Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan: what changed, and what it means if you’re already here
In short: The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, released on November 5, 2026, keeps permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year and new temporary resident arrivals at 370,000 a year. It also adds a time-limited measure in 2027 that IRCC says will help up to 200,000 people already living in Canada move to permanent residence.
| Category | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 380,000 (352,500–422,000) | 380,000 | 380,000 |
| Economic | 244,700 (230,000–270,000) | 244,700 | 244,700 |
| Family | 81,000 (76,000–89,000) | 81,000 | 81,000 |
| Refugees and protected persons | 49,300 (42,000–55,000) | 49,300 | 49,300 |
| Humanitarian, compassionate and other | 5,000 (4,500–8,000) | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| French-speaking admissions outside Quebec | 9.5% | 10.5% | 12% |
1. What changed
Targets are flat for three years: 380,000 permanent resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals each year from 2027 to 2029 (IRCC).
The temporary target is 220,000 new workers (170,000 under the International Mobility Program and 50,000 under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program) and 150,000 new international students each year (IRCC supplementary information).
New for 2027: IRCC is adding admissions space in 2027 for two cohorts of people already in Canada — a workers cohort and a humanitarian cohort. IRCC’s backgrounder says the measure “will help up to 200,000 people already living in Canada transition to permanent residence”.
The 2028 and 2029 figures are notional: IRCC confirms or adjusts them in later plans.
2. Which programs are affected
- Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Program: IRCC says the plan increases their planned admissions.
- Workers cohort (2027): IRCC says it will work with provinces and territories on “transitioning up to 100,000 people already in Canada, as well as their families”. Provinces and territories can also identify workers who have already applied.
- Humanitarian cohort (2027): IRCC says it will “transition up to 100,000 people to permanent residence”, including people who have waited years for a decision, remaining Hong Kong pathway applications, and people already found eligible on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
- Spouses and partners in Canada: IRCC links the measure to processing in-Canada spouse, common-law partner and dependent-child applications, and says it expects this to bring wait times for the spouse or common-law partner class closer to 12 months outside Quebec. That is IRCC’s stated expectation, not a processing standard.
- Continuing one-time initiatives: up to 115,000 protected persons in Canada (with in-Canada dependants) and 33,000 work permit holders moving to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027 (IRCC supplementary information).
3. What it means for specific groups
- Work-permit holders in Canada: the workers cohort runs through provincial and territorial nominations, so the province you live and work in matters. Watch your province’s nominee program, not just Express Entry.
- International students: the student target is 150,000 new arrivals a year. Graduates aiming for permanent residence still need a program they qualify for (Canadian Experience Class, a provincial stream, or another).
- Protected persons and long-waiting humanitarian applicants: the plan sets aside space to finish existing applications. It does not create a new application you need to file.
- Sponsors of in-Canada spouses and children: IRCC expects faster decisions; nothing changes in the legal requirements for the sponsor or the relationship.
- Francophone applicants outside Quebec: the French-speaking target rises from 9.5% in 2027 to 12% by 2029.
4. How this differs from earlier measures
The previous plan already moved toward fewer temporary residents; this one stabilizes the numbers rather than cutting further. IRCC says it aims to keep permanent resident admissions below 1% of Canada’s population beyond 2027.
The 2027 measure is an admissions-space decision for people already in the system or already in Canada. Unlike the 2021 temporary-resident-to-PR pathway, IRCC has not described a new open application stream — the workers cohort goes through provinces and territories.
5. What to do if you’re waiting
Being in a group the plan names is not the same as being approved. Targets are planning numbers, and every applicant still has to meet the requirements of their program and be admissible.
Don’t file, withdraw or change an application based on a summary — including this one. Wait for IRCC or your province to publish the actual instructions, and read them.
Keep your status valid and your documents current: police certificates, language tests and passports expire.
If you’re unsure which pathway applies to you, ask a licensed RCIC or lawyer about your specific case.
Government sources
- IRCC backgrounder: Building a stronger Canada through a well-managed, predictable immigration system (2026-11-05)
- IRCC: Supplementary Information for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan (2026-11-05)
Streams affected
- Provincial Nominee Program Open
A province or territory nominates you for permanent residence based on its own labour needs.
- Atlantic Immigration Program Open
Permanent residence for workers and recent graduates with a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer.
- Express Entry Invitation-only
The online system IRCC uses to invite skilled workers to apply for permanent residence.
- Canadian Experience Class Invitation-only
Permanent residence for people with at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program Invitation-only
Permanent residence for skilled workers with foreign or Canadian work experience, through Express Entry.
- Study permit Check IRCC
Permission to study in Canada at a designated learning institution, and the conditions that come with it.
- LMIA-based work permit Check IRCC
An employer-specific work permit backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
- Spousal, common-law and conjugal sponsorship Open
A citizen or permanent resident sponsors their spouse or partner for permanent residence.
- Sponsoring dependent children Open
Sponsoring a child under 22 (or older and dependent because of a condition) for permanent residence.
- Parents and grandparents (and the super visa) Paused
Sponsoring parents or grandparents for permanent residence, and the super visa for long visits.
- Refugee claims in Canada Check IRCC
Who is a refugee or person in need of protection, how a claim is made, and when it is ineligible.
- Humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications Check IRCC
Asking the Minister for permanent residence or an exemption on humanitarian grounds.