Canada's Immigration Levels Plan

Every year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes an Immigration Levels Plan that sets out exactly how many permanent and temporary residents the country intends to admit. The newest edition — the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan — was tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025, and it marks one of the most significant policy resets in over a decade. If you're planning to apply through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, or family sponsorship, understanding these targets will help you time your application and choose the strongest pathway.

Here's a full breakdown of what Canada's Immigration Levels Plan means for prospective immigrants, workers, and students.

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Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 at a Glance

Canada will admit 380,000 new permanent residents per year in 2026, 2027, and 2028 — holding the target flat for the first time in years after a period of steady annual increases. The plan also sets, for the third year running, formal targets for temporary resident arrivals (workers and students), aiming to bring Canada's temporary population below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.

Economic immigration remains the backbone of the plan, rising from roughly 59% of admissions to 64% by 2027, split mainly between the Federal High Skilled category (managed through Express Entry) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

How Many Immigrants Will Canada Welcome Through Express Entry and PNP?

Within the economic category, the two biggest pathways for skilled workers are:

• Federal High Skilled (Express Entry) — Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class combined: 109,000 admissions in 2026, rising to 111,000 in 2027 and 2028.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) — 91,500 admissions in 2026, rising to 92,500 in 2027 and 2028, reflecting continued demand from provinces for skilled and semi-skilled workers matched to local labour needs.

Smaller economic streams — the Atlantic Immigration Program (4,000/year), federal business programs (500/year), and pilots such as the Caregiver, Agri-Food, and Rural Community Immigration pilots (8,175–8,775/year) — round out the category. If you're currently in Canada on a valid work or study permit, IRCC has said the plan is designed to prioritize transitioning people already inside the country to permanent status, which gives in-Canada candidates in Express Entry and PNP pools a real advantage.

Temporary Resident Targets: Workers and Students

For the first time, the Levels Plan continues to formally cap new arrivals of temporary workers and international students, not just permanent residents:

The student target of 155,000 for 2026 continues the sharp reductions introduced in 2024–2025 and remains well below pre-2024 arrival levels. Worker targets are split between the International Mobility Program (170,000/year, LMIA-exempt) and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (60,000 in 2026, dropping to 50,000 in 2027–2028).

What's New in the 2026–2028 Plan

A few changes set this plan apart from previous years:

• Flat permanent resident targets. After years of increases, the 380,000 target is held steady through 2028 rather than rising further — a deliberate move IRCC describes as a "return to sustainable levels."
• A one-time pathway for Protected Persons. IRCC will streamline permanent residence for approximately 115,000 Protected Persons already on a path to status, in addition to the regular targets above.
• Accelerated transition for temporary workers. Up to 33,000 temporary workers with established ties to their communities will be moved to permanent residence in 2026–2027 through targeted measures.
• Growing Francophone targets. Admissions of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec will rise from 9% in 2026 to 10.5% by 2028, working toward a longer-term goal of 12% by 2029.

Why Canada Sets Immigration Levels Targets

Canada has one of the oldest populations and lowest birth rates among G7 countries, and immigration now accounts for nearly all of its population growth. Multi-year levels planning gives government departments, provinces, employers, and prospective immigrants a predictable roadmap: economic-class targets respond to labour shortages, family-class targets support reunification, and refugee and humanitarian targets uphold Canada's international commitments.

How to Apply Under Canada's Immigration Levels Plan

With economic immigration taking a larger share of admissions through 2028, the strongest pathways for most skilled applicants remain Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program, followed by family sponsorship and, for eligible workers already in Canada, the new transition measures. An experienced immigration representative can help you assess which category fits your profile and how the current targets and ranges affect your timeline.