Kelowna outlines 2026 priority jobs for francophone immigration
The City of Kelowna in British Columbia has announced its updated list of priority sectors and occupations for the 2026 Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP). The update includes one new sector and eight newly identified occupations to address local labour needs.
The FCIP enables designated communities outside Quebec to recommend French-speaking workers for permanent residence. Kelowna’s 2026 update was confirmed by the Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDECB), the body overseeing employer designations and candidate recommendations in the region.
- Six sectors are prioritized for 2026, one more than last year.
- Eight new occupations have been added to Kelowna’s in-demand list.
- Employers can submit up to three candidate recommendations per intake period.
- Seven intake periods are scheduled between June and December 2026.
- Minimum wages for listed occupations range from $21 to $28 per hour.
Priority sectors for 2026
The six sectors open under the 2026 FCIP are sales and service; trades, transport and equipment operations; education, law and social, community and government services; health; natural and applied sciences; and business, finance and administration. The addition of the business, finance and administration category marks the only change from 2025.
The SDECB will limit recommendations within certain sectors. For example, the sales and service category will allow a maximum of 10 recommendations overall, with no more than two per National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. In the trades sector, each occupation is capped at three recommendations.
In-demand occupations for 2026
Kelowna’s updated list includes 25 occupations considered in demand for 2026. Among them, eight are new additions. Newly prioritized occupations include accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200), administrative officers (NOC 13100), cabinetmakers (NOC 72311), medical laboratory assistants (NOC 33101), other repairers and servicers (NOC 73209), painters and decorators (NOC 73112), supervisors of finance and insurance office workers (NOC 12011), and supervisors of general office and administrative support workers (NOC 12010).
Several occupations have been removed from the priority list compared to 2025, including chefs, construction trades helpers, food service supervisors, and veterinarians. The removal suggests that local labour shortages in these fields were eased through FCIP participation or other pathways such as the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program or federal Express Entry system.
Designated employers and program eligibility
At present, 40 employers in Kelowna are designated under the FCIP, though few are actively recruiting. Designated businesses must operate in eligible sectors, and establishments such as fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and gas stations are excluded from the program.
To be considered for permanent residence through the FCIP, applicants must hold a job offer from a designated employer and meet the required French-language proficiency at Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 5 across all abilities.
Work experience and education criteria
Candidates must also demonstrate one year of relevant work experience within the past three years, depending on the job’s Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level. They must have at least a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent education verified through an Educational Credential Assessment.
Applicants are required to show settlement funds starting at $10,507 for a single applicant unless they are already employed in Canada on a valid work permit. A two-year work permit specific to FCIP participants allows candidates to begin employment while their permanent residence application is being processed.
Intake schedule for 2026
Seven intake rounds are planned for 2026, beginning in June. Each intake will remain open from the 15th to the 30th of the month. During these periods, designated employers can submit up to three candidate recommendations to the SDECB for review and approval.
At the time of the announcement, one recommendation remained available for corporate sales managers (NOC 60010) and two each for bakers (NOC 63202), cleaning supervisors (NOC 62024), cooks (NOC 63200), and hotel front desk clerks (NOC 64314).
About the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
The FCIP is a five-year initiative launched in 2025 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) alongside the Rural Community Immigration Pilot. Its purpose is to support francophone minority communities outside Quebec by connecting employers with qualified French-speaking candidates interested in settling permanently in Canada.
Once a designated community such as Kelowna approves a candidate’s recommendation, the applicant can apply for permanent residence through IRCC. The program operates similarly to other regional immigration pathways, including the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, which also focuses on meeting local workforce needs.
Kelowna’s implementation of the FCIP reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen francophone immigration and respond to regional labour shortages across key economic sectors in British Columbia. Further updates on intake capacity and employer participation are expected as the 2026 intake periods progress.
For continued coverage of Canadian immigration initiatives and regional pilot updates, follow Immicalculator’s latest news reports.