As competition intensifies for permanent residency (PR) in Canada, a growing number of international students and temporary residents are turning to French to boost their chances of success. Many say the pathway to permanent residency has become increasingly difficult due to rising Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoffs, prompting them to invest in French language training in hopes of gaining crucial points.
Harbal Deep Sidhu, a 25-year-old from Punjab, India, who completed his master’s in mechanical engineering at the University of Windsor, is one such student. Despite spending $42,000 on tuition, Sidhu says the real struggle began after graduation. “The cutoff points are very high now, which is difficult even for master’s or PhD students,” he told CBC News. To improve his odds, he is spending over $2,000 monthly on French lessons, tutors, and online language subscriptions. “We get points for learning French, and we can use it in our PR application,” he said.
Other students echo his experience. Gurasees Singh, studying computer networking at St. Clair College, says that French is his most realistic option. “Because we’re IT professionals, it’s harder for us to qualify through trades or healthcare pathways. French is the only viable route,” he explained. His classmate, Abhoo Kabil, plans to start French courses soon, inspired by others who have successfully used French to gain permanent residency. “It seems to offer a great scope for becoming a permanent resident,” he added.
Immigration lawyer Lou Janssen Dangzalan says he has been advising clients to consider French for years. “French can significantly raise your CRS score and improve your chances of getting drawn,” he said. Those who achieve Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level 5 or higher may qualify as Francophone under Express Entry, which includes category-based selection with lower cutoff scores. “French has become the ultimate backstop for many of my clients,” he said.
For some, learning French is not only about immigration—it’s also about career advancement. Amangel Bhullar, a PhD student who became a Canadian citizen in 2022, is learning French to increase her job prospects in government and research. “There are so many bilingual positions coming up. I want to stay competitive,” she said.
French-language schools are witnessing the trend firsthand. Simon Goulet, campus director at Collège Boréal in Windsor, reported a 222 per cent increase in international student enrollment in French as a second language programs. “There’s growing interest in French for immigration reasons, but also from a genuine curiosity and desire to engage with Canada’s official languages,” he noted. These programs focus on practical communication skills that support both integration and immigration goals.
With over three million temporary residents currently in Canada and only 395,000 PR spots available in 2025, many newcomers are looking for any edge they can find. For an increasing number, learning French could be the key that unlocks their Canadian future.