Arrima – Online Immigration and French Learning Services – Gouvernement du Québec

By GovPrepare News Desk – December 21, 2025

Standfirst: The Québec government has expanded its Arrima platform, integrating French language services with immigration processes to streamline settlement for newcomers. This initiative directly benefits applicants aiming to immigrate and integrate into Québec society.

Key Highlights

• Arrima now includes free French learning resources for immigration candidates
• Enhanced online platform aims to support integration and employment outcomes
• Initiative aligns with Québec’s French-language requirements for residency and labor needs
• Developed under the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI)
• Accessible to candidates in the immigration process and those awaiting selection
• Supports Québec’s 2024–2027 immigration strategy and French language preservation goals

Background and Context

Québec has long maintained a distinct immigration policy emphasizing the French language, social integration, and economic contributions. The province operates its own selection system under a constitutional agreement with the federal government, making it unique in Canada.

The Arrima platform was launched in 2018 to manage Québec’s expression of interest system. It enables skilled workers to submit profiles for consideration under the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP). Over the years, Arrima has evolved to serve as a digital gateway for immigrants navigating Québec’s immigration process.

Québec’s 2024–2027 immigration plan includes increasing annual admissions to 60,000 newcomers by 2027 and investing in language training and selection tools. The government has prioritized French language acquisition, with more than CA$500 million allocated in 2023 to support French language training across Québec. According to MIFI, access to language services directly correlates with better employment and long-term integration outcomes.

The New Development

On December 18, 2025, the Government of Québec announced a major enhancement to the Arrima immigration platform. Users participating in the selection process now have access to newly integrated online French learning services. This development was led by the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI), with the goal of promoting francization and improved integration practices.

With this update, eligible users can now access self-paced, interactive French learning modules directly adapted to their language proficiency. These online services include reading and listening comprehension tools, basic grammar exercises, and immersive content tailored to professional settings. The platform will support French learning from level A1 (beginner) to B2 (advanced intermediate), based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

The new services are accessible free of charge and are available to individuals who have submitted a declaration of interest (DOI) through Arrima. This includes thousands of prospective immigrants in the RSWP pipeline. MIFI reported that the platform redesign was completed using both internal digital teams and external educational technology partners, under an undisclosed funding envelope tied to the 2025–2026 provincial budget.

Arrima’s updated capabilities mark a significant step in aligning Québec’s immigration tools with its broader cultural and labor objectives. The services will continue to be improved through feedback from users and francization professionals.

Expert and Industry Reaction

Language and immigration experts have welcomed the move, emphasizing that earlier access to language tools significantly improves integration timelines.

Dr. Isabelle Fontaine, an immigration policy researcher at Université de Montréal, stated, “Providing French education before even arriving in Québec removes a major hurdle. It supports both economic and social integration from day one.”

The Québec Employers Council (Conseil du patronat du Québec) also issued a statement in support of the enhancements, noting that access to skilled immigrants with functional French boosts labor supply and workplace cohesion. “A prepared workforce helps fill critical labor gaps, especially in sectors facing acute shortages,” the council noted.

Organizations serving immigrants, such as the Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI), have highlighted the user-friendly design of the platform and encouraged the government to monitor access and outcomes among diverse linguistic communities.

Alignment with Global or National Standards

The initiative is consistent with frameworks recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which advocates for integrated language and employment support in national migration systems.

Canada’s federal government also encourages language readiness prior to arrival through programs like the Pre-Arrival Settlement Support offered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Québec’s initiative complements this by emphasizing pre-departure and early-stage learning in its unique French-speaking context.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), used in over 40 countries, provides a standardized measurement for language proficiency. Québec’s adoption of CEFR levels increases interoperability with international education and migration systems.

Impact on Stakeholders

This development holds immediate and long-term benefits for a range of stakeholders:

• Immigration Candidates – Gain early access to French learning, improving selection outcomes and integration upon arrival.
• Employers – Benefit from a pool of newcomers with job-ready language skills, reducing onboarding costs and productivity delays.
• Public Institutions – See reduced demand on in-person language services and improved allocation of integration resources.
• Civic Community – Enhanced social cohesion as newcomers enter society linguistically prepared.

In the short term, applicants are empowered to better prepare for life in Québec, while in the long term, this contributes to the province’s demographic sustainability and linguistic continuity. Québec officials estimate up to 25,000 immigrants annually could benefit from the online modules, depending on selection patterns.

Official Guidance

• Gouvernement du Québec – Immigration Services
• Arrima Online Platform
• Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec
• OECD – Migration Policies & Integration
• Government of Canada – Immigration and Citizenship

Conclusion

Québec’s integration of customized French learning services into the Arrima immigration platform represents a key modernization of its immigration strategy. By providing accessible, targeted language education early in the immigration process, the initiative supports both individual newcomer success and collective societal goals.

The rollout of this updated platform reflects Québec’s continued emphasis on preserving its French linguistic culture within a growing and diverse population. Applicants can access the updated Arrima platform starting immediately, with monitoring, feedback, and iterative improvements planned throughout 2026.

For more updates, analysis, and preparedness resources, visit GovPrepare.com.

Excerpt (Meta Description): Québec expands Arrima online immigration portal with free French learning tools to support integration and language acquisition for new immigrants.

Tags: Québec immigration, Arrima platform, French language services, immigration policy, integration programs, MIFI Québec, online language learning, skilled worker program, francization, language acquisition, immigration digital tools, Canadian immigration