October 24, 2024 – Ottawa

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, setting ambitious targets for permanent and temporary residents across key immigration categories, including Economic, Family, Refugees, and Humanitarian & Compassionate grounds. This new framework, for the first time, integrates temporary resident targets for international students and foreign workers, reflecting a strategic, holistic approach to managing migration.

The 2025-2027 Levels Plan is designed to strengthen Canada’s economy, fill labor market gaps, and enhance community diversity, particularly within Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec. As Canada moves beyond post-pandemic recovery measures, a better alignment of immigration levels with community capacity is necessary.

Key Highlights of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan:

• Holistic Immigration Strategy: Temporary and permanent resident targets are now aligned, supporting Canada’s long-term economic and demographic needs.
• Temporary Residents: Targeted temporary residents in Canada are set at 673,650 for 2025, decreasing to 516,600 in 2026, and 543,600 in 2027. International students will represent the majority of these newcomers, making up 45% in 2025 and 59% in 2026.
• Permanent Resident Admissions: Projections for permanent resident admissions are 395,000 in 2025, dropping to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 by 2027. A key focus remains on skilled workers, particularly in sectors like healthcare and trades, which will account for nearly 62% of admissions by 2027.
• Economic Immigration: The plan prioritizes economic immigrants with an emphasis on critical sectors, ensuring that the workforce remains aligned with Canada’s growing labor needs.
• Family Reunification and Refugee Resettlement: The family category will continue to make up 22% of admissions, and the refugee sector will maintain sustained targets for Government Assisted Refugees.
• Francophone Immigration: In line with the 2024 Policy on Francophone Immigration, the plan targets an increase in French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec, reaching 8.5% of total admissions in 2025.

Temporary and Permanent Residency Alignment
One of the primary goals of the 2025-2027 Levels Plan is to align temporary and permanent resident numbers more effectively. Over 40% of permanent resident admissions in 2025 are expected to consist of individuals already residing in Canada as workers or students. This shift reflects a growing emphasis on providing pathways for those already contributing to Canada’s economy.

Strategic Immigration Measures
In response to shifting labor market conditions, the Canadian government has introduced several measures to manage immigration. These include a cap on study permits, changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility, and adjustments to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which aims to align immigration with current workforce needs.

Conclusion
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan reflects Canada’s commitment to responding to labor market demands and demographic challenges through well-managed migration. The integration of temporary resident targets alongside permanent residency will help ensure that Canada continues to meet its economic goals while fostering community growth and diversity.