Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan: What It Means for Your PR, Work, or Study Plans
Last Updated: November 2026
Quick Answer: What is Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan?
Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 380,000 permanent-resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary-resident arrivals in each of 2027, 2028 and 2029. These overall targets are unchanged for 2027 and 2028 compared with the previous plan. The permanent-resident target includes economic, family, refugee and protected-person, and humanitarian categories; the temporary-resident target counts new worker and student arrivals. The 2028 and 2029 targets are notional and subject to review. These figures are planning targets, not individual approvals, invitations or guarantees of admission.
For individual context, see immigration law services and IRCC’s 2027–2029 plan.
Why the 2027–2029 plan matters for your immigration plans
Canada’s 2027–2029 immigration plan keeps overall permanent-resident admissions at 380,000 a year, but the numbers inside the plan matter too. If you live in Toronto, Scarborough, or elsewhere in Ontario, you may be weighing different ways to settle permanently, sponsor family, or pursue work or study.
The plan is a national planning document published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal department responsible for immigration programs. It describes how many people Canada aims to admit through broad categories; it does not decide whether a particular application meets the rules.
Section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act requires annual immigration reporting to Parliament. Program requirements remain separate from these targets. The recent Express Entry changes also deserve attention.
Quick Start: Pick Your Path
Start with the immigration pathway that fits your circumstances, not with the largest number in the plan. Permanent-residence targets describe planned admissions; temporary-resident targets describe specified new arrivals. Your location, present immigration status, and program eligibility determine which rules you need to check first.
The plan does not replace program-specific eligibility rules. See Nihang Law’s immigration options for individual assistance.
2027–2029 immigration targets at a glance
The plan establishes two different measures: planned permanent-resident admissions and new temporary-resident worker and student arrivals. Permanent residence means permission to live in Canada indefinitely, subject to applicable legal requirements. An admission target is not a count of applications received or invitations issued.
In the table, notional means provisional and subject to review.
| Measure | 2027 | 2028 (notional) | 2029 (notional) | What it counts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent residents — total | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 | Admissions, not applications or invitations |
| Economic admissions | 244,700 | 244,700 | 244,700 | Part of the PR total |
| Family admissions | 81,000 | 81,000 | 81,000 | Part of the PR total |
| Refugees/protected persons | 49,300 | 49,300 | 49,300 | Part of the PR total |
| Humanitarian and other | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | Part of the PR total |
| Temporary residents — new arrivals | 370,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 | New workers and students only |
| New worker arrivals | 220,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 | International Mobility Program (IMP): 170,000; Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP): 50,000 |
| New student arrivals | 150,000 | 150,000 | 150,000 | Not a study-permit issuance cap |
Of the 380,000 planned permanent-resident admissions each year, economic immigration accounts for approximately 64.4%, family admissions for 21.3%, refugees and protected persons for 13.0%, and humanitarian and other admissions for 1.3%. The categories add up to 380,000; the separate temporary-resident figure should not be added to that total as one combined quota. See the IRCC tables and our Canada immigration services.
2027 permanent-resident admissions by category
Canada-wide permanent-resident admission targets for 2027. Economic immigration is the largest category; targets are not approvals.
Percentages are shares of the 380,000 planned admissions, not shares of applications.
What stayed the same—and what changed from the previous plan
The new plan does not reduce the overall 2027 or 2028 targets from the previous plan: both retain 380,000 planned permanent-resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary-resident arrivals. The new year is 2029. Within economic immigration, however, some program allocations changed.
| 2027 measure | Previous 2026–2028 plan | New 2027–2029 plan | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall PR admissions | 380,000 | 380,000 | Unchanged |
| New TR arrivals | 370,000 | 370,000 | Unchanged |
| Federal High Skilled admissions | 111,000 | 100,000 | 11,000 lower |
| Provincial Nominee Program admissions | 92,500 | 95,000 | 2,500 higher; Canada-wide |
| Atlantic Immigration Program admissions | 4,000 | 6,000 | 2,000 higher |
| Family-class admissions | 81,000 | 81,000 | Unchanged |
These are comparisons for the same year, 2027, using last year’s IRCC plan and the new plan. The national Provincial Nominee Program admissions target is not Ontario’s nomination allotment. Applicants should also review the November 2026 Express Entry update because selection rules and planning totals address different questions.
Economic allocations changed within a stable overall target
The overall 2027 permanent-resident target stays at 380,000; federal economic streams have different allocations than last year’s plan.
The PNP figures refer to Canada-wide permanent-resident admissions, not Ontario nomination allocations.
Permanent residence: Express Entry, PNP and Ontario options
Economic immigration remains the largest permanent-residence category, with a target of 244,700 admissions a year. Federal High Skilled admissions are set at 100,000, while the Provincial Nominee Program receives a Canada-wide admissions target of 95,000. These figures describe intended admissions, not an applicant’s odds of selection.
