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According to Budget 2025, Canada’s upcoming 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan will introduce new measures allowing up to 33,000 work permit holders to transition to permanent residence between 2026 and 2027.
Key Highlights from the Plan
- Temporary Resident Admissions
- The 2026 target will be 385,000, a 43% decrease from the 2025 target of 673,650.
- International student admissions will drop to 155,000 (down 49% from 305,900 in 2025).
- Temporary foreign worker admissions will be 230,000 (down 37% from 367,750 in 2025, but 8% higher than last year’s 2026 target of 210,700).
- Protected Persons: Eligible Protected Persons in Canada will be granted permanent resident status over the next two years.
- Permanent Residence Targets: The 2026 PR target remains at 380,000, unchanged from last year.
- Economic Immigration: 64% of permanent residence admissions will be allocated to economic programs, up from 59%.
- The Plan will also prioritize sectors affected by tariffs and address the unique needs of rural and remote communities.
The Liberal minority government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, tabled Budget 2025 in Parliament on November 4, 2025. More details will follow in the 2025 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration.
Reduction in Temporary Residence Targets
Although the Plan significantly lowers targets for 2026, actual admissions may not decline sharply, as 2025 admissions have fallen short of existing goals.
Between January and August 2025:
- Only 154,515 temporary foreign workers were admitted — 42% of the annual target.
- Only 89,430 international students entered Canada — 29% of the annual target.
Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
Prime Minister Mark Carney has signaled upcoming reforms to the TFWP, emphasizing a “focused approach” to meet strategic sectoral and regional needs.
While Budget 2025 does not detail the split between the TFWP and the International Mobility Program (IMP), historical data show the IMP accounts for most work permits issued:
- 2025 Targets: 285,750 under IMP and 82,000 under TFWP.
- 2026 (Previous Plan): 128,700 under IMP and 82,000 under TFWP.
The upcoming Plan’s combined 2026 target of 230,000 marks an increase from last year’s 210,700.
Permanent Residence Admissions
Minor adjustments are expected in PR admissions for 2026:
- Total PR admissions: 380,000 (unchanged)
- Economic immigration: 239,800 (up from 229,750)
- Family reunification: 84,000 (down from 88,000)
- Refugee and Humanitarian: 56,200 (down from 62,250)
About the Immigration Levels Plan
The Immigration Levels Plan outlines Canada’s annual immigration targets for both temporary and permanent residents over a three-year period.
The first year’s targets are firm, while subsequent years are subject to revision.
Last year’s Plan was the first to include temporary resident targets and reduced annual PR admissions by 20% from the earlier 2024–2026 Plan (which targeted 500,000 per year).
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