Calling All French Speakers: Canada’s 2025 Express Entry Now Prioritizes You!

Canada’s Express Entry system just got a strategic upgrade — and if you're planning to make Canada your new home, these changes could work in your favour. With new immigration priorities unveiled for 2025, the focus has shifted toward Canadian work experience, French language proficiency, and filling critical labour shortages in healthcare, education, and trades.

Let’s break it down so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

What’s New in Express Entry for 2025?

Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently announced a refresh of the Express Entry categories. The goal? To better align immigration with Canada’s labour market needs — and to support the communities that need skilled workers the most.

The big headlines:

• A new education category is now part of the Express Entry system.

• Candidates with strong French language skills are getting priority.

• There’s a renewed push to support those with Canadian work experience, especially through the Canadian Experience Class.

These updates come at a time when sectors like health care, construction, and education are seeing urgent demand for skilled talent.

Which Occupations Are Being Prioritized?

IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) will now issue category-based invitations that zero in on key workforce gaps. If you’ve got work experience in these areas, you could be at the front of the line:

• Health and Social Services: Family physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, chiropractors

• Trades: Carpenters, plumbers, contractors

• Education: Teachers, child care educators, and special education instructors

The system also continues to favour candidates with Canadian work experience and those who are actively contributing to Francophone communities outside Quebec.

What About STEM Workers?

Interestingly, occupations in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) — which were prioritized in the past — are no longer top-tier in 2025. That means roles like software engineers, data scientists, and computer systems managers may face more competition this year.

Instead, insurance agents and brokers have been added to the list of occupations in demand.

This shift reflects the federal government’s current strategy to match immigration with urgent, real-time labour needs rather than long-term projections — a move that has raised eyebrows among economic observers but is being positioned as a nimble, responsive approach.

Why This Matters for Francophone Candidates

A standout feature of the 2025 changes is the emphasis on Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Strong French language skills could now give you a serious edge in the Express Entry pool — part of Canada’s broader plan to strengthen Francophone minority communities and preserve linguistic diversity.

If you're bilingual or a French-first speaker looking to settle in provinces like Ontario, Manitoba, or New Brunswick, now is a great time to apply.

Canada is clearly refining its immigration system to better support its economy — and for many immigrants, this means new opportunities to get permanent residence based on real skills and language ability.

If you’re preparing to apply, now’s the time to:

• Update your Express Entry profile

• Highlight your work experience in priority sectors

• Strengthen your French language proficiency, if possible

Not sure where to start? Check out Thrive in Canada’s Job Search Kit or fill out our pre-arrival support form if your move to Canada is just around the corner.

You’ve got this — and we’re here to help every step of the way.