Express Entry is IRCC’s online system for managing applications under certain federal skilled-worker programs. The Federal High Skilled category covers these programs, including the Canadian Experience Class. People considering this route can review Nihang Law’s Express Entry legal guidance alongside current IRCC requirements.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces and territories to nominate people under their immigration streams. Ontario participates through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). A national target of 95,000 PNP permanent-resident admissions does not mean Ontario has 95,000 nominations available.
See the firm’s OINP Workforce Priority Stream guide and recent Express Entry changes. Each pathway has distinct selection rules.
Family sponsorship, refugees, and humanitarian admissions
Family-class admissions remain at 81,000 a year: 66,000 for spouses, partners, and children, and 15,000 for parents and grandparents. Refugee and protected-person admissions total 49,300; humanitarian and other admissions total 5,000. These categories do not replace individual application, sponsorship, or protection requirements.
Within the protection target, IRCC lists 20,000 protected persons in Canada and dependants abroad, 11,750 government-assisted resettled refugees, and 17,550 privately sponsored resettled refugees. Refugee protection decisions remain distinct from these admission allocations.
For specific family questions, see family sponsorship options and the parents and grandparents sponsorship guide. People making a refugee claim can consult the separate online asylum claim process guide.
Work and study plans: what the 370,000 arrival target means
The annual 370,000 target counts specific new temporary-resident arrivals, not every permit issued or person already in Canada. A temporary resident is a person permitted to remain in Canada for a limited period. IRCC allocates 220,000 arrivals to workers and 150,000 to students.
The International Mobility Program (IMP) accounts for 170,000 planned arrivals through work-permit streams that do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). An LMIA is a federal assessment of whether an employer needs a foreign worker because qualified Canadians or permanent residents are unavailable. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) accounts for 50,000 planned arrivals and typically requires an LMIA.
A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows eligible graduates to work in Canada after qualifying studies. IRCC excludes PGWPs from these new-arrival targets because it treats them as changes or extensions of status. Visitors, in-Canada permit applications, extensions, and asylum claimants are also outside the new-arrivals target. IRCC also excludes seasonal or short-duration IMP streams and certain same-year seasonal workers under the TFWP. These figures differ from study-permit intake caps.
Who is counted in the 370,000 new-arrival target?
For 2027, IRCC targets 220,000 new worker arrivals and 150,000 new student arrivals. Permit issuances and renewals are distinct.
370,000 total includes 220,000 workers and 150,000 students. These are new arrivals, not all permits issued; certain seasonal or short-duration streams are excluded.
Ottawa also aims to reduce the temporary-resident share of Canada’s population below 5% by the end of 2027. That is a policy objective, not an assured result. See our student visa services and PGWP eligibility guide.
French-speaking applicants: the targets outside Quebec
French-speaking immigration remains a growing policy priority outside Quebec. IRCC targets French-speaking permanent-resident admissions outside Quebec at 9.5% in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029. These percentages are planning targets, not eligibility scores or application approval rates.
The corresponding admission figures are 31,825, 35,175 and 40,200. Ontario applicants can review the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot where relevant, while checking the specific rules of any pathway. Quebec’s skilled-worker and business figures remain listed as “TBD” in the federal table, and IRCC notes that its Francophone figures may need updating after Quebec’s levels are published.
French-speaking PR targets outside Quebec, 2027–2029
IRCC’s French-speaking permanent-resident admission targets outside Quebec increase from 9.5% in 2027 to 12% in 2029. Figures for 2028 and 2029 are notional.
2028 and 2029 are provisional planning targets; IRCC may review them, including after Quebec publishes its immigration levels.
The separate one-time permanent residence measure
Budget 2026 proposes a separate, time-limited opportunity for up to 200,000 temporary residents already in Canada to transition to permanent residence by the end of 2027. It identifies 100,000 workers eligible under Express Entry or the PNP within that proposal. This is not the regular 380,000-admissions planning target.
The proposal does not itself establish that applications are open or that any particular person qualifies. IRCC also refers to existing, distinct Budget 2025 transition initiatives for protected persons and work-permit holders. Readers can check Budget 2026 and IRCC’s published instructions, or seek permanent residence advice.
Your step-by-step roadmap for reviewing your options
Begin by separating your personal eligibility from the national targets. The most useful next steps depend on whether you are outside Canada, already studying or working here, sponsoring family, or tracking an application. Use the relevant IRCC instructions rather than relying on a headline number alone.
- 1Identify your status and location. Note whether you are a visitor, student, worker or permanent-residence applicant.
- 2Choose the pathway. Compare Express Entry, an Ontario nomination, family sponsorship, work, study or protection as relevant.
- 3Check current eligibility and caps. Read program requirements and intake rules separately from admissions targets.
- 4Review supporting records. Confirm documents, permits and expiry dates that may matter to your situation.
