2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan Overview

Introduction Each year, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship presents the Immigration Levels Plan, which outlines immigration targets for the upcoming three years. This plan marks a significant shift, as it now includes targets for temporary residents alongside permanent resident admissions. The objective is to reduce the number of temporary residents to 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2026.

Development of the Levels Plan The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) takes several factors into account when formulating the Levels Plan, including:

• Immigration priorities and objectives as defined in the Immigration Refugee and Protection Act
• Economic and regional requirements
• Canada’s international commitments and obligations
• Processing capacity
• The ability to settle, integrate, and retain newcomers

Throughout the year, IRCC engages with various stakeholders, including provinces and territories, to gather insights that shape the plan. Public opinion research, including surveys and focus groups involving newcomers, Canadians in rural areas, Francophones outside Quebec, and Indigenous Peoples, also contributes to this process. The findings from these engagements are documented in the Levels Consultation Report.

Permanent Resident Targets

The plan for permanent resident admissions includes multiple programs: economic streams, family reunification, refugees, and humanitarian admissions. For 2025, the levels plan will see a reduction in permanent resident targets, anticipating a decline in the following two years. This strategy aims to pause short-term population growth while facilitating sustainable growth and long-term economic prosperity.

Key elements of the plan include:

• A reduction of 105,000 admissions in 2025 compared to previous projections.
• A focus on applicants already residing in Canada, with over 40% of anticipated permanent resident admissions in 2025 coming from current temporary residents. Research indicates that individuals with in-Canada experience tend to achieve positive long-term outcomes.
• Adjustments to economic immigration streams will prioritize the transition of current workers to permanent resident status while responding to labor market needs. Federal programs will focus on attracting workers in critical sectors, such as healthcare and trades.
• Approximately 62% of total permanent resident admissions will be dedicated to economic immigration by 2027, with particular attention given to key sectors.
• The plan continues to prioritize family reunification, with nearly 24% of overall permanent resident admissions allocated to the family class in 2025.
• Canada remains committed to resettling the world's most vulnerable individuals, including human rights defenders, LGBTQI+ refugees, and those in precarious situations.
• There will be a gradual increase in the proportion of Francophone admissions outside Quebec, rising from 8.5% in 2025 to 10% in 2027.

Temporary Resident Targets

In March 2024, Canada outlined a plan to reduce the temporary resident population to 5% of the total population over the next three years, which includes temporary foreign workers and international students. The targets for temporary residents will be based on the expected number of new arrivals:

• Student arrivals will be aligned with the previously announced cap.
• Worker arrivals will encompass those under the International Mobility Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Canada's temporary population is projected to decline significantly over the next few years, with an expected reduction of:

• 445,901 in 2025
• 445,662 in 2026
• A modest increase of 17,439 in 2027

Calculations for temporary resident targets take into account various factors, including the expected outflow of individuals leaving Canada, those transitioning to permanent residency, approval rates, and permit renewal rates.

Measures to Achieve the 5% Target

• Several measures have been implemented to reach the 5% target for temporary residents:
• An annual cap on international student study permits, including a 10% reduction in 2025 relative to 2024 targets.
• Reforms to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) to better align it with immigration goals and labor market needs.
• Revisions to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including a 10% cap on employers hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers and a 20% increase in the starting wage for high-wage workers.
• Stricter work permit eligibility for spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers.

For additional information, please refer to our latest news release on enhancing temporary residence programs for sustainable volumes.

Asylum Seekers Canada

like many other nations, is experiencing an increase in asylum claims due to the rising number of displaced individuals worldwide. To uphold its humanitarian responsibilities, the government is implementing measures to enhance the integrity of the in-Canada asylum system, including:

• A partial visa requirement for Mexican nationals.
• Improved claims processing to ensure fairness and integrity within the asylum system.
• Enhanced review processes for visa decisions, equipping officers with better tools to detect fraud and reduce non-genuine claims.

Projected Impact of the Plan The 2025–2027

Immigration Levels Plan is anticipated to lead to a slight population decline of 0.2% in both 2025 and 2026, followed by a growth of 0.8% in 2027. The plan aims to bridge the housing supply gap by approximately 670,000 units by the end of 2027, while also fostering robust GDP growth and accelerating GDP per capita growth, improving housing affordability, and reducing unemployment rates.