Canada Surpasses 2025 Francophone Immigration Goals, Plans Further Increases

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that Canada exceeded its 2025 target for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec, reaching 8.9% of admissions. This marks the fourth consecutive year the government has surpassed its Francophone immigration goals, supporting labour market needs and strengthening minority French-speaking communities. As part of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC will reserve 5,000 federal selection spots annually for provinces and territories to nominate French-speaking immigrants. These spots are in addition to existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations and aim to address the demand for Francophone and bilingual workers. The government intends to raise the target for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec to 9% in 2026, increasing incrementally to 10.5% by 2028, with a long-term goal of 12% by 2029. Key programs supporting these efforts include the French-language proficiency category within the Express Entry system, the Francophone Mobility program, and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative. IRCC continues to promote immigration pathways such as Express Entry to attract qualified French-speaking candidates, contributing to Canada's demographic growth and labour market development.