Canada Exceeds Francophone Immigration Target for 2025

Canada has surpassed its Francophone immigration target for 2025 for the fourth consecutive year, reinforcing the country’s commitment to strengthening French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec.

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that French-speaking permanent residents accounted for approximately 8.9% of all admissions outside Quebec in 2025 — exceeding the government’s target of 8.5%.

According to preliminary data, over 29,500 Francophone permanent residents were admitted across Canada outside Quebec, highlighting the success of targeted immigration policies and close collaboration with provinces, territories, and community organisations.

Francophone and Acadian minority communities play a vital role in Canada’s economic growth, cultural diversity, and the preservation of the French language. Francophone immigration remains a key strategy to address labour shortages and support community development nationwide.

As part of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, the government has announced new measures to further increase Francophone immigration. From 2026 onwards, 5,000 additional federal selection spaces will be reserved annually for provinces and territories to nominate French-speaking immigrants, beyond existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations.

These initiatives aim to help Canada reach its long-term goal of having 12% of permanent residents outside Quebec be French-speaking by 2029. Programmes such as the Express Entry French-language proficiency category, Francophone Mobility Program, and Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative continue to support this objective.

Minister Diab emphasised that French-speaking newcomers are essential to strengthening the workforce, supporting economic vitality, and promoting Canada’s official languages, which remain a core part of national identity.