Updated on November 4, 2025
Every year, stakeholders around the globe watch the Canada Immigration Levels Plan to make important decisions based on Canada's annual intake of newcomers.
Targets Set For Permanent Residents In 2026-2028
| Immigration category | 2026 Range | 2026 Target | 2027 Range | 2027 Target | 2028 Range | 2028 Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Planned Permanent Admissions | 350,000-420,000 | 380,000 | 350,000-420,000 | 380,000 | 350,000-420,000 | 380,000 |
| Economic Immigration | 224,000-264,000 | 239,8000 | 229,000-268,000 | 244,700 | 229,000-268,000 | 244,700 |
| Family Reunification | 78,500-92,000 | 84,000 | 75,000-90,000 | 81,000 | 75,000-90,000 | 81,000 |
| Refugee, Protected Persons, Humanitarian and Compassion, and Other | 48,000-64,000 | 56,200 | 46,000-62,000 | 54,300 | 46,000-62,000 | 54,300 |
| French-speaking Permanent Resident Admissions outside quebec | - | 30,267 | - | 31,825 | - | 35,175 |
Read the full analysis in our dedicated article: Canada’s 2026 Immigration Targets
Temporary Residents Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the immigration targets for the Temporary Residents, which includes International Students and Temporary workers:
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Arrivals | 385,000 (Range: 375,000 – 395,000) | 370,000 (Range: 360,000 – 380,000) | 370,000 (Range: 360,000 – 380,000) |
| Workers (Total) | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| International Mobility Program (IMP) | 170,000 | 170,000 | 170,000 |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) | 60,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
What is the Canada Immigration Levels Plan
The immigration levels plan is the most important announcement of the year in the Canadian immigration space. It outlines Canada’s plan for the number of permanent residents the country will accept over the following three years. Planning for multiple years ahead provides some stability and predictability for both immigrants and the various stakeholders involved.
Level plans are created to support key priorities in Canadian immigration. Economic-class targets are set to support economic growth and labour shortages. Family-class levels demonstrate Canada’s commitment to family reunification. Refugee/humanitarian classes uphold Canada’s humanitarian commitments to the world.
Watch here the official 2026-2028 announcement:
Why Canada Needs Immigrants
Immigration is vital to Canada’s demographic and economic health. According to IRCC, immigration represents nearly 100% of the country’s population growth and is essential for increasing the working-age population between 15 and 64 years old.
Without immigrants, Canada’s population would begin to decline over the next 20 years as it continues to age, even though immigration alone cannot fully solve the challenge of population aging.
Economically, immigrants make a greater contribution to Canada’s pool of highly skilled workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) than their Canadian-born counterparts. While immigrants make up 23% of the population, they hold about 50% of all STEM degrees.
IRCC also highlights that immigration fuels entrepreneurship and job creation: immigrants, especially those in the economic class, are more likely to own businesses, including firms in knowledge-based industries.
Finally, from a fiscal standpoint, IRCC notes that immigrants admitted after 1980 have made positive net direct fiscal contributions, with economic immigrants contributing more on average than both other immigrant groups and Canadians overall.
How Does Canada Decide How Many Immigrants To Admit Each Year?
The immigration levels plan is created each year through a structured and consultative process that involves several key steps and considerations.
The process begins with the Canadian government conducting extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, employers, immigrant advocacy groups, and the public. These consultations help identify the priorities and needs of different groups.
The government also assesses Canada’s economic needs and demographic trends. This includes analyzing labour market data to identify shortages and how immigration can fill the gaps in the workforce. Canada’s ongoing demographic challenges, such as an aging population and a low birth rate, are also considered in setting targets.
In Canada, immigration is a shared jurisdiction between the federal government and the provinces and territories. The objectives of these governments can change over time and may be influenced by political, economic, and social factors. The federal government takes into account the needs of the provinces and territories when developing the plan.
Canada’s immigration plan must align with international obligations, including commitments to refugee resettlement and humanitarian efforts. Additionally, the government considers the public policy aspects of immigration, such as family reunification and human rights.
Once the plan is developed, it is presented to the Canadian Parliament for approval, which ensures democratic oversight of the process. No one, not even Canadian media, gets to see the plan before it is tabled in parliament. (And if they do, they are darn lucky!)
The plan is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains relevant and effective in achieving its intended goals. It can be adjusted over time if necessary due to changing circumstances, such as economic shifts, global crises, or specific events that may require a response in immigration policy.
