Canada’s Immigration 2025-2027 Levels Plan reflects a strategic shift, reducing overall admissions by 105,000 in 2025 while prioritizing pathways for temporary residents already in the country. By focusing on economic immigration, particularly in key sectors like healthcare and trades, and emphasizing programs such as the Canadian Experience Class, the plan aims to address labor market needs while supporting long-term success for newcomers with in-Canada experience. It also continues to reunite families, uphold commitments to vulnerable populations, and strengthen Francophone communities outside Quebec.
The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan focuses on economic streams, family reunification, refugees, and humanitarian admissions. It introduces reduced permanent resident targets starting in 2025, with further decreases projected through 2027. This adjustment aims to temporarily moderate population growth, fostering sustainable development and long-term economic stability.
Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan prioritizes in-Canada applicants, with over 40% of new permanent residents expected to transition from temporary status. By 2027, 62% of admissions will target economic class immigrants, focusing on key sectors like healthcare and trades. The plan emphasizes family reunification (24% in 2025), upholds commitments to vulnerable populations, and strengthens Francophone communities, with Francophone immigration targets rising from 8.5% in 2025 to 10% by 2027.
Canada proposed a three-year plan in March 2024 to reduce the percentage of temporary residents to 5% of the country’s total population. This involves restricting entry under the International Mobility Program, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, and the international student sector. Annual objectives will be established to regulate incoming temporary residents beginning in 2025.
The following are key highlights:
- Student arrivals will correspond with previously established caps.
- Arrivals of workers will be tracked under certain programs for temporary workers.
As more people move to permanent residence or leave Canada, the temporary population is predicted to drastically decrease. In 2025, there will be 445,901 fewer temporary residents, according to projections. In 2026, 445,662 less.
In 2027, a modest recovery is projected, with 17,439 more temporary residents. Canada’s dedication to striking a balance between immigration sustainability and population expansion is reflected in this cautious approach.
The following categories are excluded from the temporary resident targets but remain part of the overall temporary resident population:
- Work and Study Permit Adjustments: Individuals extending permits or changing status within Canada are excluded to avoid counting a single individual multiple times. These adjustments are accounted for in population outflows.
- Seasonal Workers: Temporary workers who enter and leave Canada within the same calendar year are excluded as they do not contribute to the year-end population figures.
- Asylum Claimants: Individuals seeking protection in Canada are excluded since their claim volumes are governed by legal entitlements rather than program-specific controls.
Asylum in Canada
Canada, like many nations, is witnessing a rise in asylum claims due to the increasing global population of displaced individuals during . In response, the government has undertaken several initiatives to uphold its humanitarian commitments via this Canada Immigration 2025-2027 Levels Plan, while addressing system integrity challenges. Key measures include:
- Introducing targeted visa requirements: Implementing a partial visa requirement for Mexican nationals to better manage entry.
- Enhancing claims processing: Improving the efficiency of asylum claim reviews, as announced in 2024, without compromising fairness or system integrity.
- Strengthening visa decision-making: Equipping highly trained immigration officers with advanced tools to identify fraudulent applications and minimize non-genuine entries.
These efforts aim to ensure a balanced and effective in-Canada asylum system that aligns with international obligations.
Projected Outcomes of the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan
The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan is anticipated to yield several key demographic and economic impacts. Initially, the population is expected to experience a slight decline of 0.2% in both 2025 and 2026, followed by a recovery to a growth rate of 0.8% in 2027.
By addressing the housing supply gap, the plan aims to reduce the shortfall by approximately 670,000 units by the end of 2027. Furthermore, it is projected to sustain strong GDP growth, accelerate increases in GDP per capita, enhance housing affordability, and contribute to a lower unemployment rate throughout the implementation period.
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