Canada continues to strengthen its commitment to Francophone immigration. On January 19, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the country has exceeded its Francophone immigration target for 2025, marking the 4th consecutive year this goal has been surpassed.
In 2025, Canada set a target for 8.5% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec to be French-speaking. Preliminary data shows that the actual figure reached approximately 8.9%, with over 29,500 Francophone permanent residents admitted outside Quebec. This milestone highlights the growing importance of French-speaking immigrants in supporting Canada’s economy, labour market, and cultural vitality.
What’s Driving This Success?
IRCC attributes this achievement to targeted immigration measures and strong collaboration with provinces, territories, and Francophone communities. Programs such as:
Express Entry (French – language proficiency category)
Francophone Mobility Program
Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
These have played a key role in attracting French-speaking and bilingual talent to communities across Canada.
New Opportunities Under the 2026 – 2028 Immigration Levels Plan
Canada is not slowing down. Under the 2026 – 2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the government will continue increasing Francophone immigration targets:
9% in 2026
9.5% in 2027
10.5% in 2028
In addition, starting in 2026, Canada will reserve 5,000 federal selection spaces specifically for provinces and territories to nominate French-speaking immigrants on top of regular Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations. This initiative aims to address shortages of Francophone and bilingual workers and supports Canada’s long-term goal of reaching 12% Francophone admissions outside Quebec by 2029.
What This Means for You
If you are French-speaking or bilingual, these developments significantly improve your chances of immigrating to Canada through Express Entry, PNPs, or employer-driven pathways. Canada is actively seeking skilled Francophone talent and now is an excellent time to apply.
Conclusion
At JDH Immigration, we specialize in helping applicants navigate Canada’s immigration system with clarity and confidence.
Contact JDH Immigration today for a personalized immigration assessment and find out which programs you may qualify for and let us help you turn these new opportunities into your future in Canada.