Previous Years – Immigration Levels Plans
2025-2027
Published on: October 24, 2024
Detailed Plan and Analysis: Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027.
| Immigration Class | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 395,000 | 380,000 | 365,000 |
| Overall - Range | 367,000 - 436,000 | 352,000 - 416,000 | 338,000 - 401,000 |
| Economic | 232,150 | 229,750 | 225,350 |
| Family | 94,500 | 88,000 | 81,000 |
| Refugee | 58,350 | 55,350 | 54,350 |
| Humanitarian | 10,000 | 6,900 | 4,300 |
2024-2026
Published on: October 31, 2023
Detailed Plan and Analysis: Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026.
| Immigration Class | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic | 281,135 | 301,250 | 301,250 |
| Family | 114,000 | 118,000 | 118,000 |
| Refugee | 76,115 | 72,750 | 72,750 |
| Humanitarian | 13,750 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
| Total | 485,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
2023-2025
The plan was published on: November 1, 2022
Detailed Plan and Analysis: Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025.
Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025
| Immigration Class | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic | 266,210 | 281,135 | 301,250 |
| Family | 106,500 | 114,000 | 118,000 |
| Refugee | 76,305 | 76,115 | 72,750 |
| Humanitarian | 15,985 | 13,750 | 8,000 |
| Total | 465,000 | 485,000 | 500,000 |
2022-2024
The plan was published on: February 14, 2022
Detailed Plan and Analysis: Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024.
| Immigration category | Category | 2022 Range | 2022 Target | 2023 Range | 2023 Target | 2024 Range | 2024 Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Programs | FSW, FST, CEC (Express Entry) | 52,000-64,000 | 55,900 | 63,000-84,000 | 75,750 | 91,000-118,000 | 111,500 |
| Federal Economic Public Policies | 30,000-48,000 | 40,000 | 25,000-42,000 | 32,000 | - | - | |
| Business | 800-1,500 | 1,000 | 800-1,500 | 1,000 | 1,000-2,000 | 1,500 | |
| Economic pilots: Caregivers; Agri-Food; Rural and Northern | 4,000-10,500 | 10,250 | 7,000-18,000 | 11,250 | 8,000-20,000 | 12,750 | |
| Atlantic Program | 4,000-8,000 | 6,250 | 4,000-10,000 | 6,500 | 4,000-12,000 | 6,500 | |
| PNPs | 80,000-95,000 | 83,500 | 82,000-95,000 | 86,000 | 88,000-98,000 | 93,000 | |
| Quebec (Skilled Worker & Business) | Check Quebec immigration plan numbers | Check Quebec immigration plan numbers | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
| Total Economic | 210,000-248,000 | 241,850 | 222,000-259,000 | 253,000 | 235,000-273,000 | 267,750 | |
| Family Class | Spouses, Partners, and Dependent Children | 68,000-81,000 | 80,000 | 70,000-84,000 | 81,000 | 70,000-84,000 | 81,000 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 19,000-31,000 | 25,000 | 22,000-38,000 | 28,500 | 27,000-43,000 | 32,000 | |
| All Family Class Programs | 90,000-109,000 | 105,000 | 94,000-113,000 | 109,500 | 99,000-117,000 | 113,000 | |
| Refugees and Protected Persons | Protected Persons in Canada & Dependents Abroad | 20,000-27,500 | 24,500 | 20,500-28,000 | 25,000 | 21,000-28,500 | 25,500 |
| Government Assisted | 15,500-24,000 | 19,790 | 13,500-26,000 | 17,260 | 10,000-19,500 | 13,000 | |
| Blended Visa Office Referred | 100-1,100 | 1,000 | 100-1,100 | 1,000 | 100-1,100 | 1,000 | |
| Privately Sponsored | 19,000-34,000 | 31,255 | 19,400-34,000 | 30,795 | 15,500-28,000 | 23,000 | |
| Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 55,000-79,500 | 76,545 | 57,000-82,000 | 74,055 | 50,000-75,500 | 62,500 | |
| Humanitarian and Other | Total Humanitarian & Other | 5,000-8,500 | 8,250 | 7,000-11,000 | 10,500 | 6,000-9,500 | 7,750 |
| Overall Planned Permanent Admissions | 360,000-445,000 | 431,645 | 380,000-465,000 | 447,055 | 390,000-475,000 | 451,000 | |
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