Last Updated On 17 March 2026, 10:05 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially released its 2026-27 Departmental Plan on March 13, 2026, indicating a shift toward sustainable immigration.
The 67-page document outlines federal immigration priorities for the next three fiscal years and confirms permanent resident admission targets of 380,000 annually through 2028.
Temporary resident arrivals will drop dramatically from 673,650 in 2025 to just 385,000 in 2026, representing a 43% reduction in new international students and temporary workers entering Canada.
Minister Lena Metlege Diab stated in the plan’s foreword that the government is taking a targeted and balanced approach that focuses immigration where it can have the greatest impact.
Table of Contents
Four Key Priorities Driving The IRCC’s 2026-27 Plan
IRCC has identified four strategic priorities that will guide all immigration programs and policy decisions over the next three years.
The first priority focuses on sustainable and managed migration aligned to Canada’s social, economic, and regional needs.
This means permanent resident arrivals will stay below 1% of the total population beyond 2027, while temporary residents will be reduced to less than 5% of Canada’s population by the end of 2027.
The government is working with provinces, territories, industry partners, and other stakeholders to achieve this balance.
The second priority emphasizes program simplification and modernization through a transformed digital infrastructure that enhances productivity.
IRCC is rolling out a new single online account for clients, implementing a modern Case Management Platform, and deploying an Enterprise Data Platform that will provide real-time access to integrated information for better decision-making.
The third priority addresses system integrity and security through an orderly and responsible migration system that actively manages risk and protects the health, safety, and security of Canadians and newcomers.
This includes strengthening asylum processing to deliver faster and fairer final decisions, implementing Bill C-12 measures, and enhancing fraud detection using artificial intelligence.
The fourth priority centres on fiscal responsibility and workforce optimization with strong management accountability, reduced operational costs, and human resources planning that supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.
The department is reducing external consultants, investing in internal capacity, and reevaluating management layers as part of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review.
Permanent Resident Admission Targets 2026-2028
The Immigration Levels Plan sets overall permanent resident targets at 380,000 for each year from 2026 through 2028, with an operational range between 350,000 and 420,000 to allow flexibility based on processing capacity and global conditions.
Economic immigration continues to dominate the admission categories, rising from 59% of all admissions to 64% by 2027 and 2028.
This reflects the government’s strategic focus on attracting skilled workers who can fill critical labour gaps in priority industries including healthcare, emerging technologies, and skilled trades.
| Immigration Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| Economic Class | 239,800 (63%) | 244,700 (64%) | 244,700 (64%) |
| Family Class | 84,000 (22.1%) | 81,000 (21.3%) | 81,000 (21.3%) |
| Refugees & Protected Persons | 49,400 (13%) | 49,400 (13%) | 49,400 (13%) |
| Total PR Admissions | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
Additional admission spaces beyond these targets are included to fulfill Canada’s humanitarian commitments, including a one-time initiative to process approximately 115,000 permanent residence applications from protected persons in Canada over two years.
33,000 Temporary Workers To Gain Permanent Residency
One of the most anticipated announcements in the departmental plan confirms the government’s commitment to accelerating the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residency across 2026 and 2027.
This initiative specifically targets workers who have established strong roots in their communities, are paying taxes, and are actively contributing to Canada’s economy. Workers in rural areas are expected to receive particular focus under this pathway.
The 33,000 spaces represent an addition to regular permanent residence targets, not a replacement of existing programs like Express Entry or the Provincial Nominee Program.
Minister Diab indicated in recent media interviews that the program has been soft-launched, with more details expected in April 2026.
This pathway comes at a critical time when approximately 1.9 million temporary residents are expected to see their permits expire in 2026, with over 314,000 work permits expiring in the first three months alone.
The initiative provides a structured avenue for eligible workers to transition rather than leaving Canada or falling out of status.
Dramatic Reductions In Temporary Resident Arrivals
The departmental plan confirms one of the most significant policy shifts in recent Canadian immigration history: a dramatic reduction in temporary resident admissions designed to address growing pressures on housing and social services.
New temporary resident arrivals will drop from 673,650 in 2025 to just 385,000 in 2026, representing a 43% reduction in a single year.
This includes both international students and temporary workers arriving in Canada for the first time.
| Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| International Students | 155,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| Temporary Workers | 230,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| Total New TR Arrivals | 385,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
These targets represent new arrivals only and do not include permit extensions or changes of status for people already in Canada.
The goal is to reduce the total temporary resident population from current levels above 6.8% to under 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.
International Student Program Reforms
IRCC is implementing several measures to strengthen the International Student Program and ensure sustainable volumes while maintaining quality education outcomes.
