Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that Canada exceeded its 2025 goal for the admission of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec, reaching 8.9% of total admissions. This marks the fourth consecutive year Canada has surpassed its Francophone immigration targets.
To further support Francophone communities and address labour shortages, the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan includes reserving 5,000 federal selection spots annually for provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants. These allocations are additional to the Provincial Nominee Program quotas and aim to attract skilled Francophone and bilingual workers.
IRCC continues to promote French-language immigration through initiatives such as the French-language proficiency category in Express Entry, the Francophone Mobility program, and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative. The plan targets progressively higher admission percentages, aiming for 12% Francophone representation outside Quebec by 2029.
The Express Entry system remains a key pathway for skilled immigrants applying under federal economic programs and some provincial nominations, supporting Canada's efforts to build a diverse, bilingual workforce.
Original Source
canada.ca