CIMM - Study Permit Applications from French-Speaking Africa - Dec 2, 2020

Key messages

Supporting immigration from Francophone countries is a priority for the Department. As part of this priority, IRCC has introduced the Student Direct Stream to expedite study permit application processing in key markets to increase immigration from French-speaking countries in Africa.
IRCC has made the Student Direct Stream available in Morocco and Sénégal. The Department is continuously seeking new markets for expansion of the Stream.
Global Affairs Canada also participates in this effort to welcome more international students from French speaking countries in Africa to Canada through the International Education Strategy. The Strategy supports the diversity of Canada’s international student population, particularly francophone students, by providing the framework for 2020-2021 campaigns in Morocco, Sénégal, Ivory Coast and Tunisia.

The Department is investing resources to help international students from French speaking countries in Africa come to study in Canada. French-speaking countries in Africa is a growing market for study permit applications (43,546 applications received in 2019).
Visa application centres are located in nearly all major French speaking countries in Africa.
Francophone countries in Africa supply a steady stream of students. In 2019, 6 out of top 10 source countries for study permit applications destined to Québec were from Africa.
IRCC offices facilitate the travel of students to Canada, based on the documents that they provide. In some cases, applicants may not understand the need to provide documents in support of their applications.
IRCC engages in outreach with partners as well as at public events in order to explain visa requirements and how to apply in order to avoid disappointment, and to prevent fraud. IRCC has introduced the Student Direct Stream in Sénégal to assist students in making solid applications and demonstrate funds in a reliable way.

To attract more French-speaking students to study in Canada, the SDS expanded in 2019 to include applicants from Sénégal and Morocco (4,710 applications received in 2019).
In 2020-2021, the Strategy has maintained its advertising campaign efforts in regions that target French-speaking Africa including Morocco, Sénégal, Ivory Coast and Tunisia as part of a campaign to target Francophone minority communities for both college and university-level studies. These campaigns play a key role in promoting studies in Canada, thus increasing the number of French-speaking migrants seeking to further their studies in Canada.
Market suitability criteria for Student Direct Stream expansion include: availability of a guaranteed investment certificate financial product and IELTS/TEF language testing; study permit application volumes, approval rates, and processing times, and an assessment of country-specific risk (admissibility concerns, fraud, and country conditions).

Unfortunately, the pandemic has affected local conditions overseas, including the ability to obtain documentation such as passports and education credentials to complete a study permit application. This has been seen in most top source countries for international students, including those in the Maghreb and Francophone Africa.
We know students and stakeholders are concerned with application backlogs. The Department is monitoring the situation closely and is considering options such as re-assigning staff working in areas that have seen a decrease in application volumes (e.g. temporary resident visas for visitors) to process study permit applications and reduce backlogs.
Biometric collection remains a requirement, if applicable. The initial biometric enrolment as part of the application is conducted overseas. This enables Canada to fully screen travelers for identity and admissibility purposes. Collection of biometrics overseas ensure that Canada can detect and deal with possible threats before they show up at our ports of entry.