Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)
FCIP is a permanent residence pathway for French-speaking workers willing to settle in a Francophone minority community outside Quebec. It launched on 30 January 2025 alongside RCIP and shares its structure — with one decisive difference: it is assessed in French only.
The six communities
- ● British Columbia — Kelowna
- ● Manitoba — St. Pierre Jolys
- ● Ontario — Sudbury, Timmins, Superior East Region
- ● New Brunswick — Acadian Peninsula
French only — and one level for everyone
FCIP requires NCLC 5 in all four abilities, and unlike RCIP that single level applies at every TEER category. English test results are not accepted at all. Accepted tests are TEF Canada and TCF Canada, with results less than two years old.
This is the point people miss: a strong English speaker with weak French cannot substitute one for the other here. If your French is close to NCLC 5, testing early is worth doing before you build a plan around this pilot.
Everything else works like RCIP
- ● A full-time, non-seasonal, permanent job offer from a community-designated employer.
- ● A community recommendation from the local Francophone economic development organisation.
- ● One year of related work experience — 1,560 hours in the past three years, waived for qualifying local graduates.
- ● A Canadian credential, or a foreign one with an educational credential assessment.
- ● Settlement funds, waived if you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit.
- ● Genuine intent to live in that community.
Why Canada is pushing this route
The 2026–2028 levels plan sets Francophone permanent residence admissions outside Quebec at 9% in 2026, rising to 10.5% by 2028. French is being rewarded across the system at the moment — it is also the largest Express Entry category by volume, with rounds of about 5,000 invitations at cut-offs far below the Canadian Experience Class. If you have functional French, it is worth building the strategy around it rather than treating it as a footnote.
FCIP is a pilot, not a permanent programme, and there is no guarantee it will be extended. That is a reason to move while it is open, not a reason to avoid it.
Kelowna, and the BC angle
Kelowna is the only BC community in FCIP, which makes it the natural first look for French-speaking clients already in the province or planning to arrive here. We are in Abbotsford and work across BC, so if Kelowna is realistic for you we can assess it against the BC PNP and against a French-language Express Entry round in the same conversation, rather than pushing you down one track.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Looking for related services? See our full Permanent Residency overview or all services.
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Consultations are free for most enquiries. Permanent residence consultations (Express Entry, PNP and related PR pathways) are $25.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to FCIP if my English is strong but my French is not?
No. FCIP accepts only French test results — TEF Canada or TCF Canada — at NCLC 5 in all four abilities. English proficiency is not considered at all for eligibility. If your French is not there yet, RCIP may be the better pilot to look at, since it is assessed in either official language.
How is FCIP different from RCIP?
The structure is nearly identical: designated employer, community recommendation, work experience, education, funds and intent to reside. The differences are the community list — six Francophone communities rather than fourteen rural ones — and the language rule, which is French only at NCLC 5 for every TEER level, rather than a sliding scale.
Do I need to be a French citizen or from a Francophone country?
No. Nationality is irrelevant. What matters is that you can demonstrate NCLC 5 French on an approved test and that you intend to settle in one of the designated communities.
Is a job offer required?
Yes. As with RCIP, the offer must come from an employer designated by the participating community, and the community's recommendation follows from it. There is no route into FCIP without an employer.
Is FCIP permanent?
No, it is a pilot. IRCC signalled in 2024 an intention to create a permanent rural pathway, but the 2026–2028 levels plan did not establish one. Both FCIP and RCIP remain pilots and could close, as RNIP did in 2024.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
More Permanent Residency services
Other pathways we handle in this area — or talk to a licensed RCIC about which fits your case.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.