Canada is implementing a significant recalibration of its immigration policy, moving from a period of high, rapid intake to one focused on sustainability, control, and economic selection. The key change is the drastic reduction in temporary residents, while permanent resident numbers are stabilized but given a stronger economic focus. This balanced, strategic shift, released in November 2026’s Budget reading, is expected to create clearer pathways, stronger opportunities for skilled applicants, and a more stable immigration system that benefits both newcomers and Canada’s long-term growth.
About the Immigration Levels Plan
The Immigration Levels Plan is the government’s official document for communicating its approach to immigration. Each year’s plan includes targets for the upcoming year and the two years that follow. The targets for the immediate next year are generally held firm, while those for the second and third years are provisional and subject to change.
1. Temporary Resident Admissions: The Largest Reduction
The most dramatic change in the new plan is the targeted reduction of the temporary resident population, directly addressing the recent strain on Canadian infrastructure, particularly housing and healthcare.
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
| Overall Arrivals | 385,000 (375,000 – 395,000) |
370,000 (360,000 – 380,000) |
370,000 (360,000 – 380,000) |
| Workers (Total) | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Mobility Program | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 60,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
The Issue at hand:
The temporary resident population surged from 3.3% of Canada’s population in 2018 to 7.5% by 2024. This unprecedented growth rate was deemed “no longer sustainable.”
- The Change: The government is “taking back control” by setting hard targets for new temporary admissions. The target of 370,000 new temporary residents for 2027 and 2028 is a nearly 45% drop compared to the previously targeted 673,650 for 2025.
- Impact: This reduction is already showing results in the short term, with new international student arrivals down by approximately 60% and new temporary foreign worker arrivals down by about 50% compared to 2024. The long-term goal is to reduce the total number of temporary residents to less than five per cent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027.
2. Permanent Resident Admissions: Stabilization and Re-focus
This new plan is shifting away from the aggressive growth targets of previous years, opting for a plateau in permanent resident intake. It also fundamentally changes who is being admitted.
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | ||||||||
| Immigrant Category | Target | Low Range | High Range | Target | Low Range | High Range | Target | Low Range | High Range | |
| Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions | 380,000 (350,000 – 420,000) |
380,000 (350,000 – 420,000) |
380,000 (350,000 – 420,000) |
|||||||
| Overall French-speaking Permanent Resident Admissions outside Quebec | 9% (30,267) |
9.5% (31,825) |
10.5% (35,175) |
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|
Economic
|
Federal High Skilled | 109,000 | 85,000 | 120,000 | 111,000 | 86,000 | 122,000 | 111,000 | 86,000 | 122,000 |
| Federal Business | 500 | 250 | 1,000 | 500 | 250 | 1,000 | 500 | 250 | 1,000 | |
| Federal Economic Pilots | 8,175 | 5,000 | 11,800 | 8,775 | 6,600 | 12,400 | 8,775 | 6,600 | 12,400 | |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 4,000 | 3,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 | 5,000 | |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 91,500 | 82,000 | 105,000 | 92,500 | 82,000 | 106,000 | 92,500 | 82,000 | 106,000 | |
| Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | TBD | TBD | TBD | |||||||
| Total Economic | 239,800 (224,000 – 264,000) |
244,700 (229,000 – 268,000) |
244,700 (229,000 – 268,000) |
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|
Family
|
Spouses, Partners and Children | 69,000 | 63,000 | 75,000 | 66,000 | 60,000 | 71,000 | 66,000 | 60,000 | 71,000 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 15,000 | 13,000 | 19,000 | 15,000 | 13,000 | 19,000 | 15,000 | 13,000 | 19,000 | |
| Total Family | 84,000 (78,500 – 92,000) |
81,000 (75,000 – 90,000) |
81,000 (75,000 – 90,000) |
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|
Refugees and Protected Persons
|
Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad | 20,000 | 17,000 | 30,000 | 20,000 | 17,000 | 30,000 | 20,000 | 17,000 | 30,000 |
