New Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028

Last Updated On 5 November 2025, 3:29 PM EST (Toronto Time)

On November 4, 2025, Canada unveiled its new Immigration Levels Plan for 2026–2028, outlining a balanced approach that focuses on steady economic immigration growth while moderating temporary resident inflows.

The plan has been released as part of the 2025 federal budget.

The plan confirms a consistent intake of 380,000 permanent residents annually over the next three years, as we predicted in our October analysis article.

Immigration Levels Plan 2026: Key Figures At A Glance

• Overall permanent resident admissions: 380,000 annually for 2026, 2027, and 2028, within a range of 350,000 to 420,000.
• Breakdown for 2026:
  • Economic class: 239,800
  • Family reunification: 84,000
  • Refugees, protected persons, humanitarian, and other: 56,200
• For 2027 and 2028:
  • Economic class: 244,700 each year
  • Family reunification: 81,000 each year
  • Humanitarian and other: 54,300 each year
• French-speaking admissions outside Quebec:
  • 9% in 2026 (30,267 people)
  • 9.5% in 2027 (31,825 people)
  • 10.5% in 2028 (35,175 people)
• Temporary resident projections:
  • 2026: 385,000 total (230,000 workers and 155,000 students)
  • 2027: 370,000 total (220,000 workers and 150,000 students)
  • 2028: 370,000 total (220,000 workers and 150,000 students)
• Transitioning 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. These workers have established strong roots in their communities, are paying taxes, and are helping to build the strong economy Canada needs.

What The Plan Signals

1. Stabilization Of Admissions
The federal government has clearly entered a phase of stabilization rather than expansion.

The fixed target of 380,000 permanent residents each year indicates a deliberate effort to pause rapid growth and focus on manageable integration.

This reflects Canada’s goal to align immigration with available housing, healthcare capacity, and labour market absorption.

2. Prioritizing Economic Immigration
Economic immigration remains the foundation of this plan. In 2026, nearly 240,000 out of 380,000 newcomers will arrive through economic pathways such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

This focus continues in 2027 and 2028, ensuring that skilled workers fill gaps in sectors like construction, healthcare, technology, and trades.

3. Managing Temporary Residents Inflows
The plan includes temporary resident admissions—including work and study permits—being integrated into Canada’s broader immigration planning.

The plan will also be granting permanent resident status to eligible Protected Persons in Canada over the next two years.

The gradual reduction from 385,000 to 370,000 by 2027–2028 indicates efforts to ease pressure on housing and public services while maintaining economic productivity.

New Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028: Category-By-Category Breakdown

Permanent Residents

		2026			2027			2028
Immigrant Category		Target	Low Range	High Range	Target	Low Range	High Range	Target	Low Range	High Range
Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions		380,000 (350,000 – 420,000)			380,000 (350,000 – 420,000)			380,000 (350,000 – 420,000)
Overall French-speaking Permanent Resident Admissions outside Quebec		9% (30,267)			9.5% (31,825)			10.5% (35,175)
Economic	Federal High Skilled	109,000	85,000	120,000	111,000	86,000	122,000	111,000	86,000	122,000
	Federal Business	500	250	1,000	500	250	1,000	500	250	1,000
	Federal Economic Pilots: Caregivers; Agri-Food; Community Immigration Pilot; Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot	8,175	5,000	11,800	8,775	6,600	12,400	8,775	6,600	12,400
	Atlantic Immigration Program	4,000	3,000	5,000	4,000	3,000	5,000	4,000	3,000	5,000
	Provincial Nominee Program	91,500	82,000	105,000	92,500	82,000	106,000	92,500	82,000	106,000
	Quebec Skilled Workers and Business	TBD			TBD			TBD
	Total Economic	239,800 (224,000 – 264,000)			244,700 (229,000 – 268,000)			244,700 (229,000 – 268,000)
Family	Spouses, Partners and Children	69,000	63,000	75,000	66,000	60,000	71,000	66,000	60,000	71,000
	Parents and Grandparents	15,000	13,000	19,000	15,000	13,000	19,000	15,000	13,000	19,000
	Total Family	84,000 (78,500 – 92,000)			81,000 (75,000 – 90,000)			81,000 (75,000 – 90,000)
Refugees and Protected Persons	Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad	20,000	17,000	30,000	20,000	17,000	30,000	20,000	17,000	30,000
	Resettled Refugees – Government Assisted	13,250	10,000	15,500	13,250	10,000	15,500	13,250	10,000	15,500
	Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office Referred	50	–	100	50	–	100	50	–	100
	Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored	16,000	13,000	19,000	16,000	13,000	18,000	16,000	13,000	18,000
	Total Refugees and Protected Persons	49,300 (42,000 – 55,000)			49,300 (42,000 – 55,000)			49,300 (42,000 – 55,000)
Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other	Humanitarian and Compassionate	1,100	1,000	3,000	1,000	700	2,900	1,000	700	2,900
	Other	5,800	4,500	8,000	4,000	3,200	6,000	4,000	3,200	6,000
	Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other	6,900 (6,000 – 9,000)			5,000 (4,000 – 7,000)			5,000 (4,000 – 7,000)

More detailed information to follow so stay tuned for more updates.

Temporary Residents

Year	Total	Workers	Students
2026	385,000	230,000	155,000
2027	370,000	220,000	150,000
2028	370,000	220,000	150,000

Why This Matters

Labour Market And Demographics
Canada’s population is aging, and many sectors face chronic labour shortages. The heavy emphasis on economic immigration helps fill essential positions, particularly in skilled trades, healthcare, and technology.

These workers are expected to drive productivity growth and sustain the country’s fiscal stability.

Housing And Infrastructure Alignment
The plan reflects a shift toward balance. High population growth in recent years has strained Canada’s housing market and public infrastructure.

Stabilizing immigration levels allows time for municipalities to catch up on housing supply, transit expansion, and community service delivery.

Francophone Immigration Growth
A growing share of francophone immigration outside Quebec highlights Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and the vitality of French-speaking communities nationwide.

By targeting 10.5% francophone admissions by 2028, the government aims to strengthen regional diversity and support linguistic equity.

Tighter Management Of Temporary Programs
The inclusion of temporary residents within the plan represents a structural shift in Canada’s immigration strategy.

It introduces accountability and predictability in managing international student numbers and temporary foreign workers. This is also seen as a response to public concern over rapid growth in non-permanent resident populations.

Implications

• Employers may experience tighter labour supply in certain sectors if temporary foreign worker caps are enforced more strictly.
• Post-secondary institutions could see reduced international enrolments, prompting a shift toward quality over quantity.
• Provinces and territories will have to adjust their settlement and infrastructure planning to match the new stable intake levels.
• For applicants, economic streams—particularly those tied to provincial nominations and francophone categories—will likely offer stronger chances for permanent residency.
• Family and humanitarian categories remain steady, providing consistency for reunification and protection goals.

The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan represents a recalibrated vision for Canada’s immigration future.

With steady permanent resident targets, expanded focus on economic class pathways, and clearer limits on temporary resident admissions, the government is signaling a shift from record growth toward long-term stability.

The rising share of francophone immigration and emphasis on regional integration reinforce the plan’s inclusive yet measured approach.

As Canada prepares to implement these targets, further details are expected on provincial allocations, Express Entry category priorities, and pathways for temporary residents to transition to permanent status.

Stay tuned for more updates as this new immigration framework shapes the next phase of Canada’s demographic and economic growth.

Canada Immigration Levels Plan Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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