Maple News reports that Canada will introduce 5,000 new permanent residence (PR) spaces specifically allocated for French-speaking immigrants in 2026. This new measure, announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab in Moncton, New Brunswick, reflects an ongoing federal commitment to expanding Francophone communities outside of Quebec. These additional spaces are designed to complement existing allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and regional immigration pilots.
The move is a vital component of Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which outlines an increasing target for Francophone immigration. The current objective is to raise the share of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec from 9% in 2026 to 10.5% by 2028, with a longer-term target of 12% by 2029. The 5,000 new spaces are intended to catalyze more rapid progress toward these goals.
Provinces and territories will be given flexibility to leverage these new Francophone selection slots in alignment with local labour needs. Priority is expected to be given to candidates who possess both strong French language proficiency and job-ready skills in sectors facing shortages, such as healthcare, information technology, and advanced manufacturing.
For Canadian employers, particularly those situated outside Quebec, the policy opens new recruitment channels to attract French-speaking international students, temporary foreign workers, and overseas candidates. Candidates with provincial nominations and high French-language scores will be highly competitive under both Provincial and Federal selection systems in 2026 and beyond.
This policy builds on Canada’s recent trends in Francophone immigration. According to preliminary data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the country exceeded its Francophone immigration target in 2025 for the fourth year in a row. Around 8.9% of all permanent residents admitted outside Quebec in 2025 were French-speaking, surpassing the 8.5% target. Over 29,500 French-speaking permanent residents were approved that year.
Express Entry played a key role in achieving these outcomes in 2025. Nearly 42% of all invitations to apply were issued to French-speaking candidates—48,000 out of 113,998 total—often at significantly lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores. For example, one Francophone-specific draw in December 2025 saw 6,000 invitations issued at a cut-off of just 399, compared to considerably higher thresholds in other categories.
The sustained emphasis on French ability in immigration pathways shows a shift from rank-based selection to a more policy-driven approach. By prioritizing language and regional development goals, the government aims to strengthen Canada’s official bilingualism and revitalize minority Francophone and Acadian communities.
Federal initiatives such as the French-language proficiency category within Express Entry, the Francophone Mobility Program, and the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative continue to support this broader strategy. These tools are working in tandem to meet labour market demands while reinforcing Canada’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
Ultimately, for Francophone immigration candidates and employers alike, these changes represent a valuable opportunity. Those with strong French proficiency and matching skills will find expanded avenues for nomination and permanent residency starting in 2026.