TCF Practice

Using TCF Canada for the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot offers permanent residence to skilled workers who want to work and settle in a Francophone-minority community outside Quebec. FCIP requires NCLC 5 in all four French abilities. The TCF Canada minimums are speaking 6, listening 369, reading 375, and writing 6.

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NCLC 5 is required in all four abilities

FCIP accepts TCF Canada and TEF Canada. For TCF Canada, NCLC 5 starts at speaking 6, listening 369, reading 375, and writing 6. IRCC assesses every ability separately, so a score above the threshold in one ability does not offset a lower score in another.

The 6 participating communities

The communities are Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick; Sudbury, Timmins, and Superior East Region, Ontario; St. Pierre Jolys, Manitoba; and Kelowna, British Columbia. You must intend to work and settle in the community that recommends you.

Get an employer offer and community recommendation

Before applying for permanent residence, you need a valid job offer from a designated employer in a participating community. The employer sends your community recommendation application to the community. It checks that the job is in a priority sector or occupation, the offer is genuine, and you meet the pilot requirements.

Work experience and the limited graduate exemption

The general rule is at least 1 year, or 1,560 hours, of related work experience in the past 3 years. It must be paid and must not be from a self-employed job, and its TEER must fit the offer under IRCC's table. An eligible international student who graduated from a public post-secondary school in the recommending community may be exempt, subject to program, full-time study, graduation-date, and local-presence rules.

Education and settlement funds

You need a Canadian educational credential or an educational credential assessment (ECA) that is less than 5 years old and shows a foreign credential equal to at least a Canadian secondary-school diploma. Proof of funds is normally required, but not if you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit.

FCIP is not Francophone Mobility

FCIP is a permanent-residence pilot built around a participating community, designated-employer offer, and community recommendation. Francophone Mobility is a separate temporary, employer-specific, LMIA-exempt work permit route outside Quebec. Its speaking-and-listening rule does not replace FCIP's four-ability requirement.

Optional 2-year employer-specific work permit

After applying for permanent residence under FCIP, an eligible applicant may also seek a 2-year employer-specific work permit while the PR application is processed. It is not automatic: an eligible offer, a participating-community recommendation, and general work-permit eligibility are still required.

Frequently asked questions

What TCF Canada scores do I need for FCIP?
All four abilities must reach NCLC 5: speaking 6, listening 369, reading 375, and writing 6. IRCC assesses each ability separately.
Which communities participate in FCIP?
Acadian Peninsula, Sudbury, Timmins, Superior East Region, St. Pierre Jolys, and Kelowna. You need an offer from a designated employer and a community recommendation.
Is FCIP the same as Francophone Mobility?
No. FCIP is a permanent-residence pilot requiring NCLC 5 in all four abilities. Francophone Mobility is a separate temporary, employer-specific, LMIA-exempt work permit route focused on speaking and listening.
Can I work while my FCIP application is processed?
An eligible applicant who has applied for permanent residence may seek a 2-year employer-specific work permit, but still needs an eligible offer, a participating-community recommendation, and general work-permit eligibility.

Official source

2026-08-22.

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This page provides educational information only and is not legal or immigration advice.