Canada is reducing its admission targets for permanent and temporary immigrants. In the Immigration Levels Plan released on October 24, the Government of Canada announced the following reductions in permanent immigration admissions targets for the next three years:
- 2025: 395,000 – down from the 2024 target of 485,000 and the 500,000 target previously set for the 2026-2024 migration plan.
- 2026: 380,000 people – down from the target of 500,000 people in the 2026-2024 migration plan.
- Year 2027: 365,000 people.
While the government has generally reduced immigration, it has increased the share of economic immigration. Economic immigration targets for 2025 have decreased by only 17%, from 281,000 to 232,000. More than 40% of these economic migrants are expected to be selected from temporary residents in Canada.
The government has set the following table for accepting permanent immigrants in the next three years:
| Immigration category | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Total admissions for permanent residence and target intervals | 395,000 people (436,000 – 367,000) | 380,000 people (416,000 – 352,000) | 365,000 people (338,000 – 401,000) |
| Acceptance of French speakers from outside Quebec | 8.5% (29,325 people) | 9.5% (31,350 people) | 10% (31,500 people) |
| Economic migration | 232,150 people (215,000 – 256,000) | 229,750 people (214,000 – 249,000) | 225,350 people (207,000 – 246,000) |
| Join the family | 94,500 people (88,500 – 102,000) | 88,000 people (82,000 – 96,000) | 81,000 people (77,000 – 89,000) |
| Refugees, protected persons, humanitarian and others | 68,350 people (63,500-78,000) | 62,250 people (56,000-71,000) | 58,650 people (54,000-66,000) |
In an unusual move, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally announced the immigration cuts — a matter normally announced by the immigration minister. While praising immigration to Canada, Trudeau said: “This country has made us a model for the global economy.” He and Immigration Minister Miller emphasized Canada’s commitment to supporting immigration.
Reduction of admissions in Provincial Candidate Programs (PNP)
In this year’s immigration program, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) admission targets have been reduced by almost 50%:
- 2025: 55,000 people – down from the target of 110,000 people for 2024 and 120,000 people for 2025.
- 2026: 55,000 people – down from the target of 120,000 people in last year’s plan.
- Year 2027: 55,000 people.
This reduction in PNP targets represents a significant shift in the federal government’s immigration policy.
Increasing high-skilled economic immigration
The federal government allocates a larger share of economic immigration to highly skilled immigration programs that are administered through the Express Entry system. While PNP targets have decreased, high-skilled immigration targets have increased:
- 2025: 124,680 people – an increase from the target of 110,770 people in 2024 and 117,500 people for 2025.
- 2026: 123,230 people – an increase from the target of 117,500 people in last year’s plan.
- Year 2027: 118,730 people.
The government has used this year’s additional information to set federal economic priorities and focus within Canada.
Increasing acceptance of French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec
The federal government continues its policy of increasing admissions targets for French-speaking immigrants from outside Quebec as a percentage of total admissions for permanent residence:
- 2025: 8.5%
- 2026: 9.5%
- 2027: 10%
Purposes of temporary residence
For the first time in this year’s immigration program, specific goals have been set for accepting temporary residents. The announcement comes after sweeping changes to Canada’s immigration system. The government plans to reduce the level of temporary residence as a percentage of the Canadian population from 7% to 5% by the end of 2026.
The table of goals for accepting temporary residents for the next three years is as follows:
| Temporary resident category | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Total arrival of temporary residents and target ranges | 673,650 people (604,900 – 742,400) | 516,600 people (435,250 – 597,950) | 543,600 people (472,900 – 614,250) |
| workers | 367,750 people | 210,700 people | 237,700 people |
| Students | 305,900 people | 305,900 people | 305,900 people |
The significant reduction in the number of workers from 2025 to 2026 is mainly due to a significant reduction in work permits allocated to the International Mobility Program (IMP). The goal of accepting this program is 285,750 people for 2025 and only 128,700 people for 2026. Also, work permits under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will remain constant at 82,000 per year for the next three years.
The government expects to reduce the percentage of temporary residents from 7% to 5% by transitioning temporary residents to permanent residence – through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Express Entry lotteries, and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Canada’s temporary resident population is projected to decline by 445,000 in 2025 and 2026 each, and then increase by about 17,000 in 2027. This reduction is expected due to the acceptance of temporary residents as permanent residents and the expiration of their residency status.
The limit for accepting study permit applications for 2024
On January 22, Immigration Canada (IRCC) announced the first cap on international student admissions to control the growth of the foreign student population with study permits. The policy, originally designed as a two-year temporary measure, limited the number of new study permits for undergraduate and college students to 360,000 in 2024. This policy was later expanded as a permanent part of Canada’s international student program to include new regulations for master’s and doctoral students.
As a result of these changes, IRCC also revised the eligibility criteria for Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWP) during the year. Under the reforms, students studying on degree programs with licensing agreements will no longer be eligible for PGWP from September this year.
Amendments to the temporary foreign workers program
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has recently come under scrutiny. In the Oct. 24 announcement, Trudeau criticized Canadian businesses for “exploiting cheap foreign labor” and emphasized the importance of reform. Earlier this year, the government stopped processing labor market impact assessments (LMIAs) for the low-wage arm of the TFWP program in the Montreal region, and subsequently in metropolitan statistical areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher.
News source: www.cicnews.com
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