Canada has announced the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan and the focus is on reducing permanent resident (PR) targets. Compared to last year’s plan, the target has been lowered from 500,000 permanent residents to 395,000 in 2025, and from 500,000 PRs to 380,000 for 2026. Lastly for 2027, Canada has set a target of 365,000 permanent residents.
Unlike previous years, the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan includes controlled targets for temporary residents, specifically international students and foreign workers, as well as for permanent residents. The goal is to pause population growth in the short term to achieve well-managed, sustainable growth in the long term.
In a statement, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, shared: “Today’s announcement is the next step in our plan to address the evolving immigration needs of our country. While it’s clear our economy needs newcomers, we see the pressures facing our country, and we must adapt our policies accordingly. These changes will make immigration work for our country so that everyone has access to the quality jobs, homes and supports they need to thrive. We have listened to Canadians, and we will continue to protect the integrity of our system and grow our population responsibly.”
Also read: International students must meet Canada’s new PGWP requirements starting Nov 1, 2024
The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan is expected to result in a marginal population decline of 0.2% in both 2025 and 2026 before returning to a population growth of 0.8% in 2027. The Levels Plan also supports efforts to reduce temporary resident volumes to 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2026. Learn more here. These changes will help provinces, territories and stakeholders align their capacities and allow the population to grow at a sustainable pace as we encourage institutions to do their part in better welcoming newcomers.
Other measures from the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan include the following:
- Transitioning more temporary residents who are already in Canada as students and workers to permanent residents. Representing more than 40% of overall permanent resident admissions in 2025, these residents are skilled, educated and integrated into Canadian society. They will continue to support the workforce and economy without placing additional demands on our social services because they are already established, with housing and employment.
- Focusing on long-term economic growth and key labour market sectors, such as health and trades. Permanent resident admissions in the economic class will reach 61.7% of total admissions by 2027.
- Strengthening Francophone communities outside Quebec and supporting their economic prosperity. Of the overall permanent resident admission targets, Francophone immigration will represent 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027.
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