Canada PR for French Speakers: 5,000 New Spots Announced

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="request-699e80c2-461c-832e-b57d-b4e3b2095499-3" data-testid="conversation-turn-28" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> Canada has announced a major expansion in permanent residency opportunities for French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec. On January 19, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that an additional 5,000 permanent resident admissions will be allocated to provinces and territories to strengthen Francophone immigration across the country.

The announcement was made in Moncton, New Brunswick, by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab . These new admissions will come from federal selection spaces and will supplement existing allocations already designated under provincial nominee programs and regional immigration pilots.

Strengthening Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec This initiative forms part of Canada’s broader strategy to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants settling outside Quebec. The added allocation provides provinces with greater capacity to nominate Francophone candidates, expanding opportunities beyond federal programs such as Express Entry and into provincial immigration pathways.

While the federal government has not yet specified how the 5,000 new admissions will be distributed among provinces and territories, the increase signals stronger support for provincial-level selection of French-speaking candidates.

Canada Surpasses Francophone Immigration Targets For the fourth consecutive year, Canada exceeded its Francophone immigration target outside Quebec. In 2025, approximately 8.9% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec were French-speaking immigrants, surpassing the 8.5% target set for the year.

According to the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the federal government intends to raise these targets further:

9% in 2026

9.5% in 2027

10.5% in 2028

Ottawa has also expressed a longer-term objective of reaching 12% French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec by 2029.

Supporting Programs and Initiatives To meet these ambitious targets, several programs have been introduced or expanded, including:

A dedicated Express Entry category for French-speaking candidates

The Francophone Mobility work permit program

The Francophone Minority Community Student Pilot

The upcoming Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative

These initiatives aim to attract, integrate, and retain Francophone newcomers in minority-language communities across Canada.

What This Means for Applicants Although it is too early to determine how the 5,000 additional spots will directly impact provincial draws, the announcement suggests that French-speaking candidates may see increased nomination opportunities through provincial programs in 2026 and beyond.

Applicants with strong French language proficiency may benefit from enhanced selection prospects, particularly in provinces seeking to strengthen their Francophone communities. Monitoring provincial nominee program updates and maintaining valid language credentials will be essential for candidates hoping to capitalize on this expansion.