Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan Explained: 395,000 Permanent Residents (2025), 673,650 Temporary Residents (2025), Economic Class at 62%
Author: Canada Immigration News Editorial Team | Published: October 24, 2024
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released supplementary information for the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan on October 24, 2024. The plan includes targets and ranges for permanent residents across Economic, Family, Refugees and Protected Persons, and Humanitarian and Compassionate categories. For the first time, it incorporates temporary resident targets for international students and temporary foreign workers, introducing a holistic approach to managed migration. Temporary and permanent residents play a critical role in supporting economic growth, addressing labour market shortages, and contributing to the diversity of Canadian communities, including Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
In recent years, Canada has welcomed newcomers to support its economy and address labour needs. As post-pandemic measures wind down, there is a need to better align temporary and permanent resident immigration levels with community capacity. The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan adopts a whole-of-society approach, responding to the needs of newcomers and Canadians through consultations with federal departments, provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous Peoples, stakeholders, communities, and Canadians.
To ensure a well-managed immigration system, the government plans to reduce the share of temporary residents to 5% of the total population by the end of 2026. Measures announced over the past year include an intake cap on most study permit applications, revised cost-of-living requirements for students, changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility, and adjustments to work permits for spouses of international students and foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. Additional measures for the TFW Program’s low-wage stream were recently introduced to align with current labour market conditions.
Consequently, new temporary resident arrival targets are set at 673,650 in 2025, 516,600 in 2026, and 543,600 in 2027. These figures represent work and study permits issued to new arrivals. The 2025 target for international students reflects the previously announced study permit cap (new arrivals only), accounting for 45% of total temporary resident arrivals. In 2026 and 2027, international students make up the majority at 59% and 56%, respectively, with the remainder allocated to temporary workers under the IMP and TFW programs. These targets support labour market needs and Canadian employers, particularly in sectors reliant on temporary workers.
Temporary and permanent resident targets were developed in tandem. It is anticipated that over 40% of 2025 permanent resident admissions will be students or workers already in Canada.
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan projects a decrease in overall permanent resident admissions to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. Supporting Canada’s economy remains a key priority, with the economic category comprising the largest share of admissions, reaching nearly 62% by 2027. A greater share of economic admissions is allocated to “Federal Economic Priorities” for skilled workers in critical sectors like healthcare and skilled trades. Emphasis is placed on the “In-Canada Focus” to facilitate transitions to permanent residency for students and workers already in Canada. Family reunification is sustained through the family category, maintaining 22% of overall permanent resident admissions. Canada’s tradition of protecting those in need is reflected in sustained targets for Government-Assisted Refugees, contributing to the 15% share of resettled refugees and protected persons. Over three years, 21,200 admissions are allocated for humanitarian and compassionate commitments and/or public policies by the IRCC Minister. Per the IRCC’s 2024 Francophone Immigration Policy, Francophone permanent resident targets outside Quebec increase to 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027 (compared to 7% and 8% in 2025-2026 from the 2024-2026 plan), enhancing demographic representation across Canada.
2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan: Temporary Resident Targets
| Category | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Arrivals | 673,650 (604,900 – 742,400) | 516,600 (435,250 – 597,950) | 543,600 (472,900 – 614,250) |
| Workers (Total) | 367,750 | 210,700 | 237,700 |
| International Mobility Program | 285,750 | 128,700 | 155,700 |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 82,000 | 82,000 | 82,000 |
| Students | 305,900 | 305,900 | 305,900 |
2025-2027 Permanent Resident Targets
| Immigration Category | 2025 Target | Low Range | High Range | 2026 Target | Low Range | High Range | 2027 Target | Low Range | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions | 395,000 | 367,000 | 436,000 | 380,000 | 352,000 | 416,000 | 365,000 | 338,000 | 401,000 |
| Overall Francophone Permanent Resident Admissions Outside Quebec | 8.5% (29,325) | – | – | 9.5% (31,350) | – | – | 10% (31,500) | – | – |
| Total Economic | 232,150 (215,000 – 256,000) | – | – | 229,750 (214,000 – 249,000) | – | – | 225,350 (207,000 – 246,000) | – | – |