Master’s and doctoral degree students enrolling at public Designated Learning Institutions will be exempt from the provincial or territorial attestation letter requirement under the federal cap on study permit applications.
This exemption recognizes the contribution of graduate students to Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Doctoral student applications and Global Skills Strategy applications will receive priority processing with a target turnaround of 14 days, ensuring Canada remains competitive in attracting top academic talent.
IRCC will continue verifying letters of acceptance from Designated Learning Institutions and monitoring compliance rates through bi-annual reporting.
The compliance rate target for DLIs on study permit holder enrollment is set at 90% or higher.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program Restructuring
The departmental plan announces significant restructuring of how temporary workers are managed, including the transfer of employer-focused compliance inspections under the International Mobility Program to Employment and Social Development Canada.
This transfer is designed to streamline program delivery, reduce duplication between federal departments, and simplify compliance requirements for employers.
It forms part of IRCC’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review commitments to achieve a 15% savings target.
IRCC and ESDC are conducting policy development and public consultations to create a new foreign labour stream specifically for agriculture and fish processing.
This tailored stream will address the unique needs of employers and workers in these essential sectors while prioritizing work permit applications in agriculture, food processing, and healthcare.
New measures will increase consequences of non-compliance findings for employers of temporary workers, enhance awareness of worker rights and employer obligations, and strengthen up-front assessments of employers to deter program misuse.
Express Entry And Category-Based Selection Updates
IRCC will continue leveraging category-based selection in Express Entry to prioritize skilled workers who can help address skills shortages and other economic priorities. The department is developing a broader suite of reforms to strengthen the program’s effectiveness.
Category-based selection categories for 2026 will be updated to address labour shortages and retain top talent with Canadian work experience.
The categories currently include French-language proficiency, healthcare occupations, STEM occupations, trades occupations, transport occupations, agriculture and agri-food occupations, and physicians with Canadian work experience.
Planned Express Entry reforms include adding points for job offers and Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations, as well as considering how to reward candidates who are certified to work in regulated occupations.
These changes aim to better align selection with labour market outcomes.
A new high-impact Start-Up Visa pilot will replace the existing Start-Up Visa program to better support business development and economic growth.
The redesigned pilot will focus eligibility criteria and streamlined program elements on elite entrepreneurs who can demonstrate significant economic potential.
Provincial Nominee Program Management
IRCC will manage the Provincial Nominee Program in collaboration with provinces and territories to better align nomination volumes with annual admission targets in the Immigration Levels Plan and with critical labour needs across the country.
The PNP allocation is set to increase significantly in 2026, reaching 91,500 nominations compared to 55,000 in 2025.
This represents a 66% rebound and restores the program to near the record levels seen in 2023 and 2024.
Provinces will receive their specific allocations following negotiations with IRCC early in the calendar year.
The increased allocations reflect the federal government’s confidence in decentralized, region-specific immigration management and the important role provinces play in selecting newcomers who meet local labour market needs.
The department is promoting employer engagement and retention strategies for regional economic programs to facilitate integration and retention in communities facing demographic and workforce challenges.
This includes programs like the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec
Francophone immigration continues to play a central role in achieving IRCC’s broader objectives, with the 2026 target set at 9% of permanent resident admissions destined outside Quebec.
This target supports the government’s goal of reaching a 12% target of overall permanent resident admissions for French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2029.
The progressive targets represent a strategic commitment to reversing the demographic decline of Francophone minority communities across Canada.
| Year | Francophone Target (Outside Quebec) |
| 2025 (Actual) | 8.9% (exceeded 8.5% target) |
| 2026 | 9.0% |
| 2027 | 9.5% |
| 2028 | 10.5% |
| 2029 (Goal) | 12.0% |
IRCC will continue implementing the Policy on Francophone Immigration, including expanding promotion internationally and in Canada, and leveraging category-based selection in Express Entry to meet these targets.
Starting in 2026, the federal government will allocate 5,000 federal selection positions to enable provinces and territories to designate French-speaking immigrants.
These positions are in addition to regular Provincial Nominee Program allocations, providing extra pathways for Francophone candidates.
The Francophone Minority Community Student Pilot and a renewed Francophone Mobility stream will continue enhancing the vitality of Francophone communities outside Quebec by strengthening workers’ economic outcomes and providing settlement support.
Refugee Resettlement And Asylum System Reforms
The departmental plan outlines continued commitments to refugee protection while introducing reforms to improve asylum processing efficiency and reduce backlogs that have grown to nearly 300,000 pending cases.
IRCC will maintain partnerships with the International Organization for Migration and collaborate with domestic and international partners including the United Nations Refugee Agency and sponsorship groups in Canada to identify refugees for resettlement.
