Maple News reports that over 350,000 Haitian nationals living legally in the United States may face deportation when their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ends in February 2026. For many of them, Canada’s merit-based Express Entry system could offer a promising alternative immigration route—especially for those with skilled work experience and French language proficiency.
Canada has continued to expand its immigration targets, particularly welcoming Francophone newcomers outside the province of Quebec. According to the government’s most recent Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to admit at least 10.5% of new permanent residents as French-speaking individuals by 2028. This emphasis aligns closely with the linguistic background of many Haitian nationals, particularly those fluent in French.
The Express Entry system, Canada’s flagship immigration selection model, uses a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. Haitian nationals highly proficient in both English and French can gain significant points—up to 210—for their language abilities alone under the CRS Core Human Capital and Additional factors sections.
Furthermore, strong language skills can also boost applicants’ scores in the Skills Transferability section, where a candidate can gain up to 100 additional points depending on their education level and years of relevant foreign work experience.
Express Entry regularly conducts invitation rounds, known as ‘draws,’ inviting top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. In addition to these standard draws, Canada also runs category-based selections, which often have lower CRS score thresholds. Among these categories is French-language proficiency, requiring applicants to meet a minimum level 7 under the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) across listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
For French-speaking Haitians living in the U.S., particularly those with skilled work backgrounds, Canadian immigration offers not only a fresh start but also an opportunity to leverage their existing strengths within a globally respected points-based system. With two years remaining before the TPS deadline in the U.S., now may be the most opportune time for eligible candidates to explore Canadian immigration options.
As always, Maple News recommends timely preparation and professional advice for anyone considering immigration to ensure alignment with program requirements and maximize chances of success.