Maple News reports that Canada has increased the number of points awarded to French-speaking and bilingual applicants under its Express Entry immigration system. The latest policy update, announced by Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, is aimed at strengthening Francophone communities outside Quebec and supporting Canada’s long-term economic growth.
French-speaking candidates will now receive 25 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, up from the previous 15. Bilingual applicants—those proficient in both French and English—will receive 50 additional points, an increase from the prior allotment of 30.
This change is part of Canada’s broader strategy to promote Francophone immigration outside of Quebec. The federal government has set a target for French-speaking newcomers to represent 4.4% of all immigrants outside Quebec by 2023. In 2019, this figure stood at 2.82%, highlighting the need for targeted measures to boost Francophone representation.
Over 60,000 French-speaking immigrants have made Canada their home between 2003 and 2019, with 8,645 arriving in 2019 alone. To further support this initiative, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is investing $40.8 million over five years to develop a cohesive Francophone integration pathway and strengthen related policies.
“Supporting Francophone minority communities is essential for national prosperity,” said Mendicino. “By attracting French-speaking immigrants, we’re ensuring these communities flourish in every part of the country.”
Express Entry is Canada’s primary system for managing permanent residence applications under three key immigration streams: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. CRS points determine an applicant’s ranking within the Express Entry pool, influencing their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency.
This update enhances opportunities for French-speaking and bilingual candidates by increasing their competitiveness in the Express Entry draws, especially as Canada looks to expand its talent pool and support linguistic diversity throughout the nation.
The announcement is expected to encourage more Francophones to consider Canada as their destination while helping bridge the gap between immigration targets and actual admissions.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments in Canada’s immigration policies and provide timely updates for international talent and Canadians alike.