Express Entry candidates can get more CRS points for speaking French, or being bilingual.

Francophone and French-speaking Express Entry candidates are at present qualified for more points toward their immigration program. French speaking candidates get more points.

Canada’s immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, declared that French-speaking and bilingual candidates will get extra points below the Express Entry system. French-speaking candidates will receive 25 additional points for their language abilities , up from 15. Bilingual candidates will now get 50 points, compared to 30 out of earlier.

Canada intends to acknowledge 4.4 per cent of French-speaking immigrants beyond Quebec from 2023. This new initiative is supposed to help Canada achieve this goal once travel restrictions finally ease, according to a government media release.

In 2019, the proportion of French-speaking immigrants admitted to Canada outside Quebec was 2.82 per cent.

“Supporting the development of Francophone minority communities out of Quebec is a part of this government’s plan for economic expansion and long-term prosperity throughout the nation,” read a quotation attributed to Mendicino,”It is also the right thing to do to help support Francophone communities right across Canada. We will continue to attract Francophone immigrants to make sure that Francophone minority communities prosper.”

Over 60,000 French-speaking immigrants came to Canada between 2003 and 2019. In 2019, that number was 8,645 new French-speakers alone. 

IRCC is currently investing $40.8 million over five years to encourage the consolidation of a Francophone integration pathway and horizontal policy development.

About the Express Entry system

Express Entry is a program management system for three federal immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, along with the Canadian Expertise Course .

The top scoring candidates are awarded Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through routine Express Entrance draws.

After a candidate receives an ITA, they can then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) typically holds Express Entry attracts every two weeks.

Lately, IRCC has been holding bigger draws than ever before. The draw on October 14, issued 4,500 ITAs to Express Entry candidates. As of this date, there have been 82,850 ITAs issued this season.

The percentage of French-speakers encouraged to submit an application for permanent residence reached 5.6percent in 2019, up from 4.5% in 2018.

The province of Quebec has its own immigration system that aims French-speaking immigrants.

ο Reference taken from CIC News