Published: November 2025
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Author: Sawubona Canada Immigration
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released a new Supplementary Immigration Levels Plan for 2026–2028, following last year’s 2025–2027 version.
While both plans share the same vision—balancing population growth, economic demand, and system capacity—the new plan introduces key refinements that every applicant, employer, and policymaker should understand. Here is what changed:
| 2025–2027 plan (released Oct 24, 2024) | 2026–2028 plan (latest) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall PR admissions | Down from 395k (2025) → 380k (2026) → 365k (2027) | Stabilizes at 380k each year (2026–2028) |
| Share to Economic class | ~62% by 2027 | ~64% by 2027–2028; bigger weights to FHS + PNP |
| French-speaking (outside QC) | 8.5% (2025), 9.5% (2026), 10% (2027) | 9% (2026), 9.5% (2027), 10.5% (2028) + aim for 12% by 2029 |
| Family class | ~22% of total; PGP 24.5k → 21.5k → 20k; SPC 70k → 66.5k → 61k | ~21.3–22.1% of total; PGP flat at 15k; SPC 69k → 66k → 66k |
| Refugees/Protected Persons | ~15% of total; GAR 15,250/yr; PSR 23k → 22k → 21k; Protected 20k → 18k → 18k | ~13% of total; PSR trimmed to 16k/yr; GAR stays 15,250; plus a one-time stream for ~115k Protected Persons over two years (outside the tabled PR targets) |
| TR arrivals (new workers + students) | 673,650 (2025) → 516,600 (2026) → 543,600 (2027); students shown as 305,900/yr; IMP includes PGWPs in definition | 385k (2026) → 370k (2027 & 2028); workers 230k→220k→220k; students 155k→150k→150k; IMP explicitly excludes PGWPs in target counts |
| “Temporary share” goal | Reduce temporary residents to 5% of population by end-2026 | Less than 5% by end-2027 (timeline shifted) |
| Structure of Economic class | “Federal Economic Priorities” + “In-Canada focus” + PNP, etc. | Re-framed around Federal High Skilled (Express Entry) + higher PNP; Federal Business cut to 500/yr; AIP at 4k/yr; pilots modest |
The “good” (opportunities)
- Predictability (PR): Holding PR at 380k for 2026–2028 removes the 2027 drop to 365k that the older plan signaled. Easier planning for employers, provinces and inventory management.
- Economic tilt strengthened: Larger Express Entry (FHS) and PNP allotments mean more room for skill-based and region-responsive selection; Economic share climbs to ~64% by 2027–28. Good for employers and candidates with competitive CRS or strong provincial ties.
- Francophone targets rise: Outside-Quebec targets step up faster—10.5% by 2028 with a stated ambition of 12% by 2029—useful for francophone-eligible strategies and employers outside QC.
- Clarity on TR reset: The new plan gives concrete TR targets (385k → 370k → 370k) and separates out PGWPs from IMP targets (clearer counting). Better visibility for DLI planning and employer pipelines.
- Humanitarian regularization: A one-time two-year initiative to finalize ~115,000 Protected Persons (in addition to the table) gives system-wide relief and status certainty for those already here
The “bad” (constraints / trade-offs)
- Lower Family intake in key sub-streams: PGP drops to 15,000/year (from 20–24.5k in the older plan). Sponsorship timelines may stretch; lotteries/rounds stay competitive.
- Refugee programming trimmed (table share): Table share falls to ~13% and PSR is cut to 16k/year (from 21–23k). Though GAR stays at 15,250, community-driven sponsorship capacity gets squeezed. (Note the separate Protected Persons initiative mitigates some pressure.)
- Tighter student and worker arrivals: Students are targeted at ~150–155k/yr (vs a notional 305,900 figure in the earlier plan). Employers relying on study-to-work transitions will face smaller inflows and more selectivity; schools face intake pressure.
- Temporary-share timeline slips: The <5% TR population target moves from end-2026 to end-2027, signaling longer normalization and continued short-term policy tweaks.
- Federal business streams pared back: Federal Business sits at 500/yr (vs up to 1,000 previously and up to 2,000 in the older plan). Pure investor/entrepreneur federal routes remain narrow (more action stays with PNP entrepreneur streams)
Notable structural differences you’ll feel day-to-day
- Categories renamed and refocused: The 2025–27 plan emphasized “Federal Economic Priorities” and an “In-Canada focus” (i.e., transitions of people already here). The 2026–28 plan pivots to classic Federal High Skilled + larger PNP, making selection more legible to candidates and employers tracking Express Entry and provincial quotas.
- PNP becomes the heavyweight: PNP rises to ~91.5k–92.5k/yr in 2026–28 versus 55k/yr in the prior table—big news for employers and regional strategies (health, skilled trades, rural).
- Different IMP accounting for PGWPs: Earlier notes counted PGWPs under IMP; the newer table explicitly excludes PGWPs from IMP targets (treated as extensions, not new arrivals). That matters for how people read the TR totals and for DLI communications.
Practical takeaways (employer & applicant strategy)
- Express Entry & PNP will carry more of the load. Expect more category-based draws and higher provincial allocations; tailor profiles to priority sectors (health, trades) and francophone criteria where possible.
- Family planning: If PGP is critical, plan earlier and consider super visa + future PGP rather than banking on near-term PGP invitations, given the 15k cap.
- Students & TR to PR pathways: With lower student inflows and capped spousal work permits / PGWP changes, institutions and employers should prioritize high-fit candidates and map earlier to PNP/EE routes.
- Humanitarian caseloads: The protected-person one-time initiative should ease inventories—but tabled refugee admissions are leaner; sponsor groups should align expectations accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan reflects a nation balancing ambition with sustainability.
It preserves Canada’s openness to skilled talent and family reunification while acknowledging pressures on housing, infrastructure, and public services.
For newcomers, employers, and policymakers alike, the message is clear:
Canada remains open—but more focused than ever on stability, integration, and long-term contribution.