Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) release detailed information on the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan (“the Plan”) on 2025/11/05.
The Plan includes:
- Temporary resident targets and ranges – covering the number of new international students and temporary foreign workers arriving in Canada;
- Permanent resident targets and ranges – covering the Economic, Family, Refugees and Protected Persons, and Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) and Other categories.
I. Overall Direction
This year’s Plan focuses on:
- Restoring sustainable immigration levels by continuing to reduce temporary resident arrivals and stabilizing permanent resident admissions;
- Prioritizing economic immigration to fulfill the government’s commitment to “attract top global talent and fill critical labour shortages in key sectors”;
- Maintaining a continued focus on humanitarian cases and family reunification.
II. Temporary Resident Targets
To help the immigration system return to a sustainable level, the government is committed to reducing the share of temporary residents to below 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.
- Target for new temporary residents in 2026: 385,000
- Target for 2027 and 2028: 370,000
These figures include new temporary workers and international students entering Canada.
The worker targets are divided into two categories:
- International Mobility Program (IMP)
- Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program
This combination of students and workers supports Canada’s goal of attracting top international talent to strengthen its economy.The Plan also considers sectors affected by tariffs and the specific labour needs of rural and remote communities, ensuring balanced growth across industries.
III. Permanent Resident Targets
Permanent resident admissions will stabilize at 380,000 per year from 2026 to 2028.
Economic immigration will remain the priority, accounting for 64% of total admissions by 2027 and 2028.
The Plan increases admissions under the Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams, helping Canada attract talent for nation-building projects while addressing regional labour market needs.
IV. Commitment to Francophone Minority Communities
The Plan raises the proportion of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec to:
- 10.5% by 2028,
- Supporting the longer-term goal of 12% by 2029.
This reinforces Canada’s commitment to fostering the vitality of Francophone minority communities.
V. Family and Humanitarian Categories
- The Family Class will remain stable at 21.3–22.1% of total admissions, continuing Canada’s tradition of welcoming families and strengthening social ties.
- The Refugees and Protected Persons category will account for 13% of total admissions.
- Additional spaces are allocated to fulfill Canada’s international humanitarian commitments.
Canada will continue to be a global leader in refugee resettlement.
VI. One-Time System Recalibration Initiatives
To bring the immigration system back to a sustainable scale, the government will implement two one-time acceleration measures:
1️⃣ Protected Persons to Permanent Residents
- Over a two-year period, approximately 115,000 protected persons in Canada will transition to permanent residence.
- These individuals already hold protected person status under Canadian and international law.
- They are not temporary residents (such as work or study permit holders).
- Prioritizing their transition will ensure those genuinely in need of Canada’s protection gain permanent status sooner, promoting full integration and upholding Canada’s humanitarian obligations.
2️⃣ Temporary Workers to Permanent Residents
- Between 2026 and 2027, up to 33,000 temporary workers will transition to permanent residence.
- Targeted workers are those who have established strong community roots, pay taxes, and contribute actively to Canada’s economy.
VII. Conclusion
These targeted measures align with the overall objectives of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan:
- Restoring control, clarity, and consistency to the system;
- Maintaining compassion and inclusivity in immigration decisions;
- Strengthening Canada’s economic competitiveness and ensuring long-term labour sustainability.
Source: Supplementary Information for the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan - Canada.ca