| Federal Economic Priorities | 41,700 | 30,000 | 62,000 | 47,400 | 30,000 | 65,000 | 47,800 | 32,000 | 65,000 |
| In-Canada Focus | 82,980 | 39,000 | 89,000 | 75,830 | 33,000 | 82,000 | 70,930 | 66,000 | 76,000 |
| Federal Business | 2,000 | 1,200 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 200 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 200 | 2,000 |
| Federal Economic Pilots (Caregivers; Agri-Food; Community Immigration Pilots; Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot) | 10,920 | 6,000 | 14,800 | 9,920 | 5,300 | 14,000 | 9,920 | 5,300 | 14,000 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 5,000 | 4,000 | 7,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 7,000 | 5,000 | 4,000 | 7,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 55,000 | 20,000 | 65,000 | 55,000 | 20,000 | 65,000 | 55,000 | 20,000 | 65,000 |
| Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | 34,500 | 33,000 | 50,000 | TBD | – | – | TBD | – | – |
| Regularization Public Policy | 50 | – | 250 | 100 | – | 500 | 200 | – | 1,000 |
| Total Family | 94,500 (88,500 – 102,000) | – | – | 88,000 (82,000 – 96,000) | – | – | 81,000 (77,000 – 89,000) | – | – |
| Spouses, Partners, and Children | 70,000 | 65,500 | 78,000 | 66,500 | 63,000 | 75,000 | 61,000 | 58,000 | 67,500 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 24,500 | 20,500 | 28,000 | 21,500 | 16,500 | 24,500 | 20,000 | 15,000 | 22,000 |
| Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 58,350 (55,000 – 65,000) | – | – | 55,350 (50,000 – 62,000) | – | – | 54,350 (50,000 – 60,000) | – | – |
| Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad | 20,000 | 18,000 | 30,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 30,000 | 18,000 | 16,000 | 30,000 |
| Resettled Refugees – Government-Assisted | 15,250 | 13,000 | 17,000 | 15,250 | 13,000 | 17,000 | 15,250 | 13,000 | 17,000 |
| Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office-Referred | 100 | – | 150 | 100 | – | 150 | 100 | – | 150 |
| Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored | 23,000 | 21,000 | 26,000 | 22,000 | 19,000 | 24,000 | 21,000 | 19,000 | 24,000 |
| Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other | 10,000 (8,500 – 13,000) | – | – | 6,900 (6,000 – 9,000) | – | – | 4,300 (4,000 – 6,000) | – | – |
Supplementary Information
The plan prioritizes economic immigration, supporting key sectors like healthcare and skilled trades. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) target remains at 55,000 per year, integrated with Express Entry, offering 600 additional CRS points. Quebec’s immigration targets are to be determined (TBD). Per the IRCC’s 2024 Francophone Immigration Policy, Francophone immigration outside Quebec rises to 10% by 2027. Temporary resident measures include a 2024 study permit cap of 360,000 (new arrivals) and TFW low-wage stream adjustments (Source: IRCC website, September 2024 update). Immigration is expected to contribute 1.5% to Canada’s GDP growth in 2025, addressing labour shortages (Source: Statistics Canada 2024 report).
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Book a Free Consultation NowFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan?
IRCC’s plan outlining permanent and temporary resident immigration targets, supporting economic, family, refugee, and other categories.
2. What is the permanent resident target for 2025?
395,000, with a range of 367,000–436,000.
3. How do temporary resident targets change?
673,650 in 2025, 516,600 in 2026, and 543,600 in 2027, targeting 5% of the population.
4. What is the economic immigration share?
Nearly 62% by 2027, focusing on Federal Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus.
5. What is the PNP target for 2025?
55,000, integrated with Express Entry.
6. What are the Francophone immigration targets?
Outside Quebec: 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, 10% in 2027.
7. What is the international student permit cap?
305,900 in 2025, based on the 2024 cap of 360,000 new arrivals.
8. What are the family reunification targets?
94,500 in 2025, including 70,000 spouses and 24,500 parents.
9. What are the refugee category targets?
58,350 in 2025, representing 15% of the total.
10. What are Quebec’s immigration targets?
34,500 in 2025, TBD for 2026–2027.
11. What measures apply to temporary residents?
Study permit cap, PGWP changes, and TFW low-wage stream adjustments.
12. What are the economic pilots?
Caregivers, Agri-Food, Community Immigration, Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, with 10,920 in 2025.
13. What is the Atlantic Immigration Program target?
5,000 annually.
14. How many humanitarian admissions?
10,000 in 2025, totaling 21,200 over three years.
15. How does the plan support the economy?
Focuses on key sectors like healthcare and trades, expected to contribute to GDP growth.
16. What changes in 2026?
Permanent residents drop to 380,000, temporary residents to 516,600.
17. How to apply for economic immigration?
Through Express Entry or PNP, focusing on In-Canada Focus.
18. Can temporary residents become permanent residents?
Over 40% of 2025 admissions are from students/workers already in Canada.
19. Where to find the latest updates?
IRCC website or canadaimmigration.news.
20. When does the plan take effect?
Starting 2025, announced on October 24, 2024.
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