Immigration levels plan targets for 2027 through 2029 will keep Canada’s annual permanent resident admissions at 380,000 while setting a target of 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals each year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the 2027-2029 plan on November 5, 2026, describing it as part of a broader effort to make the system more predictable, targeted and aligned with Canada’s economic needs.
The plan prioritizes three objectives: controlling immigration volumes, meeting humanitarian commitments and working more closely with provinces and territories to address regional labour shortages.
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Canada Sets Stable Immigration Targets For 2027 To 2029
The immigration levels plan sets the target for new temporary resident arrivals at 370,000 in each of 2027, 2028 and 2029.
This total includes 220,000 new workers and up to 150,000 new international students annually.
These figures refer to new arrivals rather than the total number of temporary residents already in Canada.
For permanent residents, the plan establishes 380,000 admissions in each of the next three years.
IRCC said the permanent resident figure includes people already working or studying in Canada, as well as people arriving from outside the country.
The economic class will represent more than 64% of total permanent resident admissions during the three-year period.
| Category | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New temporary resident arrivals | 370,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| New temporary workers | 220,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| New international students | Up to 150,000 | Up to 150,000 | Up to 150,000 |
| Permanent resident admissions | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
The targets support the government’s stated objective of keeping permanent resident admissions below 1% of Canada’s total population beyond 2027.
IRCC also said the plan is intended to reduce pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services while continuing to support employers and educational institutions.
Economic Immigration Remains The Main Focus
The immigration levels plan places continued emphasis on selecting people whose education, experience and qualifications match Canada’s labour market needs.
IRCC said immigration will continue to complement Canadian workers and help employers address critical gaps in key sectors.
The department is also continuing to refine economic immigration programs to identify candidates who can contribute to Canada’s economy over the longer term.
Category-based selection under Express Entry will remain part of this approach.
IRCC said it is advancing broader Express Entry reforms involving federal economic programs and the Comprehensive Ranking System.
The department also referred to new measures for high-wage occupations, although the backgrounder did not provide full operational details for those measures.
Targeted work is also continuing for medical doctors, graduate students and researchers, alongside initiatives connected to Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy.
The announcement does not create a new Express Entry eligibility rule or guarantee invitations for any particular occupation or candidate group.
Francophone Immigration Target Rises Outside Quebec
The immigration levels plan increases the target for French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec over the three-year period.
The target is set at 9.5% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029.
IRCC said the policy is intended to support the vitality, demographic weight and economic development of Francophone minority communities.
The department also reported that more than 23 projects have received funding over the past two years through the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration.
Those projects are designed to reduce barriers, support recruitment and strengthen Francophone communities outside Quebec.
Provincial And Regional Immigration Priorities
The immigration levels plan increases planned admissions through the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program.
IRCC said the increases will be developed in collaboration with provinces and territories to respond to ongoing labour market needs.
The federal government also plans to direct available immigration spaces toward rural and remote communities facing distinct demographic and workforce challenges.
The announcement refers to a time-limited workforce retention measure that is separate from the 2027-2029 immigration levels plan.
Because the backgrounder does not provide full eligibility or application instructions for that measure, applicants should wait for detailed official guidance before relying on it.
IRCC also confirmed that the Rural Community Immigration Pilot will become permanent.
The pilot is intended to help participating rural communities address persistent labour shortages and regional economic needs.
Temporary Measure Could Transition Up To 200,000 People
A major element of the immigration levels plan is a time-limited measure for people already living in Canada.
IRCC said the measure could support the transition of up to 200,000 people to permanent residence through two cohorts.
The workers cohort could include up to 100,000 people already in Canada, along with their families.
The humanitarian cohort could include up to another 100,000 people who are already in Canada.
The additional admissions space is intended to support processing under select pathways in 2027, reduce existing inventories and fulfill certain humanitarian commitments.
The workers cohort will involve cooperation with provinces and territories on regional labour needs.
Additional Provincial Nominee Program space may be used to nominate workers who meet provincial or territorial priorities.
Provinces and territories may also identify workers who have already submitted applications under selected federal programs.
The announcement specifically refers to applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program and certain programs that are closed to new applications.
Those programs include the Start-up Visa Program, the Self-Employed Persons Program, the Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programs.
The government has not stated that every applicant in one of these inventories will receive permanent residence through the measure.
The wording indicates that applications will be handled through selected pathways and subject to the applicable processes.
Humanitarian Cohort Includes Family And Legacy Applications
For the humanitarian cohort, IRCC said the measure will provide fairness to people already in Canada, including individuals who have been waiting for decisions for many years.
The department’s stated goal is to process all remaining applications under the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways and the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway.
The additional space is also intended to finalize applications from people already found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
IRCC said the measure will allow it to process permanent residence applications from spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadians and permanent residents who are already living in Canada.
The government said this could help bring wait times closer to 12 months for the spouse or common-law partner class destined for provinces and territories outside Quebec.
The statement describes this as a goal rather than a guaranteed processing time for every application.
What The Immigration Levels Plan Means For Applicants
The immigration levels plan establishes broad admission targets, but it does not replace the eligibility rules for individual immigration programs.
Applicants must still meet the requirements of the program under which they apply.
For temporary workers and international students, the annual figures are targets for new arrivals and do not guarantee that a work permit or study permit application will be approved.
For permanent residence, the 380,000 figure is an overall admission target and does not guarantee an invitation, nomination or approval for a particular applicant.
People with applications already in process should rely on their application correspondence and official IRCC instructions for information about their individual cases.
Further operational details may be released separately for the temporary transition measure, provincial allocations, Express Entry reforms and the permanent rural pilot.
Canada Continues Its Broader Immigration Recalibration
The 2027-2029 immigration levels plan continues the federal government’s broader recalibration of Canada’s immigration system.
That approach includes reducing the temporary resident population, prioritizing economic immigration and improving processing across different lines of business.
It also seeks to provide more certainty for employers, communities and newcomers by maintaining stable targets over the three-year planning period.
The plan’s effects will depend on later program instructions, provincial and territorial allocations, processing capacity and the detailed rules for any new or amended measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Canada’s permanent resident targets under the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan?
Canada plans to admit 380,000 permanent residents in each of 2027, 2028 and 2029.
How many new temporary residents does Canada plan to admit each year?
The plan sets a target of 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals in each of 2027, 2028 and 2029, including 220,000 workers and up to 150,000 international students.
Who may benefit from the temporary transition measure?
IRCC says the measure could support up to 200,000 people already in Canada through workers and humanitarian cohorts. Detailed eligibility and processing instructions were not fully provided in the backgrounder.
What is Canada’s Francophone immigration target outside Quebec?
The target is 9.5% in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029 of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec.
Fact-Checked: Fact-checked against IRCC’s November 5, 2026 backgrounder and related official Canada.ca immigration levels pages.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not determine eligibility or guarantee approval under any immigration program.
