Canada seeks more francophones under Immigration Levels Plan 2024-26. IRCC will welcome over 31,500 & 36,000 newcomers in 2025-26 under the same category. A yearly release by IRCC, the Immigration Levels Plan is used to guide a number of new PRs who will be admitted into the nation in the next three years. 

Note: The Levels Plan breaks down PR targets as per Canada’s three immigration classes, i.e., economic, family, & humanitarian/ refugee. 

Specifically, the plan projects for this year will stabilize the number of permanent residents in 2025 & 2026, keeping the overall admissions target at 500,000 new PRs in both years. 

Despite the expected stabilization of Canada’s admission targets, a deeper look into the numbers indicates that one immigration category will witness a growth in admissions over the last two years, as highlighted in this year’s plan. 

Which Immigration Category Will Witness Admission Targets Rise? 

As Canada seeks more francophones, IRCC has indicated that in 2026, the admission targets for French-speaking PR admissions outside Quebec will increase by 4,500. 

This is notable as it is only the admissions category where the stated target rises in the last two years of the Levels Plan. Meanwhile, as the overall admission target doesn’t shift between 2025 & 2026, all but one of the highlighted targets are expected to remain stable over those years. 

In addition, the admissions category which will see its target decrease is the ‘Economic Pilots’ category, which includes the three immigration pathways, i.e.,

  • Agri-Food Pilot
  • Economic Mobility Pathway
  • Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot Program 

The admissions target for this category will decrease from 14,750 to 13,750, respectively, in 2025 & 2026. 

What Is IRCC Seeking To Grow French-Speaking PR Admissions Outside Quebec? 

Well, some rationale behind the increasing admission target for overall French-speaking permanent residents might not be found in the strategic report titled, ‘An Immigration System For Canada’s Future.’

IRCC & the Canadian government gave this report stating detailed findings & an action plan associated with a new strategy for the immigration system. As part of a new report, IRCC has highlighted its target to enhance the vitality of Francophone minority communities. 

In addition, IRCC indicates that this part of the strategic plan is to help the department’s desire to develop a comprehensive & coordinated growth plan for immigration in this nation. It is an effort which includes supporting communities via actions. 

Notably, IRCC says that their focus on increasing French-speaking immigration is part of exploring certain opportunities to enhance regional immigration & support welcoming communities across Canada. 

Specifically, IRCC will undertake the actions mentioned below to fulfill this goal: 

  • Develop a new Francophone Immigration Policy, which will work towards restoring & increasing the demographic weight of the minority community. 
  • Encourage selection efforts & promotion of French-speaking permanent residents. 
  • Support the settlement & integration of French-speaking immigrants in Francophone minority communities. 
  • Set achievable targets to increase PR admissions. 

Collaboratively, this project will increase the admission targets for this category of new PRs. Well, this can be explained via Canada’s goal of growing & strengthening French-language immigration across the nation. 

IRCC’s Recent Success Towards Increased Francophone Immigration

Marc Miller reaffirmed the value the nation sees in Francophone immigration. As a part of his statement, he said that the National Francophone Immigration Week enables the nation to highlight the significance of Francophone immigration to Canada. He further expressed his gratitude for the contribution of French-speaking newcomers/ immigrants to cultural, economic, & demographic richness in Canada. 

As Canada seeks more francophones, it has also released its Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028. The plan explained how IRCC is obtaining funding to support the official language growth of the nation. 

As a part of this plan, the immigration department has indicated that it will spend over $18.5 million to promote & build recruitment support for francophone newcomers/immigrants in Canada & abroad. Moreover, IRCC asserted that over $50 million would go into consolidating the Francophone Integration Pathway, thus making settlement & integration easier for newcomers. 

These future initiatives will synchronize with present efforts to increase Francophone immigration across Canada. Well, this also includes the way newcomers benefit from Express Entry, both in category-based selection & standard Express Entry draws.  

Well, particularly, Express Entry applicants with French-language capability can earn CRS scores, enhancing their chances of obtaining ITA for PR.

Furthermore, as part of a new category-based draw system, IRCC has dedicated one of six categories for immigration applicants with French-language ability. This implies that eligible immigration applicants who can communicate in French will qualify for an ITA in a separate type of draw & standard Express Entry draws, prioritizing an applicant’s CRS score. 

Through such initiatives, IRCC has been able to increase immigration to Francophone minority communities across Canada successfully. This includes reaching their target, i.e., settling over 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants outside the province of Quebec by welcoming over 16,300 immigrants into such communities in 2022.