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Canada Expands PR Intake by 5,000 Spots for French-Speaking Immigrants
Canada has announced an additional 5,000 permanent residence (PR) admission spaces to help provinces and territories welcome more French-speaking immigrants.
The announcement was made during a press conference on January 19 by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab in Moncton, New Brunswick. The extra PR spaces will be taken from federal selection allocations and added to the existing admission quotas already provided to provinces and territories through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and other regional immigration pilots.
This move forms part of Canada’s broader strategy to strengthen Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
During the announcement, the minister also confirmed that Canada surpassed its Francophone immigration target for 2025 for the fourth consecutive year. French-speaking immigrants accounted for approximately 8.9% of all PR admissions outside Quebec in 2025, exceeding the federal target of 8.5%.
Impact on provincial immigration candidates
The additional 5,000 PR spaces are expected to increase opportunities for French-speaking candidates under provincial and territorial immigration programs. By expanding Francophone selection beyond federal pathways such as Express Entry, the government aims to give provinces greater flexibility to prioritize French-speaking applicants through their PNP streams.
Higher allocations may result in more invitations for Francophone candidates or potentially the creation of new provincial pathways designed specifically for French speakers. However, federal authorities have not yet confirmed how the additional PR spaces will be distributed among provinces and territories.
Despite these details still being finalized, it is clear that 2026 is expected to see stronger Francophone immigration through provincial and regional programs across Canada.
Future Francophone immigration targets
The federal government reaffirmed its commitment to increasing French-speaking PR admissions outside Quebec in the coming years, as outlined in Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Current targets for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec are set at:
- 9% in 2026
- 9.5% in 2027
- 10.5% in 2028
To support these targets, Canada has introduced several initiatives, including:
- A dedicated Express Entry category for candidates with French-language proficiency
- The Francophone Mobility work permit program
- The Francophone Minority Community Student Pilot
- The upcoming Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
Combined, these measures represent Canada’s long-term roadmap toward achieving a 12% Francophone immigration target outside Quebec by 2029.