Last Updated On 22 May 2024, 10:18 PM EDT (Toronto Time)
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has opened 2024 public consultations for setting the annual new immigration levels plan.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller will unveil the next multi-year Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027 this November, projecting the targeted number of new permanent residents who will be admitted to Canada in a given year.
This is inclusive of any temporary resident that transitions to permanent residency in a particular year and does not necessarily mean that all of the new permanent residents will be coming from outside Canada.
However, this year, for the first time ever, Canada is broadening the scope of the Immigration Levels Plan to also include an annual target for the number of new temporary residents entering Canada apart from the permanent residents.
Therefore, IRCC is seeking public consultations from Canadian citizens, stakeholders, and immigration experts that will stay open until June 30, 2024.
Currently, Canada has a target of welcoming 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and then stabilizing the annual admissions at 500,000.
Purpose of 2024 IRCC Consultations on Immigration Levels
Since IRCC is now considering the upcoming 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the department is looking for public feedback on:
- establishing new goals for 2027, and
- decide whether the permanent resident admission targets for 2025 and 2026 should be modified.
The following factors are taken into account when setting the annual immigration level plan:
1. objectives for immigration, as outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
2. government policies and priorities;
3. international commitments pertaining to refugees and giving assistance to those in need;
4. economic and regional requirements across Canada, taking into account the demands of diverse industries in light of growing inflation and a loosened labour market;
5. the efficiency of IRCC and its relevant departments to process applications in a timely manner
6. the ability to provide newcomers with resources (such as settlement services, affordable and accessible housing, public infrastructure, health care services, etc.) and to help them integrate and settle
The immigration levels plan aims to safeguard Canadians’ safety and security while promoting diversity and fostering the development of lively, dynamic, and inclusive communities through immigration.
Admissions have been rising steadily since 2017 and are expected to account for 1.25 percent of Canada’s population by 2025.
IRCC is also interested in hearing public opinions on the proper allocation of permanent resident numbers among the major immigration classes as well as on how many people to welcome.
Last year, the immigration levels plan for 2025 set the below-listed proportions of broad categories as of 2025:
| Immigration Category | Percentage weightage in annual targets |
|---|---|
| Economic Classes including Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) | just over 60% |
| Family Sponsorship | almost 24% |
| Refugee and humanitarian classes | just over 16% |
This year, IRCC is also seeking public opinion, for the first time, regarding the arrival goals for temporary residents.
The inclusion of international students and temporary workers will result in a plan that reflects newcomers with both permanent and temporary resident status, taking into account the supports required to welcome them into our communities.
What are the current set immigration levels for 2024?
Canada has set annual immigration targets of welcoming 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and then stabilizing the numbers at half a million annually.
| Year | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |||
| Total | 485,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | |||
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | |
| 430,000 | 532,500 | 442,500 | 550,000 | 442,500 | 550,000 | |
| Economic immigration including Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) | 281,135 | 301,250 | 301,250 | |||
| 250,000 | 305,000 | 265,000 | 326,000 | 265,000 | 326,000 | |
| Family Sponsorship | 114,000 | 118,000 | 118,000 | |||
| 105,000 | 130,000 | 107,000 | 135,000 | 107,000 | 135,000 | |
| Refugees, protected persons, humanitarian and compassionate, and other | 89,865 | 80,750 | 80,750 | |||
| 75,000 | 110,500 | 70,500 | 92,000 | 70,500 | 92,000 | |
These are the record annual immigration targets ever set in Canadian history.
How do I participate in this public consultation?
You can fill out the online survey set up by the immigration department by visiting the link “online survey.”
As per the immigration department, the survey may not save the draft responses when you use the online survey, so you can create your answers beforehand by downloading the online survey (PDF, 213 KB).
The public consultation began on May 8 and will stay open until June 30, 2024.
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