Canada’s federal government is implementing significant changes to its immigration policies. The adjustments include reduced caps on newcomers and updated rules for permanent and non-permanent residents.
The shift follows years of rapid population growth attributed to increased immigration during Canada’s COVID-19 recovery. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government had prioritized immigration to address labor shortages.
However, Canada is reducing the number of new immigrants entering the country for the first time since the pandemic lockdowns.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that this year’s permanent resident (PR) targets will be 395,000, down from 500,000. The targets for 2026 and 2027 will be even lower, at 380,000 and 365,000, respectively.
The federal government is tackling the issue of non-permanent residents (NPRs). The current policies seek to lower the share of NPRs in Canada from 6.5 percent to 5 percent of the overall population. This year, a decrease of approximately 445,000 NPRs is projected, with a similar reduction planned for the following year. A slight increase of 17,439 is expected in 2027.
Over 40 percent of those granted PR status this year will already live in Canada as NPRs. IRCC refers to this approach as an “in-Canada focus.” Most new permanent residents will be economic immigrants. Family immigrants comprise approximately 25 percent of the population, while the rest include refugees, protected persons, and other categories.
French-speaking immigrants will receive special attention. This year, 8.5 percent of permanent residents (PRs) are expected to be French speakers living outside of Quebec. By 2027, this figure is projected to reach 10 percent. Quebec, which manages some immigration policies independently, plans to admit 80 percent of its newcomers who have knowledge of French.
The majority of NPRs will enter Canada as workers. Approximately 285,750 will come through the International Mobility Program, while 82,000 will arrive under the Temporary Foreign Worker program. To address concerns about their misuse of cheap labor, eligibility criteria for these programs will become stricter.
The changes reflect Canada’s focus on balancing population growth with housing, social services, and economic needs.
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