IRCC clarifies Francophone student renewals as Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba publish new selections

Four official updates in one September 24 briefing

The latest official updates affect two different parts of the immigration process. IRCC has clarified renewals under the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP), including applications by accompanying family members. Separately, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba have published nine provincial selection rounds dated between September 10 and September 24.

The provincial scores shown below are program-specific selection scores, not federal Express Entry CRS scores. Where a province reports fewer than a stated number of invitations, the exact total is not known and is not estimated here.

FMCSP students may use a valid letter of acceptance or enrolment letter for renewal

IRCC's September 24 program-delivery update adds detailed renewal instructions for people who already hold a study permit issued under the FMCSP. A renewal applicant must remain enrolled full time at a participating designated learning institution in an eligible French-language post-secondary program that is at least two years long and leads to a degree or diploma. The program must still meet the pilot's timing rules, and the applicant may submit either a valid letter of acceptance or a letter confirming continued enrolment.

The financial test remains specific to the pilot: in addition to first-year tuition and travel costs, the applicant must show the applicable annual amount based on family size and the population group of the community where the institution's main campus is located. IRCC describes this as 75% of the relevant low-income cut-off. The current table applies to applications received on or after September 1, 2026.

Accompanying family members can extend or restore temporary status

A family member of a valid FMCSP study-permit holder may apply for an open work permit or C42 renewal, a study permit or renewal, a temporary resident visa, a visitor record, or restoration of temporary resident status, depending on the person's circumstances. A family member applying separately must provide evidence that the principal applicant participates in the pilot.

For an in-Canada application, a dependant may identify the file by uploading a letter of explanation containing the code PPECFSM. FMCSP applicants and their dependants remain exempt from the provincial or territorial attestation-letter requirement when the pilot conditions continue to be met. The first FMCSP study-permit application must still be made outside Canada; the new guidance does not create a port-of-entry application route.

Alberta publishes six AAIP draws

Alberta's minimums are Worker Expression of Interest scores. Candidates also had to meet the eligibility and selection conditions for the named stream or pathway.

• September 23 — Alberta Opportunity Stream: 113 invitations; minimum Worker EOI score 58.
• September 22 — Alberta Express Entry Stream, Accelerated Tech Pathway: 100 invitations; minimum score 59.
• September 21 — Alberta Express Entry Stream, Law Enforcement Pathway: fewer than 10 invitations; minimum score 49.
• September 18 — Alberta Express Entry Stream, Priority Sectors (Health Care): 100 invitations; minimum score 62.
• September 15 — Alberta Express Entry Stream, Priority Sectors (Agriculture): 18 invitations; minimum score 60.
• September 10 — Alberta Express Entry Stream, Priority Sectors (Manufacturing): 48 invitations; minimum score 60.

B.C. issues entrepreneur invitations at score 119

British Columbia held two Entrepreneur Immigration selections on September 22. The Base stream issued 10 invitations with a minimum score of 119. The Regional stream issued fewer than five invitations, also at a minimum score of 119. WelcomeBC did not publish the exact Regional invitation count, so the two rounds cannot be combined into an exact total.

Manitoba draw #280 issues 474 letters of advice to apply

Manitoba's September 24 draw issued 474 Letters of Advice to Apply. One went to a candidate declaring current Manitoba employment as a general practitioner or family physician under NOC 31102. Another 417 went to top-scoring profiles with current Manitoba employment in Broad Occupational Category 2, Natural and applied sciences and related occupations; the lowest score in that selection was 760.

The province also issued 16 invitations in a Francophone selection and 40 through strategic recruitment initiatives: Employer Services 9, Ethnocultural Communities 9, Francophone Community 6, Regional Communities 15 and the temporary work-permit public policy 1. Of all 474 invitations, 148 went to candidates who declared a valid Express Entry profile number and job-seeker validation code.

What applicants should check now

• FMCSP students preparing a renewal should confirm that their institution and program remain eligible and use the current financial table for their family and community size.
• Family members applying separately should include proof of the principal student's FMCSP participation and select the status document that matches their circumstances.
• Provincial candidates should verify that their profile details, occupation, employment and pathway-specific evidence remain current; a published minimum score alone does not establish eligibility.