Key Resettlement Commitments:
- 12,000 refugees from Africa under the Government-Assisted Refugee program
- 12,000 refugees from the Middle East under the Government-Assisted Refugee program
- 12,000 refugees from Asia-Pacific regions under the Government-Assisted Refugee program
- 4,000 refugees from the Americas by 2028
The pause on intake of sponsorship applications through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program from the Group of Five and Community Sponsor streams will extend until December 31, 2026.
This measure is designed to prevent further growth in the application inventory and help move toward shorter, more predictable processing times for sponsors.
IRCC will implement a one-time initiative to process approximately 115,000 permanent residence applications from protected persons in Canada over two years, in addition to the admissions targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan.
This significant effort addresses the backlog of approved refugee claimants waiting for permanent resident status.
Asylum system reforms continue in line with Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which passed third reading in the Senate on March 12, 2026.
These reforms aim to deliver faster, fairer final decisions while ensuring those who genuinely need protection receive it in a timely fashion.
Departmental Spending And Budget Reductions
Total planned spending for IRCC in 2026-27 is $4,416,881,617 with 11,476 full-time equivalent staff, representing a significant decrease from previous years as the department implements Comprehensive Expenditure Review commitments.
| Core Responsibility | Spending | Staff (FTEs) |
| Visitors, International Students & Temporary Workers | $312.2M | 1,933 |
| Immigrant & Refugee Selection and Integration | $3,423.5M | 4,772 |
| Citizenship & Passports | $61.5M | 1,735 |
| Internal Services | $619.6M | 3,036 |
| TOTAL | $4,416.9M | 11,476 |
The total planned expenditures are decreasing by $1.1 billion or 25% over three years.
This downward trend is primarily driven by the end of temporary top-up funding for the Interim Federal Health Program, reduced funding for the Interim Housing Assistance Program, and reductions from the Comprehensive Expenditure Review.
Planned Spending Reductions Under The Comprehensive Expenditure Review:
| Fiscal Year | Reduction Amount |
| 2026-27 | $154,982,029 |
| 2027-28 | $231,352,591 |
| 2028-29 | $284,642,630 |
These reductions are expected to result in a decrease of approximately 318 full-time equivalent positions by 2028-29 as IRCC streamlines operations and invests in technology to improve productivity.
Major Program Changes Under Budget Restraint
IRCC is implementing several targeted program adjustments to achieve the required spending reductions while maintaining core service delivery.
Settlement Program Eligibility Limits: Economic immigrants will face new limits on settlement service eligibility effective April 1, 2026.
The program will continue to support most recent arrivals to overcome barriers in integrating into Canadian society, but economic class newcomers will have restricted access compared to refugees and family class immigrants.
Interim Federal Health Program Co-Payments: A co-payment model will be introduced for supplemental health products and services including prescription medication and dental care.
This change affects asylum claimants and other individuals covered under the program and represents a shift from fully-covered supplemental services.
Interim Housing Assistance Program Adjustments: Funding for the Interim Housing Assistance Program will be adjusted commensurate with the anticipated decline in asylum claimants.
This follows the implementation of asylum system reforms and reduced irregular border crossings.
Internal Services Streamlining: IRCC is using technology to improve productivity, reducing the number of external consultants, investing in internal capacity, and reevaluating human resources requirements including management layers.
Real property reductions will continue as the department releases 20% of its National Capital Region portfolio.
Digital Platform Modernization And AI Integration
IRCC will continue modernizing its digital infrastructure through the Digital Platform Modernization initiative, representing one of the largest technology transformations in the department’s history.
A new single online account for clients is rolling out, offering a more seamless experience with improved access to client support, a single window to apply for IRCC services and programs, and real-time information about application status.
This replaces the fragmented system where clients previously needed multiple accounts for different immigration programs.
The gradual implementation of a new Case Management Platform will begin delivering digital components and capabilities including advanced business rules and analytics tools.
These tools will help modernize how IRCC processes applications and support officers in complex decision-making.
A new Enterprise Data Platform will provide enhanced storage, reporting, analytics, data migration, automation, and AI functionalities.
This platform will strengthen IRCC’s capacity to manage, use, and share data securely and efficiently across all programs.
The department is advancing responsible adoption of artificial intelligence to increase productivity, decrease operating costs, and improve service delivery.
AI solutions will inform and assist officers but will not replace the exercise of human discretion in administrative decision-making.
AI tools are being used to improve detection of altered documents and enhance automated information sharing.
IRCC is also testing the issuance and verification of digital visas with a subset of clients and stakeholders to inform future approaches for issuing digital immigration documents, potentially replacing traditional paper-based visa counterfoils.
