Canada Surpasses 2025 Francophone Immigration Goal, Plans Further Increases

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that it has exceeded its 2025 target for Francophone immigration outside Quebec, admitting approximately 8.9% of French-speaking permanent residents, surpassing the 8.5% goal. This marks the fourth consecutive year the government has surpassed its Francophone immigration targets. The achievement results from collaborative efforts with provinces, territories, and community organizations. Looking ahead, under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will further raise its targets for French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec to 9% in 2026, 9.5% in 2027, and 10.5% in 2028. Starting in 2026, an additional 5,000 federal spaces will be dedicated to French-speaking immigrants designated by provinces and territories, supplementing Provincial Nominee Program allocations. These initiatives aim to address labour shortages and support Francophone and bilingual communities nationwide. Express Entry continues to play a key role in selecting skilled immigrants, including a French-language proficiency category that assists in meeting Francophone immigration objectives. Other programs supporting this goal include the Francophone Mobility program and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative. These measures align with federal priorities to attract global talent and strengthen Canada’s official language communities.