Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: What to Expect

By Vikrant Singh, October 22, 2025

Canada is preparing for its next major immigration announcement — one that will define how many permanent and temporary residents the country aims to welcome over the next three years.

By November 1, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is expected to release the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, outlining the country’s admissions targets and priorities across all immigration categories.

This plan will build upon Canada’s recent efforts to balance economic growth, population sustainability, and housing and labour market pressures — all while ensuring immigration remains a cornerstone of national development.

A Shift Toward Stabilization

The upcoming plan is expected to mark a stabilization phase in Canada’s immigration strategy.

If the federal government keeps its election promise, permanent resident (PR) admissions will not exceed 416,500 per year — equivalent to less than 1% of Canada’s population (which stands at roughly 41.65 million as of July 2025).

This would represent a pause after years of record immigration growth and a strategic response to housing shortages, healthcare system pressures, and employment imbalances.

Comparing Previous Targets

Year	2025–2027 Plan (Published 2024)	2024–2026 Plan (Published 2023)
2025	395,000	500,000
2026	380,000	500,000
2027	365,000	—

These figures include all major immigration streams — economic, family reunification, refugee, and humanitarian.

Express Entry: Targeting Skills, Language, and Local Experience

Even as overall immigration targets have been reduced, the government continues to prioritize economic immigrants — particularly through the Express Entry system.

Last year’s plan introduced two new categories replacing “Federal High Skilled”:

• Federal Economic Priorities, and

• In-Canada Focus (for temporary residents transitioning to PR status).

Express Entry Targets

Year	Federal Economic Priorities	In-Canada Focus	Previous FHS Target
2025	41,700	82,980	117,500
2026	47,400	75,830	117,500
2027	47,800	70,930	—

This shift reflects Canada’s focus on retaining skilled temporary residents already living and working in the country, while also prioritizing candidates with French proficiency and in-demand occupations.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): A Balancing Act

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) — a key pathway for regional labour market needs — saw its federal targets cut in half last year, from 120,000 to 55,000 per year through 2027.

However, in 2025 several provinces successfully negotiated higher nomination allocations, signaling a likely increase in PNP admissions for 2026.

Recent discussions between Immigration Minister Lena Diab and provincial leaders suggest the federal government may soon boost allocations to better address regional workforce shortages.

PNP Admission Targets

Year	2025–2027 Plan	2024–2026 Plan
2025	55,000	120,000
2026	55,000	120,000
2027	55,000	—

Temporary Residents: Managing Short-Term Population Growth

For the second time, IRCC is set to include temporary resident targets in its Levels Plan — covering temporary foreign workers and international students.

The government has committed to reducing the non-permanent resident population to below 5% of Canada’s total population by the end of 2027.

Temporary Resident Targets (as per last year’s plan)

Category	2025	2026	2027
International Mobility Program	285,750	128,700	155,700
Temporary Foreign Worker Program	82,000	82,000	82,000
International Students	305,900	305,900	305,900
Total	673,650	516,600	543,600

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): Under the Microscope

Prime Minister Mark Carney has signaled an overhaul of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), promising a “focused approach” targeting specific industries and regions.

Recent reforms include:

• A moratorium on low-wage LMIA applications in regions with unemployment rates above 6%;

• Higher wage thresholds for high-wage streams;

• Lower caps on the share of an employer’s workforce under the TFWP; and

• Restricted spousal open work permits to spouses of workers in select skilled occupations.

The TFWP has become a political flashpoint, with opposition parties calling for stricter oversight — or even its abolition.

Francophone Immigration: A Rising Priority

Francophone immigration remains a key focus for IRCC policy.

Current targets aim to raise the proportion of French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec to:

• 8.5% in 2025,

• 9.5% in 2026, and

• 10% in 2027.

Prime Minister Carney has pledged to further increase this to 12% by 2029.

Initiatives such as French-language category draws, the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, and expanded settlement funding highlight Canada’s ongoing commitment to linguistic diversity.

International Students: Watching for Policy Adjustments

While last year’s plan capped international student admissions at 305,900 annually, IRCC also introduced the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) system to enforce a national cap on study permit applications.

The upcoming 2026–2028 plan will reveal whether these targets remain steady or face further restrictions, particularly amid ongoing debates about aligning student intake with housing and labour market capacity.

Key Takeaways

• Announcement Date: By November 1, 2025

• Permanent Residents: Expected cap around 416,500 annually

• Temporary Residents: Population to fall below 5% by 2027

• PNP Allocations: Likely increase after provincial negotiations

• Francophone Immigration: Gradual rise to 12% by 2029

• Express Entry: Continued focus on in-demand skills and in-Canada candidates

Conclusion

Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan will mark the start of a new era of strategic and sustainable immigration.

With stabilization in permanent resident levels, tighter control over temporary admissions, and a renewed emphasis on regional and francophone integration, the plan underscores Ottawa’s broader goal:

To maintain Canada’s global leadership in immigration, while ensuring that every newcomer has the opportunity to build a stable and successful life in Canada.

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