Canada Surpasses 2025 Francophone Immigration Goal and Plans Increased Targets

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that for the fourth consecutive year, Canada has exceeded its francophone immigration target for 2025. French-speaking permanent residents admitted outside Quebec accounted for approximately 8.9% of all entries, surpassing the set goal of 8.5%. The government will continue to raise these targets under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, aiming for 9% in 2026, 9.5% in 2027, and 10.5% in 2028, supporting the broader goal of reaching 12% francophone admissions outside Quebec by 2029. To help address labour shortages, 5,000 federal selection spots will be reserved annually from 2026 onwards for provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants, supplementing the Provincial Nominee Program. These efforts include initiatives like the French-language proficiency category within Express Entry, the Francophone Mobility program, and the Welcoming Francophone Communities project, which collectively aim to strengthen francophone and Acadian minority communities across Canada. Express Entry remains a key pathway in managing applications for permanent residence through various skilled worker streams.