Canada Immigration Levels Plan

Watch the 2025-2027 announcement:

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.

Historically, numbers were not set for international students or temporary workers via the Immigration Levels Plan. But that has changed in this announcement, with the Government of Canada setting immigration levels targets for temporary residents in its annual reporting. 

Level plans are created with the goal 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.

What Targets Has Canada Set For Permanent Residents In 2025-2027? 

Canada has deviated significantly from the ambitious immigration levels it had set for 2025 and 2026 in last year’s Levels Plan. Originally, Canada had planned to welcome 500,000 new permanent residents in 2025 and 2026. These numbers have been slashed under the Immigration Levels Plan announced on October 24, 2024.

Supplementary Information For Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the immigration targets by program: 

Takeaways: Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027

Immigrants are considered crucial to Canada’s labour market and economic growth, helping to fulfill the nation’s key objectives. They are vital in meeting sustainability goals, fostering a transition to a green and digital economy, and filling critical labour gaps in sectors like health and trades.

Immigration is also considered essential to boosting French language proficiency outside of Quebec. The plan reflects the number of admissions required to meet the French-speaking permanent resident targets (outside Quebec), at a rate of 8.5% in 2025 and moving to 10% in 2027.  Learning French to the levels required for permanent residence in Canada is and will likely remain a key strategy for immigrating to Canada in 2025, 2026 and 2027. 

In addition to focusing on French language proficiency, the levels plan accounts for transitioning more temporary residents to permanent residents. Through the ‘In-Canada Focus’ category, roughly 83,000 temporary residents will become permanent residents in 2025.

Federal Economic Priorities is a new category and can be seen to replace the previous category of Federal High Skilled. Under this new category, around 42,000 permanent residents will come via category-based Express Entry draws. 

The plan recognizes the significance of family support in ensuring the well-being and successful integration of newcomers. It acknowledges the economic benefits arising from spouses/partners joining the workforce and parents/grandparents providing childcare, allowing sponsors to participate or remain in the workforce.

Canada remains dedicated to upholding its tradition of providing protection to those in need, reflecting its commitment to humanitarian causes. The success of welcoming newcomers isn’t solely tied to admission targets but also involves ensuring necessary supports and services, such as housing and healthcare, are available for both newcomers and existing Canadians.

How Can I Get Permanent Residency in Canada in 2025? 

With Canada reducing its targets for permanent residents in 2025, 2026 and 2027, unfortunately, it will be more challenging for newcomers to gain permanent residency in the coming years. But with that said, these immigration targets remain higher than pre-pandemic levels – so while the news is ‘bad’, it’s not to say that immigration is going to become impossible. 

Economic immigration is likely to be more competitive throughout 2025 and 2026, with competition potentially easing in 2027. This means we will likely see the CRS for general draws remaining relatively high (above 510) throughout 2025 and into 2026. 

Category-based immigration, especially for French speakers, will remain elevated throughout 2025 and beyond. Moreover, Canada plans to continue targeting in-Canada applicants – which will likely mean a continuation of the PNP and CEC draws we’ve seen throughout 2024. 

The best thing you can do to get permanent residency in 2025 is to improve your CRS or qualify for category-based immigration. 

You can create a Moving2Canada account for free, personalized guidance to improving your CRS. 

For family immigration, we recommend submitting complete and compelling applications that do not raise questions for border officials. 

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.

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