Canada Achieves 2025 Francophone Immigration Target and Adds 5,000 Permanent Residence Spaces Starting in 2026
Date Posted:January 22, 2026
Last Updated:January 22, 2026
Index
The Government of Canada announced on January 19, 2026 that it exceeded its 2025 target for the admission of Francophone permanent residents. The share of Francophone permanent residents increased to 8.9 percent, marking the fourth consecutive year that Canada has met its Francophone immigration targets.
Why Francophone Immigration Is a Priority
Canada has two official languages, English and French, and the federal government places strong importance on strengthening Francophone communities, particularly outside the province of Quebec. Increasing the number of Francophone immigrants is seen as having the following benefits:
- Contributing to local economic growth and community development
- Helping address labour shortages
- Preserving Canada’s cultural and linguistic diversity
Results for Francophone Permanent Residents in 2025
In 2025, Canada exceeded its established target for Francophone permanent residents.
| Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Target | 8.5 percent (Francophone immigrants) |
| Actual | 8.9 percent (approximately 29,500 people) |
This percentage refers specifically to the share of Francophone permanent residents who settled outside of Quebec.
New Measures for 2026 to 2028
To further increase Francophone immigration, the Government of Canada has announced the following measures.
Creation of 5,000 Additional Permanent Residence Selection Spaces
Starting in 2026, an additional 5,000 permanent residence selection spaces will be allocated for Francophone candidates nominated by provinces and territories. These spaces will be added on top of the existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations.
Future Targets for Francophone Immigration
Through these initiatives, the government has set long term goals to gradually increase the proportion of Francophone permanent residents over the coming years.
| Year | Target share of Francophone permanent residents |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 percent |
| 2027 | 9.5 percent |
| 2028 | 10.5 percent |
| 2029 | 12 percent (outside Quebec) |
Why This Matters for Prospective Immigrants
Language ability plays a critical role in obtaining permanent residence in Canada. For individuals who have French language skills in addition to or instead of English, opportunities are expected to expand further in the coming years. These may include:
- Additional points in Express Entry programs such as the Canadian Experience Class
- Express Entry invitation rounds exclusively for French speaking candidates
- Greater advantages under Provincial Nominee Programs
Summary
Canada’s achievement of its Francophone immigration target in 2025 clearly demonstrates the government’s strategic emphasis on attracting French speaking immigrants. From 2026 onward, opportunities are expected to expand for applicants with French language ability and for those interested in Francophone communities across Canada.
This article is a summary prepared by Visa JP Canada based on the official announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), organized for clarity and ease of understanding.
Source: Canada exceeded its Francophone immigration target for 2025 (English)
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