Canada's 2025-2027 Immigration Level Plan Released, Strategic Approach Now a Must, Not a Choice
6 Nov 2024
On October 24, 2024, the 2025-2027 Immigration Level Plan was released, marking a significant departure from the previous Canadian Immigration Level Plan and signaling a shift in the direction of Canada's immigration policy going forward. The plan was more detailed and included targets not only for permanent residents, but also for temporary residents, including international students and temporary foreign workers, signaling a number of measures aimed at sustainable economic growth and greater emphasis on social stability in Canada.
Most notable is the clarification of targets for temporary residents, including international students and temporary foreign workers. From 2025 to 2027, the temporary resident intake target will be phased in and is expected to decrease or remain at 673,650 in 2025, 516,600 in 2026, and 543,600 in 2027. With this, the Canadian government is likely to reach its target of temporary residents at 5% of the total Canadian population by 2026, a move that is being made to address both housing and jobs issues.
Furthermore, temporary residents have been divided into international students and temporary foreign workers, with specific target numbers for each. For international students, the target is set at 305,900 per year, which represents the major share of all temporary residents. In 2025, international students are expected to make up about 45% of all temporary residents, with the proportion changing to 59% and 56% in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The Government of Canada recognizes that international students make a positive contribution to the Canadian economy and are a workforce that is likely to transition to permanent residency in the long term. However, the rapid increase in international students is impacting the housing shortage and rising cost of living for Canadian citizens, so the government will try to maintain a certain level through a cap on international student visa applications.
Temporary foreign workers are divided into the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW). In 2025, a total of 367,750 temporary foreign workers will enter the country, of which 285,750 will be through the International Mobility Program (IMP) and 82,000 will be through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW). In 2026, there will be a significant decrease in the number of IMPs, dropping to 210,700. Then, in 2027, the number of IMPs will increase again, reaching a total of 237,700. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program maintains a consistent target of 82,000 per year to ensure a stable labor supply for essential industries, recognizing the importance of foreign workers' role in essential occupations such as agriculture, construction, and food processing.
Permanent resident targets have also been adjusted. The permanent resident target for 2025 has been set at 395,000, for 2026 at 380,000, and for 2027 at 365,000. This is in response to the housing shortage and rising cost of living. In particular, the selection of permanent residents has emphasized the prioritization of Canadian residents, with priority given to temporary residents who have already completed their studies or are working and gaining experience in Canada, making it relatively easy for them to obtain permanent residency compared to other applicants. This demonstrates that the intention to rapidly absorb well-adjusted talent into Canada remains unchanged. Approximately 62% of permanent residents will be drawn from the economic immigration category, which will focus on attracting workers in key sectors such as health and technology occupations. In addition, 22% will be allocated through family-based sponsorship and 15% to support refugees and protected persons.
The 2025-2027 Immigration Level Plan demonstrates the Government of Canada's intention to manage the immigration system in a more organized manner with the goal of economic stability and social integration. The plan indicates that Canada intends to pursue harmonious growth by ensuring a balanced influx of temporary and permanent residents, taking into account the country's capacity. This means that by controlling the number of international students and temporary foreign workers to select the talent it needs, Canada aims to achieve both short-term economic needs and long-term social stability. While this has resulted in a slightly higher threshold for entry, the policy change is ultimately a reflection of the country's desire to attract the talent it needs and help them settle in Canada. For those preparing to immigrate to Canada in the future, strategic decisions about study, career, and location choices are not an option, but a necessity.
On October 24, 2024, the 2025-2027 Immigration Level Plan was released, marking a significant departure from the previous Canadian Immigration Level Plan and signaling a shift in the direction of Canada's immigration policy going forward. The plan was more detailed and included targets not only for permanent residents, but also for temporary residents, including international students and temporary foreign workers, signaling a number of measures aimed at sustainable economic growth and greater emphasis on social stability in Canada.
Most notable is the clarification of targets for temporary residents, including international students and temporary foreign workers. From 2025 to 2027, the temporary resident intake target will be phased in and is expected to decrease or remain at 673,650 in 2025, 516,600 in 2026, and 543,600 in 2027. With this, the Canadian government is likely to reach its target of temporary residents at 5% of the total Canadian population by 2026, a move that is being made to address both housing and jobs issues.
Furthermore, temporary residents have been divided into international students and temporary foreign workers, with specific target numbers for each. For international students, the target is set at 305,900 per year, which represents the major share of all temporary residents. In 2025, international students are expected to make up about 45% of all temporary residents, with the proportion changing to 59% and 56% in 2026 and 2027, respectively. The Government of Canada recognizes that international students make a positive contribution to the Canadian economy and are a workforce that is likely to transition to permanent residency in the long term. However, the rapid increase in international students is impacting the housing shortage and rising cost of living for Canadian citizens, so the government will try to maintain a certain level through a cap on international student visa applications.
Temporary foreign workers are divided into the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW). In 2025, a total of 367,750 temporary foreign workers will enter the country, of which 285,750 will be through the International Mobility Program (IMP) and 82,000 will be through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW). In 2026, there will be a significant decrease in the number of IMPs, dropping to 210,700. Then, in 2027, the number of IMPs will increase again, reaching a total of 237,700. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program maintains a consistent target of 82,000 per year to ensure a stable labor supply for essential industries, recognizing the importance of foreign workers' role in essential occupations such as agriculture, construction, and food processing.
Permanent resident targets have also been adjusted. The permanent resident target for 2025 has been set at 395,000, for 2026 at 380,000, and for 2027 at 365,000. This is in response to the housing shortage and rising cost of living. In particular, the selection of permanent residents has emphasized the prioritization of Canadian residents, with priority given to temporary residents who have already completed their studies or are working and gaining experience in Canada, making it relatively easy for them to obtain permanent residency compared to other applicants. This demonstrates that the intention to rapidly absorb well-adjusted talent into Canada remains unchanged. Approximately 62% of permanent residents will be drawn from the economic immigration category, which will focus on attracting workers in key sectors such as health and technology occupations. In addition, 22% will be allocated through family-based sponsorship and 15% to support refugees and protected persons.
The 2025-2027 Immigration Level Plan demonstrates the Government of Canada's intention to manage the immigration system in a more organized manner with the goal of economic stability and social integration. The plan indicates that Canada intends to pursue harmonious growth by ensuring a balanced influx of temporary and permanent residents, taking into account the country's capacity. This means that by controlling the number of international students and temporary foreign workers to select the talent it needs, Canada aims to achieve both short-term economic needs and long-term social stability. While this has resulted in a slightly higher threshold for entry, the policy change is ultimately a reflection of the country's desire to attract the talent it needs and help them settle in Canada. For those preparing to immigrate to Canada in the future, strategic decisions about study, career, and location choices are not an option, but a necessity.