Citizenship And Passport Program Updates
IRCC will continue supporting eligible permanent residents to become Canadian citizens, including by improving processing efficiency through technology.
The online citizenship test has become the default method for applicants aged 18 to 54, with up to three attempts permitted.
The department is targeting at least 80% of citizenship grant applications to be completed within 12 months, with at least 96% of citizenship grant decisions meeting quality management program standards.
Passport Program modernization continues with a simplified digital application process.
A new system is being deployed to support passport processing abroad, improving service delivery for Canadians living or travelling overseas.
Quality targets include at least 90% of travel documents meeting Passport Quality Management Program standards and less than 2% of total travel documents qualifying under the Remissions Policy for errors requiring document replacement.
International Talent Attraction Strategy
IRCC will contribute to the Government’s International Talent Attraction Strategy and Action Plan to help ensure Canada has the requisite talent to drive innovation and growth while working towards sustainable immigration levels.
Key Talent Attraction Measures:
- Negotiating new labour mobility pathways to attract business persons and highly skilled workers to drive economic growth
- Processing doctoral student and Global Skills Strategy applications with a 14-day priority target
- Exempting master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs from provincial attestation letter requirements
- Revising the Global Skills Strategy partner list to support federal priorities
- Collaborating with the Major Projects Office and provincial governments to facilitate international worker recruitment for projects of national interest
- Monitoring outcomes of revised PGWP eligibility and spousal open work permit changes
Family reunification efforts will continue with plans to make it easier for families hosting Super Visa applicants to meet the minimum necessary income threshold, potentially lowering barriers for parents and grandparents to visit Canada for extended periods.
IRCC Workforce Changes 2026-2029
The planned full-time equivalent workforce is projected to decline by 1,440 positions or 13% over the next three years, dropping from 11,476 in 2026-27 to 10,036 by 2028-29.
| Fiscal Year | Full-Time Equivalents |
| 2024-25 (Actual) | 12,763 |
| 2025-26 (Forecast) | 12,689 |
| 2026-27 (Planned) | 11,476 |
| 2027-28 (Planned) | 10,788 |
| 2028-29 (Planned) | 10,036 |
The reduction is driven by the conclusion of temporary funding initiatives including asylum system stabilization, Digital Platform Modernization Phase 3, and the one-time initiative to accelerate work permit holder transitions to permanent residency.
IRCC is developing a comprehensive Workplace and Workforce Strategy to guide workforce reductions while ensuring talent is optimally aligned with the organization’s highest-priority objectives.
The department will cultivate collaborative relationships with management and union partners while supporting mental health and wellness programs for employees.
This information has been fact-checked against official canada.ca sources. Disclaimer: Immigration policies and processing times can change. Always verify current requirements directly with IRCC before making immigration decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the 380,000 PR target compare to previous years and what does this mean for processing times?
The 380,000 annual target represents a stabilization after years of increasing targets that peaked at 500,000 in 2025. While the reduced target suggests less pressure to issue invitations quickly, IRCC still faces significant application inventories in several programs. Processing times may improve gradually as the department reduces backlogs through the digital modernization initiative and one-time processing initiatives for protected persons. However, applicants should continue monitoring official IRCC processing time estimates as these vary significantly by program and country of application.
Will the IRCC workforce reductions lead to longer processing times for applications?
Temporary residents whose permits expire must either apply for an extension, transition to a different temporary status, apply for permanent residency through available programs, or leave Canada before their status expires. The 33,000 TR to PR spaces are limited and targeted at specific worker profiles. Those who don’t qualify should explore Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, or other immigration pathways well before their permits expire. Remaining in Canada without valid status can result in removal orders and future inadmissibility.
Will the IRCC workforce reductions lead to longer processing times for applications?
IRCC is simultaneously reducing staff and investing heavily in digital automation, AI-assisted processing, and modernized case management systems designed to increase productivity per officer. The department believes technology investments will offset workforce reductions. However, the transition period may see service fluctuations as new systems are deployed and staff adapt to new workflows. Complex cases requiring human judgment may still face delays, while straightforward applications processed through automated systems could see improvements.
How will the Interim Federal Health Program co-payment model affect refugee claimants already in Canada?
The co-payment model introduces cost-sharing for supplemental health products and services including prescription medications and dental care. Basic healthcare coverage remains available, but claimants will need to contribute toward supplemental services. IRCC has not yet published the specific co-payment amounts or implementation details. Refugee claimants currently in Canada should contact their healthcare providers and settlement agencies for guidance on how the changes will affect their specific coverage once details are announced.
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