- 1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
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1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
1011 Parsons Road SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 0X2 - CANADA
Office # 6, Second Floor, Blook-D, Spring North Commercial, Phase-7, Bahria Town, Islamabad
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Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026
Canada’s immigration objectives aim to enhance the economy, reunite families, and assist refugees. This detailed page on themillenniumimmigration.com provides all the essential information you need regarding Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
Table of Contents
- Summary of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan
- Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026
- Why Canada Needs Immigrants
- Overview of Canada’s Immigration Programs
Summary of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan
Every year, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes a new Immigration Levels Plan to steer its operations.
For 2023, IRCC aims to welcome over 465,000 newcomers to Canada. The target for 2024 is set at 485,000 new permanent residents (PRs). In both 2025 and 2026, Canada intends to accept an additional 500,000 immigrants each year. The table below summarizes Canada’s immigration targets for the years 2024-2026 by immigration class:
Immigration Class | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
Economic | 281,135 | 301,250 | 301,250 |
Family | 114,000 | 118,000 | 118,000 |
Refugee | 76,115 | 72,750 | 72,750 |
Humanitarian | 13,750 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
Total | 485,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026
Immigrant Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Target | Target | Target | ||
Overall Planned Permanent Resident Admissions | 485,000 | 500,000 | 500,000 | |
Economic | Federal High Skilled | 110,770 | 117,500 | 117,500 |
Federal Economic Public Policies | – | – | – | |
Federal Business | 5,000 | 6,000 | 6,000 | |
Economic Pilots: Caregivers | 10,875 | 14,750 | 13,750 | |
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program | 6,500 | 8,500 | 8,500 | |
Provincial Nominee Program | 110,000 | 120,000 | 120,000 | |
Quebec Skilled Workers and Business | See the Quebec immigration plan | See the Quebec immigration plan | To be determined | |
Total Economic | 281,135 | 301,250 | 301,250 | |
Family | Spouses, Partners and Children | 82,000 | 84,000 | 84,000 |
Parents and Grandparents | 32,000 | 34,000 | 34,000 | |
Total Family | 114,000 | 118,000 | 118,000 | |
Refugees and Protected Persons | Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad | 27,000 | 29,000 | 29,000 |
Resettled Refugees – Government-Assisted | 21,115 | 15,250 | 15,250 | |
Resettled Refugees – Privately Sponsored | 27,750 | 28,250 | 28,250 | |
Resettled Refugees – Blended Visa Office-Referred | 250 | 250 | 250 | |
Total Refugees and Protected Persons | 76,115 | 72,750 | 72,750 | |
Humanitarian and Other | Total Humanitarian & Compassionate and Other | 13,750 | 8,000 | 8,000 |
Francophone Permanent Resident Immigration outside of Quebec | 26,100 | 31,500 | 36,000 | |
Why Canada Needs Immigrants
Canada actively embraces high levels of immigration to bolster its economy.
As one of the countries with the oldest populations and among the lowest birth rates globally, Canada faces significant economic and fiscal pressures. This low natural population growth leads to diminished labor force and economic expansion, making it challenging to generate the tax revenue necessary for funding essential services like education and healthcare, which uphold the country’s high living standards.
In response, Canada has been ramping up its immigration levels since the late 1980s to enhance its population growth, labor force, and economic development. Immigration has become crucial for sustaining the majority of Canada’s population and labor force growth, as well as contributing significantly to its economic advancement.
Consider that by 2030, approximately 9 million baby boomers will reach retirement age. This shift will result in fewer workers available at a time when healthcare spending is expected to rise. To address this challenge, Canada has been gradually increasing its immigration targets for over three decades.
Since 1988, Canada has consistently welcomed over 200,000 immigrants annually, and in recent years, the target has surged to over 400,000. Currently, Canada’s immigration rate stands at nearly 1.2 percent, meaning it accepts three times as many immigrants per capita as the United States.
Given its demographic realities and immigration patterns, it’s likely that Canada will continue to progressively elevate its immigration levels in the foreseeable future. Immigration will remain vital for fostering a robust economy and maintaining fiscal health.
Furthermore, the significance of immigration has intensified due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has temporarily weakened the Canadian economy and increased government expenditure on social services. Additionally, Canada’s birth rate dropped to a record low of 1.47 children per woman in 2019. With the possibility that economic uncertainties caused by the pandemic could further depress birth rates, Canada is set to become increasingly reliant on immigration for population growth in the coming years. If low birth rates persist, immigration will represent an even larger portion of labor force growth in the decades ahead. Strengthening the tax base through immigration will also be crucial for supporting government spending in the post-pandemic landscape.
Overview of Canada's Immigration Programs
Economic immigration is a key driver of Canada’s growth, accounting for over half of the planned admissions outlined in the multi-year levels plan.
Nearly half of the anticipated economic admissions will come through the federal Express Entry system, which encompasses:
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program: This program targets immigrants with the necessary education, work experience, and proficiency in English and/or French to successfully establish themselves economically in Canada.
Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC): Designed for foreign workers with qualifications in skilled trades, this program is also managed under Express Entry.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This category welcomes foreign workers with Canadian work experience or recent graduates from Canadian institutions who have gained work experience in Canada.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another crucial aspect of Canada’s economic immigration strategy, enabling provinces and territories to nominate candidates who meet local labor market needs for permanent residence.
The following immigration programs are part of Canada’s Multi-Year Immigration Levels Plan:
Economic Programs
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program: Managed through Express Entry, this program is for immigrants with the requisite skills to establish themselves economically in Canada.
Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC): This program caters to foreign workers with qualifications in specific skilled trades.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Also under Express Entry, this program is for those with Canadian work experience or recent graduates from Canadian educational institutions.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP): This pilot allows designated employers in Atlantic Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick) to recruit foreign skilled workers or international graduates.
Caregivers Program: This initiative offers eligible foreign caregivers caring for children or individuals with high medical needs a pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
Federal Business Programs (Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Person): These programs enable eligible foreigners to establish new or existing businesses in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): This program allows provinces and territories to nominate candidates for Canadian permanent residence based on local economic needs.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program and Quebec Business: Quebec operates its own immigration system, independent of the federal framework. Planned levels for this province for 2019 to 2021 have yet to be announced.
Family Class Programs
Spousal/Common-Law Partner Sponsorship and Dependent Child Sponsorship
Parent and Grandparents Program
Refugees and Protected Persons
Refugees and Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad**
Privately-Sponsored Refugees
Blended Visa Office Referred Program
Government-Assisted Refugees
Contact THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION for Assistance
THE MILLENNIUM IMMIGRATION is a prominent Canadian immigration law firm with over 11 years of experience. Our team includes more than 60 Canadian immigration lawyers, paralegals, and other professionals dedicated to helping individuals achieve their Canadian immigration goals. We provide assistance in various areas, including skilled worker and business immigration, family sponsorship, work permits, study permits, citizenship, and addressing inadmissibility issues.
Founded in 2013, our website has become one of the world’s most trusted resources for Canadian immigration information. Please feel free to reach out for assistance— we’re here to help!