IRCC announced the latest Canada Immigration Levels Plan on October 24, 2024. This was the first time the Canadian government announced targets for international students and temporary foreign workers in addition to the estimated target for permanent residents.
Below is detailed information on the Levels Plan and its key takeaways announced by the IRCC.
| Immigration Programs/Categories | 2025 Targets | 2026 Targets | 2027 Targets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category Based Express Entry Draws | Target: 41,700 Low Range: 30,000 High Range: 62,000 (Priority categories – Healthcare, Trade and French Language Proficiency) | Target: 47,400 Low Range: 30,000 High Range: 65,000 | Target: 47,800 Low Range: 32,000 High Range: 65,000 |
| Canadian Experience Class (CEC) (Along with Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program ) | Target: 82980 Low Range: 39000 High Range: 89,000 | Target: 75830 Low Range: 33000 High Range: 82000 | Target: 70930 Low Range: 66000 High Range: 76,000 |
| Start-up Visa Program and the Self-Employed Persons Program | Target: 2000 Low Range: 1200 High Range: 3000 | Target: 1000 Low Range: 200 High Range: 2000 | Target: 1000 Low Range: 200 High Range: 2000 |
| Caregivers Pilot Program; Agri-Food Pilot Program; and Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Program | Target: 10,920 Low Range: 6000 High Range: 14800 | Target: 9,920 Low Range: 5,300 High Range: 14,000 | Target: 9,920 Low Range: 5,300 High Range: 14,000 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Target: 5000 Low Range: 4000 High Range: 7000 | Target: 5000 Low Range: 4000 High Range: 7000 | Target: 5000 Low Range: 4000 High Range: 7000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | Target: 55,000 Low Range: 20,000 High Range: 65000 | Target: 55,000 Low Range: 20,000 High Range: 65000 | Target: 55,000 Low Range: 20,000 High Range: 65000 |
| Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | Target: 34,500 Low Range: 33,000 High Range: 50,000 | – | |
| Francophone immigration outside Quebec | 29,325 | 31,350 | 31,500 |
| Total Economic Target | 232,150 (215,000 – 256,000) | 229,750 (214,000 – 249,000) | 225,350 (207,000 -246,000) |
| Spouses, Partners and Children | Target: 70,000 Low Range: 65,500 High Range: 78,000 | Target: 66,500 Low Range: 63,000 High Range: 75,000 | Target: 61,000 Low Range: 58,000 High Range: 67,000 |
| Parents and Grandparents | Target: 24,500 Low Range: 20,500 High Range: 28,000 | Target: 21,500 Low Range: 16,500 High Range: 24,500 | Target: 20,000 Low Range: 15,000 High Range: 22,000 |
| Total Immigration Target for Family | 94,500 (88,500 – 102,000) | 88,000 (82,000 – 96,000) | 81,000 (77,000 – 89,000) |
| Refugees and Protected | 58,350 (55,000 – 65,000) | 55,350 (50,000 – 62,000) | 54,350 (50,000 – 60,000) |
| Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other categories | 10,000 (8,500 – 13,000) | 6,900 (6,000 – 9,000) | 4,300 (4,000 – 6,000) |
| Total Targeted Immigration | 395,000 (367,000 – 436,000) | 380,000 (352,000 – 416,000) | 365,000(338,000 – 401,000) |
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027 for Temporary Residents
The latest Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027 includes the estimated targets for temporary residents for the very first time.
| Categories | Targets in 2025 | Targets in 2026 | Targets in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Mobility Program | 285,750 | 128,700 | 155,700 |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 82000 | 82,000 | 82,000 |
| Students | 305,900 | 305,900 | 305,900 |
| Overall Arrivals | 673,650 (604,900 – 742,400) | 516,600 (435,250 – 597,950) | 543,600 (472,900 – 614,250) |
Key Takeaways from the latest Immigration Levels Plan (2025-2027)
- Canada is reducing the number of temporary residents to 5% of its total population by the end of 2026.
- A significant amount of temporary residents will transition to permanent residents.
- The year 2025 will see a reduced target PR target in 2025. These targets will further decrease in 2026 and 2027.
- In the short term, this will pause population growth which will allow the Canadian government to manage and achieve sustainable growth and economic stability in the longer run. The country will be able to reduce the gap in housing supply and will further reduce the unemployment rate.
- According to the latest Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will now invite 105,000 fewer permanent residents than it was projected in the previous levels plan.
- Priority will be given to those applicants who are already in the country as temporary residents.
- People with Canadian work experience or education have a higher chance of settling in the country.
- Candidates who have worked in healthcare and trade will have a higher chance of Canada Immigration through pathways such as Canadian Experience Class and other regional immigration programs.
- In 2025, as much as 24% of total permanent resident admissions will belong to the family class.
- The latest Immigration Levels Plan also targets Francophone admissions outside Quebec. Francophone immigration will make up for at least 8.5% of total PR admissions.
How Does the Immigration Levels Plan Impact You?
The latest Canada Immigration Levels Plan indicates that Canada Immigration will no longer be as easy as it was before. The IRCC is getting increasingly selective in terms of the international workers, students as well as immigrants that will be invited in the country.
The main ways that the Levels Plan may impact your plan of immigrating to Canada are:
- IRCC may invite applicants mainly through the Canadian Experience Class and category-based selections. The FSWP and the FSTP pathways might see lower invitations in the upcoming draws. Provincial Nominees will also have a higher chance of getting an invitation in Express Entry draws
- Since IRCC is set to invite as much as 24% of total PR applications from the family sponsorship class, this is the time to sponsor your spouse, child, or parents and bring them to Canada.
- The Immigration Levels Plan also aims to continue to invite French-speaking candidates throughout the next three years. Thus, learning or knowing how to speak French and scoring high in TCF or TEF might increase your chances of getting a Canada PR visa
- Provincial Nominee Program is another dependable pathway through which you can improve your chances. Becoming a provincial nominee will ensure that you get a high CRS score and will almost guarantee an Invitation to Apply in Express the Entry round of Invitations.
One of the most significant impacts of the Immigration Levels Plan that nobody talks about is that it will make Canada a better place to settle in. Immigration may become hard, but it will also make Canada a more prosperous, safe, and stable country, with sufficient homes, and job opportunities to offer to the immigrants.
