🇨🇦 CanadaStudent VisasEffective 26 Aug 2026

Canada — Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot enters a new annual cycle

What changed

Canada has updated its public policy for French-speaking foreign nationals who want a study permit under the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP). This policy started when it was signed. This update raises the yearly limit for new study permit applications (Part A) to 2,970. This new limit applies for the periods from 26 August 2025 to 25 August 2026, and from 26 August 2026 to 25 August 2027. The old limit was 2,425. This update also makes the policy for Part A applicants valid until 25 August 2027. The updated policy clearly lists the eligible countries. These countries are in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. They are members of l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. They also come from areas that have historically high refusal rates for study permits. People from these countries and their family members do not have to meet some requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations.

Published 1 Jul 2026Effective 26 Aug 2026Source IRCC News Releases

Does this affect you?

Create a Mobility Profile to see whether this record relates to your nationality, residence and the pathways you follow.

Create your profile

The detail

Policy history

Each version stays exactly as it was published. This one is version 1 and sits in a chain of versions you can read separately.

Canada Updates Public Policy for French-Speaking International Students Under Francophone Minority Communities Student P

goborda provides monitoring and explanation of publicly available policy information. It is not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration professional before acting.

Related changes

CanadaBorder SecurityEffective 1 Dec 2026

UPDATE: Permits extended until November 30, 2026 – CBSA to enhance border integrity and expand telephone reporting in remote border areas

What changed

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced that the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Programme will close on 1 December 2026. This means all travellers entering Canada through remote areas in northern Ontario or from the Northwest Angle into southern Manitoba must now report to the CBSA. They must report at a port of entry or a special telephone reporting site. Before this change, RABC permits allowed people to enter these areas without reporting directly. Now, everyone must report by telephone or at a physical port of entry. To help with this change, all current RABC permits will now be valid until 11:59 p.m. on 30 November 2026.

Published 10 Aug 2026Effective 1 Dec 2026Government of Canada — Immigration announcements

United StatesStudent VisasIssued 30 Jul 2026

Exchange Visitor Program-Termination of Program Participation, Extension of Program and Reinstatement to Valid Program Status

What changed

The Department of State plans to change the Exchange Visitor Program (for J visa categories). The planned rules make clear when an exchange visitor's programme must end. They also let the Department end programmes in specific situations. The rules change how programmes can be extended and how visitors can get their status back. They do this by removing old rules and adding new ways of working with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The rules also add meanings for "Unauthorized Employment" and "Valid Program Status". They remove the separate rule for extending au pair programmes.

Published 30 Jul 2026Federal Register — Immigration rules & notices

CanadaPassport RulesEffective 28 Jul 2026

Canada expands online passport renewal to all eligible adults

What changed

Canada now lets all eligible adult Canadians renew their passport online. They can send their application, photo, and payment digitally. This makes the process simpler. It reduces the need for people to visit an office in person. It helps those who find it hard to get to an office.

Published 28 Jul 2026Effective 28 Jul 2026IRCC Newsroom

United StatesStudent VisasEffective 15 Sept 2026

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Establishes Fixed Admission Periods and New Extension of Stay Procedures for F, J, and I Nonimmigrants

What changed

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started a new rule. It takes effect from 15 September 2026. This rule sets a fixed time for people allowed into the US. These people include academic students (F-1 visa holders), exchange visitors (J-1 visa holders), and representatives of foreign news media (I visa holders) — legally called nonimmigrants. Before this rule, the time these nonimmigrants could stay was not set as a fixed period. Now, they will be allowed in for a specific, pre-set time. They will need to follow a formal process to ask for an extension of stay if they want to remain in the US longer than this first period. This change affects all people who have or are applying for F, J, or I nonimmigrant status.

Published 17 Jul 2026Effective 15 Sept 2026Federal Register — Immigration rules & notices