| Resettled Refugees – Government Assisted | 13,250 | 10,000 | 15,500 | 13,250 | 10,000 | 15,500 | 13,250 | 10,000 | 15,500 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office Referred | 50 | – | 100 | 50 | – | 100 | 50 | – | 100 | |
| Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored | 16,000 | 13,000 | 19,000 | 16,000 | 13,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 13,000 | 18,000 | |
| Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 49,300 (42,000 – 55,000) |
49,300 (42,000 – 55,000) |
49,300 (42,000 – 55,000) |
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|
Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other
|
Humanitarian and Compassionate | 1,100 | 1,000 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 700 | 2,900 | 1,000 | 700 | 2,900 |
| Other | 5,800 | 4,500 | 8,000 | 4,000 | 3,200 | 6,000 | 4,000 | 3,200 | 6,000 | |
| Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other | 6,900 (6,000 – 9,000) |
5,000 (4,000 – 7,000) |
5,000 (4,000 – 7,000) |
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The Previous Trajectory: Earlier plans had set targets for permanent residents at higher levels (e.g., 500,000 for 2025 and 2026 in plans prior to 2024). This new plan stabilizes the target at 380,000 per year for three years (2026-2028), down from 395,000 in 2025.
- The Change: While the overall numbers are slightly lower and stabilized, the focus is heavily shifted towards economic immigration. With this, Canada plans to increase the share of economic migrants from 59% to 64%, ensuring the system better evaluates newcomers based on merit and specific labour market needs.
- Impact: This stabilization aims to fulfill the promise that permanent residents will “contribute to Canada’s prosperity,” while the annual intake is kept at a manageable level (less than one per cent of the population beyond 2027).
3. In-Canada Pathways: Transitioning to Stability
A compassionate component of the new system is accelerating the transition of established temporary residents to permanent status, recognizing their existing community ties and contributions.
| Initiative | Context/Previous System | New Measure (2026-2027) | Rationale |
| Protected Persons | Long, complex application/processing times | One-time initiative to recognize eligible Protected Persons as PR | Acknowledges that vast majority cannot return home; accelerates integration. |
| Work Permit Holders | Applicants competing with overseas candidates | One-time measure to accelerate up to 33,000 to Permanent Residency | Rewards those with established roots, paying taxes, and helping build the economy. |
- The Comparison: The previous system often saw long backlogs for recognized protected persons and forced many experienced temporary workers to compete in programs that did not fully recognize their in-Canada experience.
- The Change: These one-time measures streamline the transition for two groups who are already in Canada and contributing, thereby providing them with the clarity and consistency the new plan promises. This is a practical step to accelerate integration and reduce long-term system load.
The overall effect is a concerted effort to restore “control, clarity, and consistency” by severely limiting new temporary admissions while stabilizing and prioritizing permanent migration based on specific economic needs.
Conclusion
Canada needs immigration to keep its economy strong and robust. Canada also remains one of the most welcoming countries with consistently high immigration levels. Despite these reductions, Canada’s immigration levels remain higher than pre-pandemic targets. These adjustments in immigration targets are a response to several factors, including the need to control temporary immigration levels and ensure the sustainability of immigration programs. In the short term, the plan will see a pause in population growth to achieve a well-managed, sustainable growth and economic prosperity in the long term with improved housing affordability and lower unemployment rates.
Get Expert Guidance on Canada’s Immigration Changes
If you’re considering immigrating to Canada or are currently a resident and worried about how these new immigration targets might affect your plans, we’re here to assist you. Schedule a personalized one-on-one consultation with our expert immigration consultants to help you navigate these changes effectively.
Our dedicated team will evaluate your unique circumstances, guide you through the application process, and ensure you remain compliant with the latest regulations. Contact us today to book your consultation and take the next step towards a successful future in Canada.
The Team at Northern Connections Canada.
