- 2026 target: 30,267 French-speaking PRs outside Quebec
- 9%
- 2027 target: 31,825
- 9.5%
- 2028 target: 35,175
- 10.5%
- Goal for 2029
- 12%
Canada's 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, published in November 2025, sets targets for French-speaking permanent residents settling outside Quebec. This item sums up the official numbers as of 5 October 2026 and what they mean for French-speaking Express Entry candidates.
What changed
The plan keeps total permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year for 2026, 2027 and 2028, with a range of 350,000 to 420,000. Within that, francophone targets outside Quebec rise each year:
| Year | Share of admissions outside Quebec | People |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9% | 30,267 |
| 2027 | 9.5% | 31,825 |
| 2028 | 10.5% | 35,175 |
The plan says it "supports the broader goal of achieving 12% by 2029". For the Federal High Skilled programs managed through Express Entry, the targets are 109,000 admissions in 2026 and 111,000 in each of 2027 and 2028.
Two related facts from IRCC in 2026:
- 2025 result: in January 2026, IRCC reported that about 8.9% of permanent residents admitted outside Quebec in 2025 were French-speaking (more than 29,500 people), above the 8.5% target.
- Provincial nominations: from 2026, 5,000 federal selection spaces are reserved for provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants, on top of their regular nominee allocations.
Who it affects
- French speakers planning to settle outside Quebec. Rising targets are the policy background for French-language Express Entry rounds, which have invited 50,500 candidates in 2026 so far.
- Candidates aiming for Quebec are not covered by these targets. Quebec selects its own economic immigrants.
- Anyone tracking the 2027–2029 plan. IRCC told the House of Commons immigration committee on 22 April 2026 that the next plan would be tabled in fall 2026. As of 5 October 2026 it has not been published. Levels plans are usually tabled by 1 November.
What to do now
- Focus on what you control. French-category eligibility needs NCLC 7 in all four abilities. Check your NCLC with your TCF Canada or TEF Canada results.
- Know your score: use the CRS calculator and compare it with the French-category draw history.
- Read the background in French for Express Entry and our post on how many CRS points French is worth.
- Follow related policy news: the CRS French bonus is under review, see what we know about the French bonus.
Targets are planning numbers, not guarantees for any individual. Draw sizes and timing are decided round by round by IRCC.