights Canada’s efforts to encourage French-speaking entrants to reside outside of Quebec, while also addressing major manpower shortages in smaller areas. With the expansion of this pilot into three more regions, qualified Francophone applicants will have more opportunities to contribute substantially to Canada’s economic and cultural fabric while seeking a path to permanent residency.

For French-speaking professionals looking to start a new life in Canada, now could be the best time to look into job opportunities and approved employers under the FCIP.