Canada's immigration levels: the current plan and what to watch next

Key takeaways

• The current plan targets 380,000 new permanent residents a year for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
• New temporary arrivals are being cut: 385,000 in 2026, then 370,000 in 2027 and 2028.
• The government wants temporary residents below 5% of the population by the end of 2027.
• This article describes the published 2026–2028 plan. Check the next official levels plan for confirmed changes; no 2029 admission target is presented here.

Permanent resident targets for 2026

• Program: Federal High Skilled (Express Entry: FSW, FST, CEC); 2026 target: 109,000
• Program: Provincial Nominee Program; 2026 target: 91,500
• Program: Spouses, partners and children; 2026 target: 69,000
• Program: Refugees and protected persons (total); 2026 target: 49,300
• Program: Parents and grandparents; 2026 target: 15,000
• Program: Federal economic pilots (caregivers, agri-food, community pilots); 2026 target: 8,175
• Program: Atlantic Immigration Program; 2026 target: 4,000
• Program: Total permanent residents; 2026 target: 380,000

The rows above are the main programs; Quebec's own selection, federal business and humanitarian categories make up the rest of the 380,000. The notional 2027 targets raise Express Entry to 111,000 and the PNP to 92,500, while lowering spouses and children to 66,000.

Temporary resident targets for 2026: 230,000 new workers (170,000 under the International Mobility Program, 60,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and 155,000 new students.

Two one-time measures to know about. The government plans to move up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027, aimed at workers with strong community roots. It will also transition about 115,000 protected persons already in Canada over two years.

What to watch for in the 2027–2029 plan

• Provincial nominations: compare any new federal PNP targets with the separate allocations and stream availability announced by each province.
• Express Entry: annual admission targets are not the same as invitation counts, draw schedules or an individual's eligibility.
• Student and worker arrivals: distinguish targets for new arrivals from permit extensions and people already in Canada.
• Francophone immigration: check the current targets and the separate program requirements before assuming that a language result establishes eligibility.

FAQ

How many immigrants will Canada accept in 2026? The target is 380,000 new permanent residents, within a range of 350,000 to 420,000.

Where should I check for the next plan? Use IRCC's immigration levels plans page. Future targets should not be treated as published until the official plan is available.

Does the levels plan decide my application? No. Targets set overall numbers, not whether any one application is approved.

General information, not legal advice. Not affiliated with IRCC or any government. No outcome can be guaranteed.