🇨🇦 Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Fewer Temporary Residents, New PR Pathways

Canada is once again reshaping its immigration strategy — this time with a stronger focus on permanent residency (PR) and a significant reduction in temporary resident admissions. According to the 2025 Federal Budget, the upcoming 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan will bring major changes that could reshape the future of immigration in Canada.

Here’s what you need to know 👇

🧭 A New PR Pathway for Work Permit Holders

Between 2026 and 2027, Canada will introduce a new program to transition up to 33,000 work permit holders into permanent residents.

This initiative will provide opportunities for qualified temporary workers to stay in Canada permanently — part of the government’s effort to strengthen the labour market with long-term residents instead of short-term visa holders.

📉 Major Reductions in Temporary Resident Targets

The government plans to significantly reduce the number of temporary residents entering Canada in 2026 compared to 2025:

Category	2025 Target	2026 Target	Change
Temporary Residents (overall)	673,650	385,000	🔻 -43%
International Students	305,900	155,000	🔻 -49%
Temporary Foreign Workers	367,750	230,000	🔻 -37%

While this looks drastic, the change mostly reflects realistic planning, as actual admissions in 2025 have fallen far below earlier targets.

🧑‍💼 Permanent Residence Targets Stay Steady

The total PR admissions target for 2026 will remain at 380,000, the same as last year’s plan.

However, there’s a slight shift in focus:

• 🏗 Economic Immigration: 239,800 (up from 229,750)

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Reunification: 84,000 (down from 88,000)

• 🕊 Refugee & Humanitarian: 56,200 (down from 62,250)

In total, 64% of all PR admissions in 2026 will go to economic immigrants — a clear sign that Canada wants to prioritize skilled workers and professionals.

🏙 Focus on Key Sectors and Rural Regions

The government also plans to align immigration with industry needs, emphasizing sectors affected by trade tariffs and supporting rural and remote communities.

This approach could mean targeted PR programs for specific jobs, industries, and regions that struggle to attract talent.

⚙️ Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that the TFWP will become more focused, targeting specific sectors and regional needs instead of broad admissions.

Currently, most temporary workers come through the International Mobility Program (IMP) rather than the TFWP — a trend that will likely continue.

📆 What’s Ahead for 2027–2028

The upcoming plan will also set notional targets (subject to change) for the following years:

• 2027: 380,000 permanent residents

• 2028: 380,000 permanent residents

• Temporary Residents (2027–2028): 370,000 per year (220,000 foreign workers + 150,000 students)

These numbers represent a significant decrease from past years, particularly for international students — reflecting Canada’s goal to bring immigration back to sustainable levels.

💬 Final Thoughts

The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan shows a major policy shift:

👉 From rapid temporary admissions ➡️ to controlled, long-term immigration.

👉 From short-term visa growth ➡️ to permanent settlement and economic contribution.

Canada remains open to newcomers — but now, the focus is on quality, not quantity.

🇨🇦 Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Fewer Temporary Residents, New PR Pathways