CIC News Update | Check FCIC Eligibility 2025
CIC News Update: IRCC Set Eligibility Criteria for FCIC French Speakers 2025
Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC) set Eligibility Criteria for the Francophone Community Immigration Class (FCIC).
As of December 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to introduce a new Francophone immigration pathway in 2025. While specific eligibility criteria for this program have not been fully disclosed, IRCC has set targets to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec to 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027.
In the interim, candidates interested in Francophone immigration may consider existing programs such as the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, which is expected to launch in 2025. Eligibility criteria for this pilot include:
FCIC (Francophone Community Immigration Class) is a new Program Launched By the Canadian immigration authorities to Improve and Create New Opportunities for French speakers who want to Work and settle in Canada.
Criteria Defined by IRCC:
| The candidate requires a Job Letter and Recommendation To be Eligible for this Program|
Certificate of Recommendation
To qualify for a certificate of recommendation, applicants must:
Work Experience: Have relevant work experience suitable for the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) level of the offered job.
Job Offer: Hold a genuine job offer in a designated occupation, with acceptable wages (as per Canada’s Job Bank or the designated organization), and supported by required documents. (For: job Assistance Visit AtoZee Visas)
French Language Skills: Meet the required French language proficiency level.
Education: Fulfill the necessary education requirements.
Community Intent: Plan to live and work in the designated community linked to their job offer.
Certificates are valid for 6 months from the date they’re issued. Check New Processing Time for Canada
Genuine Job Offer
To be considered genuine, the job offer must:
Be for full-time, non-seasonal work of an ongoing nature.
Ensure at least 75% of work responsibilities are in the designated community.
Match the applicant’s qualifications, based on past education and work experience.
Align with the specific work experience requirements.
Work Experience Requirements
Applicants need work experience that:
Was gained over 1 year of full-time work (or equivalent part-time work) in a role listed under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC).
Was obtained within the last 3 years.
Matches the job’s responsibilities, as outlined in the NOC.
Was acquired while legally employed (if in Canada).
The level of required work experience depends on the TEER category of the job:
International Graduates Exemption
Graduates may skip the work experience requirement if:
They studied full-time and completed their credential within 18 months of applying for permanent residency (PR).
For master’s or doctoral degrees shorter than two years, they lived in the community during their studies.
For other programs shorter than two years, they lived in the community for 16 of the last 24 months before completing the program.
Language Proficiency
Applicants must take an IRCC-approved French language test to demonstrate their proficiency.
Education Proof
Applicants must provide proof of education:
A Canadian credential or
An international credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), valid within the last 5 years.
Financial Requirements
Applicants must show they have enough money to support themselves and their families, regardless of whether their family members are moving to Canada.