Building a stronger Canada through a well-managed, predictable immigration system

What changed

The federal government has released its 2027 to 2029 Immigration Levels Plan. This plan sets the yearly targets for how many people Canada will welcome as temporary residents and as permanent residents over the next three years. It keeps those targets steady from year to year.

Background

Each year, the federal government tables an immigration levels plan. Temporary residents are people, such as workers and students, who can live in Canada for a set period. Permanent residents can live in Canada indefinitely and are on a path to citizenship. The levels plan sets how many of each type of newcomer Canada expects to admit.

Key details

• Temporary resident arrivals stay at 370,000 per year in 2027, 2028 and 2029. This includes up to 220,000 new workers and up to 150,000 new international students each year.
• Permanent resident admissions stay at 380,000 per year. Economic immigration will remain more than 64% of total admissions.
• Francophone immigration outside Quebec will be 9.5% of overall permanent resident targets in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029.
• The time-limited measure will help up to 200,000 people. It includes up to 100,000 people in a workers cohort and up to 100,000 people in a humanitarian cohort.
• Admissions under the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program will increase.
• The Rural Community Immigration Pilot will become permanent.
• The In-Canada Workers Initiative was announced in May 2026. It is a one-time effort to speed up permanent residence applications for people already working in Canada. The government will finish this work in 2027.
• Exact eligibility rules for the time-limited measure are not fully listed in this update. Please check the official IRCC page for the full criteria.

Who it affects

This plan affects anyone thinking about coming to Canada or already living here while waiting on an immigration decision. The time-limited measure is most relevant to the following groups:

What it means for you

For many people, this plan means more space and clearer planning. If you are already working in Canada and your province is looking for workers like you, a provincial nomination may now be easier to reach. For example, a worker in a rural area who already applied under the Atlantic Immigration Program might be identified by their province for permanent residence.

What to do next

• Read the official IRCC page on the 2027 to 2029 Immigration Levels Plan and the time-limited measure.
• Check your current application status and confirm which program it falls under.
• Contact your province or territory to ask whether they plan to nominate people in your situation.
• Keep your identity, work and family documents up to date and easy to find.
• Watch for official updates, and be careful about information from social media or unofficial websites.
• Do not wait to get advice if your timelines are tight or your case is complex.