Canada to boost French-speaking intake in 2026 after beating 2025 target

This is the 3rd year in a row that IRCC has passed its target for French-speaking newcomers outside of Quebec, Canada’s only French-speaking province.  IRCC beat the 4.4% target in 2023, reaching 4.7%. In 2024, the 6% target came in at 7.2%.

This is encouraging news for anyone currently learning French to boost their chances of securing permanent residency status in Canada and, for those sitting on the fence, may be the final push needed to commit to learning the language. 

New spots allocated to French speakers  

Speaking from Moncton on January 19, Immigration Minister Lena Metlage Diab also announced that Canada is allocating 5,000 federal selection spaces to provinces and territories to select French-speaking newcomers.   

The number represents a notable increase over the total 2024 PNP admissions for French-speaking applicants outside Quebec, 3,640.  

The new spaces are in addition to the 91,500 already allocated to the Provincial Nominee Program this year (plus an additional 5,000 recently given to PNPs to invite physicians already in Canada).  

It’s all part of IRCC’s target to ensure 12% of new permanent residents outside of Quebec are French-speaking by 2029.  

IRCC’s pathways for French speakers 

To boost the number of French-speaking newcomers, IRCC launched the Policy on Francophone Immigration in January 2024.   

The Policy includes several initiatives aimed at making Canada, outside Quebec, an attractive destination for francophones.   

This is in addition to the ongoing push to attract skilled workers through Express Entry.  

Express Entry for French Proficiency 

French-proficiency draws are still the main pathway for potential French-speaking newcomers. The latest Express Entry draw for French speakers issued 6,000 ITAs. 

With 42% of all Express Entry ITAs going to French-speaking candidates last year, many newcomers are considering learning French to improve their chance at being selected.   

IRCC issued 48,000 invitations overall to candidates with some French ability but will learning French actually help?  

For those who are eligible for an Express Entry program, even without total fluency, learning French can increase your overall CRS score.

Also keep in mind that the push for French speakers is not going anywhere any time soon. If you have the time to learn the language, you can keep testing until you get the result you need, increasing your chance of that ITA and your ability to take advantage of one of IRCC’ other pathways for French speakers. 

How Express Entry works 

IRCC targets skilled workers with specific attributes through Category-based Selection Express Entry draws. French-speaking proficiency tends to have more draws than other categories.  

It’s unique because, unlike other Express Entry categories, those who get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) as a French speaker do not need to have a specific occupation.   

To apply, you need to be eligible for an Express Entry program, such as the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Worker Program. You also need a niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 7 or higher.  

Francophone Mobility Work Permit  

In 2023, IRCC launched the Francophone Mobility Work Permit. Its main benefit is that it allows French-speaking applicants to get a work permit without a prospective employer having to apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).  

Candidates need a job offer, an NCLC level 5, and, of course, be located outside of Quebec to be eligible.  

There were 3,100 work permits issued through the program in 2024.  

French Immigration Community Pilot  

IRCC also launched the French Immigration Community Pilot for skilled workers who are willing to settle in rural Francophone communities. So far, six rural communities in Canada have been selected for the program. These communities will offer support and assistance to help you get settled

 The Official Languages Act  

Canada is trying to “increase the demographic weight” of francophones in Canada as outlined in the Official Languages Act.  

The government has been working to increase the number of French-speaking newcomers in Canada for a few years now. According to the IRCC transition binder released last May, nearly one million Francophones live in Canada outside Quebec, representing 3.5% of the population. This is a decline from 4.4% in 2001.