Canada Surpasses Francophone Immigration Target for 2025
Last Updated On 19 January 2026, 12:47 PM EST (Toronto Time)
The Government of Canada, under Minister of Immigration Lena Metlege Diab, has exceeded the Francophone immigration target for 2025 for the fourth consecutive year. Approximately 8.9% of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec have been admitted, showcasing the success of initiatives by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
This achievement is a result of collaborative efforts between the federal government, provinces, territories, and community representatives. Moving forward into the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will continue to elevate targets for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec.
Starting in 2026, the government will allocate 5,000 federal selection positions to allow provinces and territories to nominate French-speaking immigrants. These additional spots will supplement existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations, addressing the shortage of Francophone and bilingual workers while attracting top global talent.
Surpassing the 2025 target and introducing this new initiative paves the way toward achieving the 12% goal of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec by 2029. Measures like the French-language proficiency category in the Express Entry system, the Francophone Mobility Program, and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative highlight Canada’s commitment to enhancing the demographic presence of Francophone and Acadian minority communities.
Aligned with Budget 2025 priorities, these initiatives underscore the importance of uniting efforts to draw international talent, boost the economy, and meet workforce demands.
Pre-announcement Insights
Although specific policy details are pending, hints suggest the upcoming announcement will be linked to the federal immigration levels plan targets for Francophone admissions outside Quebec. The media advisory from IRCC indicates a possible connection to French Community Immigration Pilots.
Targets for French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec under the 2026–2028 plan are:
-
- 2026: 9% (30,267)
-
- 2027: 9.5% (31,825)
-
- 2028: 10.5% (35,175)
Given these targets, the announcement could involve measures like expanding programs for French-speaking residents, operational adjustments to aid Francophone communities, and selection-focused strategies to increase invitations to Francophone candidates.
Debate on French Selection through Express Entry
There is a growing discussion on whether the emphasis on French-language proficiency in Express Entry selection should outweigh broader economic competitiveness measured by CRS scores. Recent trends show high CRS cut-offs, such as 511 in the January 7, 2026, Canadian Experience Class draw, sparking questions among experts.
