New Canada Immigration Plan 2025 to 2027
Canada Immigration Strategy 2025–2027: New Targets and Key Changes
Canada released its newest Immigration Levels Plan for the period from 2025 to 2027, charting the direction for the size of the immigrants who will be admitted through the various streams. Over the next three years, the nation is expected to admit 1.1 million new permanent residents, with specific yearly targets being established to strike a balance between the nation’s economic development, housing, and social considerations.
Annual Permanent Residence Intakes
- 2025 – 395,000 new immigrants
- 2026 – 380,000 new immigrants
- 2027 — 365,000 new immigrants
Interesting fact: In the year 2023, Canada created history by conferring permanent residency upon a record number of 471,550 persons, the biggest number ever within a year.
Introduction of Two Targets for the Temporary and the Permanent Residents
- Filling labor gaps for industries
- Strengthening the economy
- Maintaining provincial cultural diversity in Canada
- Assistance for Francophone minority communities outside Quebec
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027
Temporary Resident Targets
| Year | Total Arrivals | Workers (Total) | International Mobility Program | Temporary Foreign Worker Program | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 673,650 (Range: 604,900 – 742,400) | 367,750 | 285,750 | 82,000 | 305,900 |
| 2026 | 516,600 (Range: 435,250 – 597,950) | 210,700 | 128,700 | 82,000 | 305,900 |
| 2027 | 543,600 (Range: 472,900 – 614,250) | 237,700 | 155,700 | 82,000 | 305,900 |
Permanent Resident Targets
| Category | 2025 (Target & Range) | 2026 (Target & Range) | 2027 (Target & Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Permanent Residents | 395,000 (367,000 – 436,000) | 380,000 (352,000 – 416,000) | 365,000 (338,000 – 401,000) |
| French-Speaking Admissions outside Quebec | 8.5% (29,325) | 9.5% (31,350) | 10% (31,500) |
Economic Immigration
| Category | 2025 (Target & Range) | 2026 (Target & Range) | 2027 (Target & Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Economic Priorities | 41,700 (30,000–62,000) | 47,400 (30,000–65,000) | 47,800 (32,000–65,000) |
| In-Canada Focus | 82,980 (39,000–89,000) | 75,830 (33,000–82,000) | 70,930 (66,000–76,000) |
| Federal Business | 2,000 (1,200–3,000) | 1,000 (200–2,000) | 1,000 (200–2,000) |
| Economic Pilots (Caregivers, Agri-Food, Community Pilots, EMPP) | 10,920 (6,000–14,800) | 9,920 (5,300–14,000) | 9,920 (5,300–14,000) |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 5,000 (4,000–7,000) | 5,000 (4,000–7,000) | 5,000 (4,000–7,000) |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 55,000 (20,000–65,000) | 55,000 (20,000–65,000) | 55,000 (20,000–65,000) |
| Quebec Skilled Workers & Business | 34,500 (33,000–50,000) | TBD | TBD |
| Regularization Public Policy | 50 (Up to 250) | 100 (Up to 500) | 200 (Up to 1,000) |
| Total Economic Stream | 232,150 (215,000–256,000) | 229,750 (214,000–249,000) | 225,350 (207,000–246,000) |
Family Sponsorship
| Category | 2025 (Target & Range) | 2026 (Target & Range) | 2027 (Target & Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouses, Partners, Children | 70,000 (65,500–78,000) | 66,500 (63,000–75,000) | 61,000 (58,000–67,500) |
| Parents & Grandparents | 24,500 (20,500–28,000) | 21,500 (16,500–24,500) | 20,000 (15,000–22,000) |
| Total Family Stream | 94,500 (88,500–102,000) | 88,000 (82,000–96,000) | 81,000 (77,000–89,000) |
Refugees & Protected Persons
| Category | 2025 (Target & Range) | 2026 (Target & Range) | 2027 (Target & Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protected Persons in Canada | 20,000 (18,000–30,000) | 18,000 (16,000–30,000) | 18,000 (16,000–30,000) |
| Resettled Refugees (Gov’t Assisted) | 15,250 (13,000–17,000) | 15,250 (13,000–17,000) | 15,250 (13,000–17,000) |
| Resettled Refugees (Blended Visa Office Referred) | 100 (Up to 150) | 100 (Up to 150) | 100 (Up to 150) |
| Resettled Refugees (Privately Sponsored) | 23,000 (21,000–26,000) | 22,000 (19,000–24,000) | 21,000 (19,000–24,000) |
| Total Refugees & Protected Persons | 58,350 (55,000–65,000) | 55,350 (50,000–62,000) | 54,350 (50,000–60,000) |
Humanitarian & Other
| Category | 2025 (Target & Range) | 2026 (Target & Range) | 2027 (Target & Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanitarian & Other | 10,000 (8,500–13,000) | 6,900 (6,000–9,000) | 4,300 (4,000–6,000) |
Important Changes in Immigration Policy
The newly released Immigration Levels Plan doesn’t simply outline numbers- it is a calculated change in the way Canada goes about balancing the economy, demographics, and social goals. Some significant changes stand out, and they all have considerable implications for future immigrants.
