Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028

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Table of Contents

• Summary of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan
• Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028
• Why Canada Needs Immigrants
• Overview of Canada's Immigration Programs
• Contact Cohen Immigration Law for Assistance

Summary of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan

Each year, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases a new Immigration Levels Plan which it uses to guide its operations.

In 2026, Canada's newcomer target is 380,000 new permanent residents (PRs)—which the country will seek to maintain for the next three years. 

The following table summarises Canada's immigration targets between 2026 and 2028 by immigration class:

Similar to last year's Immigration Levels Plan, the 2026-2028 framework also covers anticipated landings for workers and international students over the next three years:

Why Canada Needs Immigrants

Canada welcomes high levels of immigration to keep its economy strong.

Canada has one of the world's oldest populations and also one of the world's lowest birth rates. This creates economic and fiscal pressures. Canada has a low rate of natural population growth which results in low rates of labour force and economic growth. Low economic growth makes it difficult for Canada to raise the taxes it needs to support social spending on services such as education, health care, and other important areas that provide high living standards in the country.

As a result, Canada has been increasing its immigration levels since the late 1980s to increase its rate of population, labour force, and economic growth. Canada now depends on immigration for the majority of its population and labour force growth and a larger share of its economic growth.

Consider that Canada will have 9 million baby boomers reach the retirement age of 65 by the year 2030. This means that Canada will have fewer workers at a time when its social spending on health care will rise. To alleviate this challenge, Canada has been proactive by gradually raising its immigration targets for over 30 years now.

Canada has regularly welcomed over 200,000 immigrants per year since 1988. Canada's immigration rate now stands at nearly 1.2 per cent. In other words, Canada welcomes three times more immigrants on a per capita basis than then the United States of America. Immigration will remain critical to supporting a healthy economy and fiscal situation in the country.

Overview of Canada's Immigration Programs

Economic immigration, which is a major driver of Canada’s economic growth, accounts for more than half of planned admissions through the multi-year levels plan.

Nearly half of the projected economic admissions will be through the federal Express Entry system programs:

• the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program
• the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC); and
• the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) also plays an important role in terms of economic immigration. This program allows participating Canadian provinces and territories to nominate eligible immigration candidates who match local workforce needs for permanent residence.

The following are immigration programs included in Canada's Multi-Year Immigration Levels Plan:

Economic Programs

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program:
  This Express Entry-managed program is for immigrants with the requisite education, work experience, proficiency in English and/or French and other skills need to establish themselves economically in Canada.
• Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC):
  The Express Entry-managed Federal Skilled Trades Class is for foreign workers with qualifications in a skilled trade.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
  The Canadian Experience Class is managed by the Express Entry system and welcomes expressions of interest from foreign workers with Canadian work experience or recent graduates of Canadian educational institutions working in Canada.
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP):
  The Atlantic Immigration Pilot allows designated Atlantic employers to recruit and hire foreign skilled workers or international graduates in the Atlantic Canada region (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick).
• Caregivers Program:
  Canada allows eligible foreigners caring for children and people with high medical needs the opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
• Federal Business (Start-Up Visa Program and Self-Employed Person):
  Federal business class programs allow foreigners who meet eligibility requirements the chance to run new or pre-existing businesses in Canada.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP):
  This program allows participating provinces and territories to nominate eligible economic immigration candidates for Canadian permanent residence.
• Quebec Skilled Worker Program and Quebec Business:
  The province of Quebec runs its own immigration system outside the federal system. The Government of Quebec's planned levels for 2019 to 2021 have yet to be determined.

Family Class Programs

• Spousal/Common-law Partner Sponsorship and Dependent Child
• Parent and Grandparents Program

Refugees and Protected Persons, Humanitarian and other

• Protected Persons in Canada and Dependents Abroad
• Privately-Sponsored Refugees
• Blended Visa Office Referred
• Government-Assisted Refugees

Contact Cohen Immigration Law for Assistance

Cohen Immigration Law is a leading Canadian immigration law firm with over 45 years of experience. Cohen Immigration Law is comprised of over 60 Canadian immigration lawyers, paralegals, and other professionals. We are dedicated to helping people achieve their Canadian immigration goals. We assist in areas including skilled worker and business immigration, family sponsorship, work permits, study permits, citizenship, and inadmissibility. CanadaVisa.com was founded in 1994 as the online presence of Cohen Immigration Law. CanadaVisa has since blossomed into the one of the world's most trusted resources on Canadian immigration. Please reach out for assistance. We're happy to help: