Written by Yvanna Sol

The PNPs are the provincial nominee programs that are part of the Canadian immigration system, these, being managed by the specific government of each province and territory in the country, manage their own criteria for attracting and retaining qualified immigrants who have special skills capable of meeting the needs of each region and contributing greatly to the community.

At Planeta Immiland, our immigration-focused language academy, we receive international students of English and French who are looking to level their second language to the maximum to be able to opt for an immigration plan that will allow them to get to Canada faster and that, on top of that, will offer them permanent residency. For this reason, we wrote this article in response to the consultation of many of our users and clients about which are the provincial programs that have French as a major need or for which you can qualify if you speak this language. Let's take a look at some of the available plans and their characteristics.

French-speaking Mobility Program

This program was created with the main objective of promoting the use of French in French-speaking minority communities outside of Quebec, its main features are:

• It was launched on June 15, 2023.
• It is intended for foreigners from any country who speak French at an initial intermediate level (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC)/CLB Canadian Language Benchmark level 5). 

• It is exempt from the labor impact assessment (LMIA).
• It does not include the province of Quebec (whose official language is French).
• It does not include the country's agricultural sector.
• The government is looking to fill jobs that it has been unable to fill with its own Canadian citizens.
• The applicant must obtain an offer of employment in his/her field, in any NOC/TEER (except agriculture).
• The employer must validate the job offer in the Employer portal, under code C16 for LMIA exemption.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Nomination Program (OINP)

This provincial economic immigration program operates in partnership with the Government of Canada through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Its main features are:

• It is intended for foreign workers, international students and others with qualifications, experience and training eligible to apply for nomination in the province of Ontario.
• Recognizes and nominates to permanent residence persons who have the qualifications and experience of interest to meet Ontario's economic need.
• The federal government makes the final decision to approve applications for permanent residency.
• On January 18, 2024, it launched a round of invitations in the Express Entry French-speaking skilled worker stream.
• The OINP is committed to the cultural and linguistic growth of the French language in the region.

Immigration Pilot for Francophone Communities

This plan is in line with Canada's commitment to diversify the French language. Its main features are:

• It will be launched in the fall of 2024.
• The application process will open in spring 2024.
• It is focused on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers so that they settle in French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec.
• The pilot seeks to support economic development and increase the demographic weight in communities in need of preserving the French language. 
• The plan contributes to the Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026.

Express Entry vs. PNP

Both Express Entry and the provincial nominee programs are immigration pathways that work very well for French-speaking foreigners, but they have their differences.

Express Entry is the quick and easy entry for permanent residency, is handled with scoring for the most qualified, focuses on categories, one of which is French, and this year has launched several rounds of invitations for French language proficiency.

PNPs are not as fast, however, they offer an alternative option to enter Canada without having to compete in the Express Entry system and undergo the high scoring it asks for, they allow direct application to the specific province you require to meet your particular needs. 

At Planeta Immiland, we insist on always raising the level of French. Although there are programs that may ask for a basic level, it is always better to aim higher, as Canada is a very demanding country and wants to attract and retain the best international talent.

Discover our methodology teaching-learning methodology managed by native and foreign bilingual teachers with an expert command of French. We have French leveling and migration courses for French speakers, here are some of them: Mobilité Francophone, ADD-ON Mobilité Francophone Programand you can explore the complete services of our language school, Planeta Immiland Education by clicking here.

With love,

Planet Immiland