1. Reduction in Overall Permanent Resident Intakes
The most significant concession is the reduced permanent resident intake for the subsequent three years. The intake for Canada was 485,000 immigrants in the year 2024, but the target is now being lowered under the new proposal to:
- 395,000 in 2025
- 380,000 in 2026
- 365,000 in 2027
2. Modifications of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Another significant change is the reduced scale of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which enables provinces and territories to nominate immigrants who can meet their regional labor requirements. In the new proposal, admissions through PNP will be reduced to an annual quota of 55,000 for the period from 2025 through 2027—a nearly 50% decrease from previous allotments.
Though that seems restrictive, it is consistent with Ottawa’s overall plan of rebalancing admissions among various categories. As compensation for the cutback, federal high-skilled programs handled under Express Entry are being assigned higher weightages. As an example, 124,680 high-skilled applicants are anticipated for admission through Express Entry in the year 2025, and, thus, it will be a prime channel for skilled workers.
3. Support for Francophone Immigration
It is not just cutting figures but also reorienting priorities. There appears a clear emphasis on increased French-speaking immigration from outside Quebec as a measure to accelerate language diversification and support Francophone minority communities across the country.
The targets are ambitious:
- 2025: 8.5% of total admissions (around 29,325 immigrants)
- 2026: 9.5% of total admissions (around 31,350 immigrants)
- 2027: 10% of all admissions (around 31,500 immigrants)
It is the first time the federal government has established such specific, measurable goals for Francophone immigration. It is an acknowledgement that the Francophone immigrants are not only adding to the economy but also maintaining linguistic and cultural connections beyond Quebec, like Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
To achieve these goals, the government will be ready to expand support services such as Francophone settlement groups, language programs, and dedicated Express Entry streams for Francophones.
1. Percentage Reduction of Temporary Resident Population
2. Abrupt Reductions in Work Permit Issues
It is the most radical change for the International Mobility Program (IMP), which provides for the issuing of employer-specific and open work permits without going through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). In 2025, the number of IMP permits Canada will issue amounts to 285,750, but it will drop dramatically in 2026 to just 128,700 and then settle at 155,700 for 2027.
At the same time, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) that requires an LMIA will also be limited to 82,000 permits per year until 2027. This steady limitation is a signal of the government’s wishes to encourage stability within industries that actually depend on foreign labor, such as agriculture, caregiving, and food, and not allowing over-reliance on flows of low-wage labor.
3. International Students: Managed Expansion and New Regulations
For many decades, international students were the core of the economy and the employment pipeline of Canada, but increasing volumes put pressure on communities and education systems. The plan for 2025–2027 provides for permanent yearly caps of 305,900 study permits.
Major changes are:
Canada will also track international admissions of students for alignment with the supply of dwelling units available, provincial funding, and labor market requirements.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also monitoring regional allocation for the purpose of avoiding over-concentration of foreign students within the core urban locations such as Toronto and Vancouver.
4. Amendments to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program
The PGWP remains a critical bridge between student status and permanent residency. However, stricter requirements now apply:
Language criteria:
- College graduates can show CLB 5.
- University graduates must demonstrate CLB 7.
- Program applicability: Students are required to enroll in courses for industries with high demands for their applications. This will not allow graduates to apply for work permits where employment is minimal.
- Spousal open work permits: Spouses of only Master's students studying programs of more than 18 months will now be eligible, fewer than the spouses under the shorter programs.
5. New Guidelines for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
For laborers, it will mean more frequently needing to apply for jobs or find permanent avenues quickly, and for corporations, they must more enthusiastically hire, train, and retain locals.
Metro Areas Now Ineligible for Low-Wage LMIA Applications
The following Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) now fall under the exclusion list due to jobless rates exceeding the 6% threshold:
| Family Size | Minimum Required Funds (Annual) |
|---|---|
| 1 person (student only) | CAD $22,895 |
| 2 people | CAD $28,502 |
| 3 people | CAD $35,040 |
| 4 people | CAD $42,543 |
| 5 people | CAD $48,252 |
| 6 people | CAD $54,420 |
| 7 people | CAD $60,589 |
| Additional family member | CAD $6,170 |
These figures represent a significant increase from the earlier requirement of CAD $20,635 for a single applicant, which had been in effect since January 1, 2024.
How Universal Adviser Can Assist Your PR Journey
As immigration processes are continually updated every few years or even months, keeping up with the latest updates and processes can be challenging for many candidates. With new immigration goals, updated criteria for eligibility, and both permanent and temporary streams having quotas, professional assistance is a must. Universal Adviser is available for your convenience:
- In-depth Eligibility Tests - We scrutinize your profile through the most up-to-date immigration streams such as the Express Entry, PNPs, family sponsorship, and pilot programs.
- Strategic Application Planning - Our immigration consultants help you in reviewing and picking the right stream, either as an experienced professional, student, or provincial nominee.
- Documentation & Compliance - We finish your application process error-free and up to IRCC-compliant form demands.
- Language Test Preparation - You can receive the best-tailored IELTS/CELPIP coaching classes as per your requirements to get to the desired CLB levels.
- Post-Arrival Reception - From housing guidance up to employment search assistance, we support you through a smooth landing upon arrival.
- Continuous Policy Updates - As the immigration regulations for Canada are prone to change, we continually inform you so your plan remains current.
Having an end-to-end PR process backup from the best immigration consultants in India, you can definitely walk through the entire process smoothly, despite Canada revising their immigration rules repeatedly.
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