The Canadian federal government is preparing to unveil its targets for new permanent and temporary residents under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will release the plan on or before November 1, 2025, outlining the number of newcomers Canada aims to welcome each year.
Every year, this plan sets confirmed targets for the next year and projected goals for the following two years. Based on government statements and past trends, several key expectations have begun to take shape for the upcoming plan.
Today, we will discuss what to expect from Canada’s Immigration Plan 2026–2028, including PR targets, Express Entry, and PNP updates.
So, without further ado, let us begin!
Stabilizing Permanent Resident Admissions
If the government follows through on its election promise, permanent resident (PR) admissions for 2027 are not expected to exceed 416,500.
This figure is based on the Liberal Party’s pledge to keep immigration at below 1% of Canada’s total population each year. As of July 1, 2025, Canada’s population stands at roughly 41.65 million, setting the 416,500 cap.
In line with this goal, last year’s Immigration Levels Plan reduced PR targets for 2025 by 20% compared to the previous year’s plan.
The targets for the last two Immigration Levels Plans are shown below:
| Year | Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 (published 2024) | Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026 (published 2023) |
| 2025 | 395,000 | 500,000 |
| 2026 | 380,000 | 500,000 |
| 2027 | 365,000 | – |
These totals include admissions under economic, family reunification, refugee, and humanitarian programs.
Express Entry
In order to know what to expect from Canada’s Immigration Plan 2026–2028, let us first discuss about Express Entry.
Although last year’s plan reduced total immigration targets, economic immigration through Express Entry actually saw an increase.
The plan replaced the old “Federal High Skilled (FHS)” category with two new ones, i.e., Federal Economic Priorities and In-Canada Focus. They are both part of the Express Entry system.
For 2025, the combined target for these categories (41,700 + 82,980 = 124,680) rose from the previous year’s FHS target of 117,500.
| Year | Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 | Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026 |
| Federal Economic Priorities | In-Canada Focus | Federal High Skilled |
| 2025 | 41,700 | 82,980 |
| 2026 | 47,400 | 75,830 |
| 2027 | 47,800 | 70,930 |
Federal Economic Priorities focuses on in-demand occupations and French language proficiency, while In-Canada Focus targets individuals already residing in Canada on valid temporary status.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) experienced one of the biggest changes in last year’s plan. Federal targets for PNP admissions were cut in half – dropping from 110,000 to 55,000 per year for 2025 through 2027.
| Year | Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 | Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026 |
| 2025 | 55,000 | 120,000 |
| 2026 | 55,000 | 120,000 |
| 2027 | 55,000 | – |
As a result, provinces received smaller nomination allocations for 2025. However, since then, many provinces including British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick have successfully negotiated increases to their PNP allocations.
In October, Immigration Minister Lena Diab met with provincial and territorial representatives to discuss providing even more nomination spaces.
Given these developments, it’s possible that the PNP landing targets for 2026 could rise above last year’s figure of 55,000.
Temporary Resident Admissions
Another thing to expect from Canada’s Immigration Plan 2026–2028 are the temporary resident admissions.
Well, IRCC is likely to include temporary resident targets in the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan. During its 2025 consultations aimed at shaping the 2026–2028 plan, IRCC reaffirmed its goal to reduce Canada’s non-permanent resident population to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.
This will mark the second consecutive year that temporary resident levels are part of the Immigration Levels Plan. Temporary residents include both international students and temporary foreign workers.
In the previous plan, international students accounted for most of the temporary resident admissions for 2026 and 2027, while the rest were allocated to workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | |
| 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 |
| Overall arrivals | 673,650 | 516,600 | 543,600 |
The Future Of The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
Prime Minister Mark Carney has signaled upcoming adjustments to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, though it’s unclear how they will affect the annual target of 82,000 landings.
In a September address, Carney called for a “focused approach” that prioritizes strategic sectors and specific regional needs.
Recent updates to the program include:
- A moratorium on processing low-wage LMIAs in regions with unemployment above 6%.
- An increased wage threshold for high-wage stream workers.
- Reduced employer caps on hiring through the TFWP.
- Limited spousal open work permits to spouses of workers in TEER 0–1 occupations and selected TEER 2–3 roles.
The TFWP has faced criticism, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre calling for its complete abolition.
Focus On Francophone Immigration
If the federal government follows through on its election promise, we can expect higher francophone immigration targets by 2028.
Under the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the government set goals to gradually raise the share of French-speaking permanent residents settling outside Quebec, i.e., 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027.
During his election campaign, Prime Minister Mark Carney also committed to increasing francophone immigration outside Quebec to 12% by 2029.
IRCC has consistently emphasized that promoting francophone immigration remains a top priority, even as overall immigration levels are being moderated.
IRCC continues to prioritize francophone immigration through:
- Category-based Express Entry draws targeting French speakers.
- Francophone immigration pilots, such as the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.
- Expanded settlement support for French-speaking newcomers.
Even with reduced overall immigration targets, francophone immigration remains a central part of Canada’s long-term strategy.
International Student Admissions
It’s still uncertain whether the new plan will change the targets for international student arrivals.
Last year’s plan maintained consistent targets for 2025–2027:
| Year | International Student Arrivals (as per Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027) |
| 2025 | 305,900 |
| 2026 | 305,900 |
| 2027 | 305,900 |
To maintain these numbers, the government introduced a cap on study permit applications, requiring most applicants to include a Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL).
The cap is reviewed and updated each year, typically announced every January.
Thus, the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan is expected to balance economic needs, regional priorities, and housing pressures, while maintaining a strong focus on stability and francophone growth.
Whether through moderate PR targets, tighter temporary resident controls, or improved pathways for skilled workers, Canada’s immigration system continues to evolve to meet the country’s changing demographic and economic realities.
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