Temporary and permanent resident targets for 2026:

* New student arrivals: 155,000 — 49% fewer than last year’s target

* New temporary worker arrivals: 230,000 — 37% fewer than last year’s target

* New permanent residents: 380,000 — 4% fewer than last year’s target

THE government says that Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan will restore control, clarity, and consistency to the immigration system, while maintaining compassion in its choices and driving competitiveness in the economy.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released details on the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The Levels Plan includes temporary resident targets and ranges for new arrivals of international students and temporary foreign workers, along with permanent resident targets and ranges under the immigration categories of Economic, Family, Refugees and Protected Persons, and Humanitarian and Compassionate and Other.

To support a return to sustainable immigration levels, the Government is committed to reducing Canada’s temporary population to less than 5% of the total population by the end of 2027. Targets for new temporary resident arrivals are set at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028.

These figures represent new temporary worker and student arrivals to Canada. The targets for workers are allocated to temporary workers under both the International Mobility Program (IMP) and the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program.

This mix of students and workers supports the government’s objective of attracting top talent from across the world to help build Canada’s economy. In recognition of the role temporary foreign workers play in some sectors of the economy, the Plan will also consider industries and sectors impacted by tariffs and the unique needs of rural and remote communities.

Overall permanent resident admissions will stabilize at 380,000 from 2026 to 2028. As supporting the Canadian economy continues to be a key priority, the economic category represents the largest proportion of admissions each year, reaching 64% in 2027 and 2028. The Plan increases admissions under the Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), ensuring that Canada is able to attract the talent needed to deliver on nation-building projects while also responding to the distinct labour market needs of provinces and territories.

IN 2018, 3.3 per cent of Canada’s population were temporary residents. By 2024, that number had more than doubled to 7.5 per cent, an unprecedented rate of growth that put pressure on housing supply, the healthcare system, and schools. The government says it recognises that this system is no longer sustainable, and it is determined to make it so, for everyone who lives in and comes to this country.

The government says that the results of its focus are already becoming apparent. Asylum claims are down by a third, and new temporary foreign worker arrivals are down by approximately 50 per cent this year. New international student arrivals have also declined by approximately 60 per cent compared to 2024. “This is a start, but we recognise there is more work to do,” it adds.

Budget 2025 announces that the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan will stabilise permanent resident admission targets at 380,000 per year for three years, down from 395,000 in 2025, while increasing the share of economic migrants from 59 per cent to 64 per cent.

The new plan will also reduce the target for new temporary resident admissions from 673,650 in 2025 to 385,000 in 2026, and 370,000 in 2027 and 2028.

The fiscal cost of this measure is $168.2 million over four years, starting in 2026-27, and $35.7 million ongoing. These costs primarily represent the net loss in fee revenue, driven by fewer temporary resident admissions.

The government says it recognises the role temporary foreign workers play in some sectors of the economy and in some parts of the country. To that end, the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan will consider industries and sectors impacted by tariffs and the unique needs of rural and remote communities.

In addition, Budget 2025 proposes a one-time initiative to recognise eligible Protected Persons in Canada as permanent residents over the next two years. This practical step is a reflection of the fact that the vast majority of these people cannot return to the country of their origin. It will also ensure that those in genuine need of Canada’s protection have their permanent status recognized, accelerating their full integration into the Canadian society and their path to citizenship.

The fiscal cost of this measure is $120.4 million over four years, starting in 2026-27. This represents the costs for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency to process the additional applications, which are partially offset by higher fee revenues.

Budget 2025 also proposes to undertake a one-time measure to accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 work permit holders to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. These workers have established strong roots in their communities, are paying taxes, and are helping to build the strong economy Canada needs.

The fiscal cost of this measure is $19.4 million over four years, starting in 2026-27. This also represents the costs for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and other departments to process the additional applications, which are partially offset by higher fee revenues.

These targets keep permanent resident arrivals at less than one per cent of the population beyond 2027 and will reduce the total number of temporary residents to less than five per cent of Canada’s population by the end of 2027.