On October 24, 2024, in Ottawa, Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the latest updates to Canada’s immigration plan for 2025-2027. For the first time, the Immigration Levels Plan includes targets to control the number of temporary residents, specifically international students and foreign workers. Previously, this plan only set goals for capping the number of permanent residents.
In comparison with the Immigration Levels Plan released at the end of 2023:
- 2025 target reduced from 500,000 to 395,000 permanent residents
- 2026 target reduced from 500,000 to 380,000 permanent residents
- 2027 target set at 365,000 permanent residents
Additionally, Canada aims to limit the number of temporary residents (including international students and foreign workers) to just 5% of the total population by the end of 2026.
Although the overall quota for immigrants has been reduced, Canada plans to focus on converting temporary residents into permanent residents. Specifically, the rate of immigrants becoming permanent residents (PR) through economic immigration programs has increased compared to other groups. In addition, despite the reduction in quotas, the 2025 quota is still higher than the pre-COVID-19 immigration quota (according to CIC News).
Mr. Marc Miller said that the total 2025 immigration quota will be for temporary residents 40%, including international students and workers (a 20% reduction compared to last year's Immigration Levels Plan).
Which groups of people will Canada continue to prioritize in the near future?
These adjustments play a key role in supporting economic growth, addressing labor market shortages, and contributing to the diversity of communities across Canada, such as:
- Fields that support long-term Healthcare and Trades (skilled workers)
- French-speaking communities outside Quebec
Additionally, plans to reduce the number of temporary residents will not affect the review of tourist visas or seasonal workers
Recently, Canada has introduced many policies to control the number of temporary residents:
- Change the policy of accepting international students
- Stricter regulations for foreign workers (LMIA), post-graduation work permits (PGWP), work permits for spouses of foreign workers and international students