By admin (October 25, 2024)
Canada to Reduce Immigration Intake by 20% in 2025
Canada has announced a decrease in its targets for admitting both permanent and temporary residents.
Revised Permanent Resident Targets
The Canadian government’s new Immigration Levels Plan, revealed on October 24, details reductions in permanent residency admissions for the next three years:
- 2025: Target set at 395,000, a drop from the 2024 target of 485,000 and the earlier projection of 500,000.
- 2026: Target reduced to 380,000, previously projected at 500,000.
- 2027: Further decrease to 365,000.
Despite lower overall immigration numbers, the government is prioritizing economic immigration. Economic immigration targets for 2025 have only decreased by 17%, from 281,000 to 232,000. Over 40% of these immigrants are expected to be individuals already in Canada on temporary permits.
| Immigration Category | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Total PR admissions and ranges | 395,000 (367,000 – 436,000) | 380,000 (352,000 – 416,000) | 365,000 (338,000 – 401,000) |
| French-speaking admissions outside of Quebec | 8.5% (29,325) | 9.5% (31,350) | 10% (31,500) |
| Economic Immigration | 232,150 (215,000 – 256,000) | 229,750 (214,000 – 249,000) | 225,350 (207,000 – 246,000) |
| Family Reunification | 94,500 (88,500 – 102,000) | 88,000 (82,000 – 96,000) | 81,000 (77,000-89,000) |
| Refugees, Protected Persons, Humanitarian and Compassionate, and Other | 68,350 (63,500 – 78,000) | 62,250 (56,000 – 71,000) | 58,650 (54,000 – 66,000) |
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, unusually leading the announcement instead of the Immigration Minister, praised the importance of immigration to Canada’s economy, with both Trudeau and Immigration Minister Marc Miller reaffirming the country’s commitment to immigration.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Adjustments
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets have been halved in this year’s Plan:
- 2025: 55,000, down from the previous 110,000 in 2024 and 120,000 in 2025.
- 2026: 55,000, down from the previous 120,000.
- 2027: 55,000.
In contrast, the federal government has raised targets within the Federal High Skilled (FHS) economic immigration programs, managed through Express Entry:
- 2025: 124,680, up from 110,770 in 2024.
- 2026: 123,230. Up from 117,500 in 2026
- 2027: 118,730.
The Plan also aims to increase French-speaking immigrant admissions outside Quebec, targeting 10% by 2027.
Temporary Resident Levels and Reforms
The new Plan introduces temporary resident admission targets, aiming to reduce the temporary resident population from 7% of Canada’s overall population to 5% by 2026. Temporary work permits under the International Mobility Program (IMP) will drop significantly from 285,750 in 2025 to 128,700 in 2026, while Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) permits remain stable at 82,000.
Other changes include a cap on study permits introduced in early 2024, limiting new study permits to 360,000. Further adjustments to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) aim to curb temporary residence numbers.
| Temporary Resident (TR) Category | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
| Total TR Arrivals and Ranges | 673,650 (604,900 – 742,400) | 516,600 (435,250 – 597,950) | 543,600 (472,900 – 614,250) |
| Workers | 367,750 | 210,700 | 237,700 |
| Students | 305,900 | 305,900 | 305,900 |
Strategic Immigration Approach
The government highlights this revised approach as a “controlled immigration plan” that balances economic needs and political considerations, with Trudeau and Miller framing these measures as central to Canada’s long-term immigration strategy.