Today, Canada’s immigration department announced during a press conference their prioritization of French-speaking immigrants in 2026. 5,000 additional spots are being included through the nation for permanent residence (PR) admissions to increase French-speaking newcomers.
This is Canada’s ongoing effort to increase the levels of Francophone immigration outside of Quebec.
It is noteworthy to mention the federal government has yet to explain how the 5,000 spots will be distributed among Canada’s provinces and territories. However, IRCC has set current targets to 9% in 2026, 9.5% in 2027, and 10.5% in 2028, which is significant.
The government has instituted a number of initiatives to help achieve this goal, including:
- The addition of an Express Entry Category for those with French proficiency
- The creation of the Francophone Mobility work permit program
- The implementation of the Francophone Minority Community Student Pilot
- The forthcoming implementation of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
In addition to the measures announced today, Ottawa framed these combined steps as the roadmap toward a 12% target of French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec by 2029.
