Canada is facing a critical point as it considers reducing immigration levels by 20% in response to growing concerns over job availability and housing shortages.

The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the immigration goals for permanent residents over the next three years.

This includes a reduction in the number of new permanent residents and sets targets for temporary residents for the first time in Canada.

The new plan sets a target of 395,000 permanent residents for 2025, which will decrease to 380,000 in 2026 and 365,000 in 2027.

This marks a significant reduction from the previous target of 485,000 for 2024, Immigration News Canada(INC) reports.

Canada Permanent Resident targets

The announced targets include details by category. For 2025, Canada plans to admit 395,000 permanent residents, with a low estimate of 367,000 and a high estimate of 436,000.

For the following years, the targets are 380,000 (low: 352,000; high: 416,000) for 2026 and 365,000 (low: 338,000; high: 401,000) for 2027.

This means that for the years 2026 and 2027, Canada plans to set specific targets for admitting permanent residents.

In 2026, the target is 380,000, with a minimum estimate of 352,000 and a maximum estimate of 416,000.

For 2027, the target is 365,000, with a low of 338,000 and a high of 401,000.

“By adjusting our targets, we aim to better manage our immigration system and address current challenges,” said Minister of Immigration.

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The plan includes various categories such as economic immigration, family reunification, and refugees.

Canada Temporary Resident Targets 

For the first time, Canada has introduced annual targets for temporary residents.

The overall arrival target for 2025 is set at 673,650, with projections for 516,600 in 2026 and 543,600 in 2027.

Within these figures, worker categories account for a significant portion, with 367,750 expected in 2025.

“Temporary residents play a crucial role in our economy, and we want to ensure we have the right balance moving forward,” the Minister added.

Changes from Previous Plans

The previous immigration levels plan aimed to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and maintain 500,000 annually in the following years.

The new plan reflects a shift in strategy, anticipating a reduction of 90,000 permanent residents in 2025 compared to the previous target.

The adjustments, as stated, were necessary to reflect the current situation and future needs.