- 5Track an existing application. Use IRCC’s applicable status tools and the firm’s application status tracker guide.
- 6Get tailored advice when needed. Complex status questions, refusals or eligibility concerns may call for legal review.
Common mistakes when reading immigration targets
A levels plan allocates immigration planning targets; it does not replace legal tests for individual applications. Headlines sometimes mix different measures or present a proposal as a current program. Keep these distinctions in mind.
- PR target ≠ approval: A national target cannot determine an individual's decision.
- Temporary-resident arrival target ≠ all permits: Existing residents and renewals are different.
- Student arrivals ≠ study-permit cap: The two measures count different things.
- PNP admissions ≠ Ontario nominations: The federal number covers Canada-wide admissions.
- 2028–2029 targets ≠ final totals: Both years remain notional.
- One-time proposal ≠ open PR stream: Wait for applicable published instructions.
- Refugee admissions ≠ refugee-claim eligibility: Protection decisions follow separate criteria.
For an example of a distinct program rule, see the PGWP eligibility requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What is Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan?
It is the federal government’s plan for annual immigration targets. The IRCC plan sets 380,000 planned permanent-resident admissions and 370,000 new worker and student arrivals each year from 2027 to 2029. It does not determine an individual application’s eligibility or result.
Is Canada cutting permanent residence numbers in 2027?
No. The overall target for 2027 remains 380,000 permanent-resident admissions, the same number shown for that year in the previous plan. Some categories changed within that total, including Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program admissions. The overall total and individual stream allocations are different measures.
Does the 380,000 target mean my PR application can be approved?
No. The 380,000 figure is a government planning target, not a decision about your application. IRCC assesses each permanent-residence application under the relevant immigration law and program requirements. Eligibility, supporting evidence and other applicable criteria remain necessary even where a category has planned admissions.
Are Ontario PNP nominations increasing in 2027?
The federal Provincial Nominee Program admissions target increases from 92,500 to 95,000 for 2027. That is a Canada-wide permanent-residence target, not Ontario’s nomination allocation. Ontario applicants need to check current Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program streams, nomination spaces and criteria separately before drawing conclusions about available opportunities.
Does the 150,000 student target mean only 150,000 study permits can be issued?
No. The 150,000 figure refers to planned new international student arrivals in 2027, not the number of study permits that IRCC can issue. Study-permit applications, approvals, caps and in-Canada status changes are separate concepts. Check the current rules for the program and the institution involved.
Does applying for a PGWP in Canada count as a new worker arrival?
No. IRCC treats Post-Graduation Work Permits as extensions or changes of status rather than new arrivals for this levels-plan target. That does not remove the requirement to qualify for a PGWP under the rules in force when applying. Eligibility depends on the applicant’s program and other applicable conditions.
Can I still sponsor my spouse or parents under the new plan?
The plan retains 81,000 annual family-class admissions, including 66,000 for spouses, partners and children and 15,000 for parents and grandparents. Those numbers do not automatically open an intake or establish eligibility. Check the current program requirements, including relevant intake rules, using family class guidance where helpful.
What do the French-speaking immigration targets mean for someone in Ontario?
IRCC’s target for French-speaking permanent-resident admissions outside Quebec rises from 9.5% in 2027 to 12% in 2029. An Ontario applicant may want to review relevant French-language pathways, but these targets are not a separate approval guarantee. Each immigration stream retains its own qualifications and procedures.
Are the 2028 and 2029 immigration targets final?
No. IRCC labels 2028 and 2029 targets as notional, meaning provisional and subject to review. It states that temporary-resident targets for those years may be confirmed or adjusted by November 1, 2027. Permanent-resident targets may also be confirmed or adjusted through the annual planning process.
Discuss your immigration options with Nihang Law
About the author
Qasim Ali
Principal Lawyer · Nihang Law Professional Corporation · Toronto & Scarborough, Ontario · Law Society of Ontario
Qasim Ali is the Principal Lawyer at Nihang Law Professional Corporation, serving clients across Toronto, Scarborough, and the broader Greater Toronto Area. He provides full-service legal representation across immigration, real estate, family law, criminal law, civil litigation, employment law, wills and estates, and business law.
Nihang Law is particularly recognized for its depth in immigration and real estate law — a combination that serves newcomers and growing families navigating both legal systems simultaneously.
Learn more about Qasim Ali →Sources & References
IRCC — Supplementary Information for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan — categories, annual targets, notional targets, exclusions and definitions.
IRCC — Supplementary Information for the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan — 2027 comparison figures and the below-5% policy objective.
IRCC — Canada’s Immigration Levels — official overview of target categories.
IRCC — 2026 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration — reporting context and admission targets.
Government of Canada — Budget 2026, Chapter 3 — proposed time-limited transition opportunity.
Justice Laws — Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 94 — annual report-to-Parliament obligation.