2025 to 2027 Changes in Canadian Immigration Planned for the Near Future

Every year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada tables a new “Immigration Levels Plan” that outlines the plan for immigration into Canada for the following three years. The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan was released on October 24, 2024. The plan includes details regarding permanent resident admissions, and for the first time ever, the plan also includes temporary resident volume data.

Recently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada along with the Canadian government have made concerted efforts to reduce immigration into Canada when compared with the immigration levels in 2022 and 2023. This will be done by introducing new policies such as an international student cap, stricter regulations for granting study permits, and committing to controlling the number of temporary residents in Canada relative to the overall population. These recent trends in changes to immigration policies are reflected in the newly released Immigration Levels Plan.

Permanent Residence

Overall, the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan calls for a large reduction in immigration. The plan calls for a decrease of 105,000 permanent resident admissions into Canada when compared with the projected numbers for 2025. Further, the Government of Canada has decided to prioritize permanent resident admission for those that are already within Canada, as it has found that newcomers with experience in Canada have positive long term success. The plan is for 40% of permanent resident admissions to come from those who are in Canada as temporary residents.

The Economic Focus

Additionally, there will be “adjustments” made to economic immigration streams. The goal in these changes to immigration policies is to prioritize the transition of the workers who are already in Canada to becoming permanent residents. There is a further goal of making sure that the adjustments are responsive to the needs of the Canadian labour market. The Canadian Experience Class and regional immigration programs are set to be prioritized under the new plan. Specifics have not been given yet, but there is an indication in the announcement that trades and health care are specific areas that the government is looking to attract workers to. In line with this economic focus is the fact that by the end of the plan, if everything remains as is, 62% of permanent resident admissions will be economic immigrants.

Despite the economic focus, family immigration has not been forgotten. As part of the new plan, around a quarter of all new permanent resident admissions will be through family class admissions. There is a further focus on Francophone immigration, as the proportion of Francophone is set to increase year by year until it reaches 10% in 2027. Overall, a total of around 400,000 new permanent residences are expected to be welcomed to Canada in 2025, with the number dropping slightly in 2026 and 2027.

Temporary Residents: Managing Growth and Transition

The 5% Population Goal

In March 2024, Canada took action to reduce the number of temporary residents in the country by proposing that temporary residents comprise no more than 5% of the population over the next three years. This new goal will come into effect in 2025. Under the plan, there is expected to be a decline of approximately 450,000 temporary residents in both 2025 and 2026, before a slight increase in 2027.

Changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

In order to achieve this 5% target, certain measures have been implemented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Some of these measures include the international student cap that was created for the first time in Canadian history. This cap will include a further 10% reduction in international student numbers in 2025 when compared with the numbers in 2024. There has also been other reform that will impact international students in that the Post Graduation Work Permit Program has had its eligibility requirements changed which will make it more difficult for some graduates to obtain the work permit.

Stricter Regulations for Temporary Foreign Workers

The overarching 5% goal has impacted students and influenced policy regarding temporary foreign workers. There is now a 10% cap on employers who hire temporary foreign workers under the low-wage stream and additional requirements on those entering the high-wage stream. Further, there are now stricter rules for obtaining work permits for spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers.

Although the goal is to reduce temporary immigration, this does not exclusively mean preventing people from entering Canada. A way to reduce temporary immigration includes converting people who are on temporary visas and permits in Canada into permanent residents.

What Does This Mean for Temporary Residents?

While the explicit goal is to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada, this does not mean temporary residents in Canada will be removed, but rather, many of them will be given opportunities to become permanent residents.

Overall, Canada expects that around 675,000 Temporary residents will arrive in Canada in 2025, with the number dropping drastically to around 515,000 in 2026, before rising again to around 545,000 in 2027.

Asylum

Canada is cognizant of its role in the world as a welcoming country and its humanitarian responsibilities regarding the granting of asylum. At the same time, the Government of Canada has to balance these responsibilities with the recent increase in asylum claims. There have been some regulations introduced by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that it claims will strengthen Canada’s asylum system. These regulations include: the change in visa requirements for Mexican nationals, an improvement in claims processing, and an additional review in visa decision-making.

Impact of the plan

According to the Government of Canada’s data, the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan’s impact will result in Canada’s population slightly declining in 2025. This marks a stark change from 2023, when Canada’s population rose by the highest percentage since the 1950s. Accordingly, the government is predicting that the plan will help reduce housing and employment shortages in Canada as well.

Navigating Canada’s Evolving Immigration Landscape

Canada’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan reflects a careful balancing act between economic needs, population sustainability, and humanitarian responsibilities. The focus on trades, healthcare, and Francophone immigration underlines Canada’s dedication to meeting specific regional and sectoral demands, while maintaining a commitment to family reunification and asylum responsibilities.

At the same time, the reduced numbers and changes to immigration policies signal a significant pivot from the expansive growth seen in previous years. The government is seeking to alleviate pressures on housing and employment markets. For those aspiring to call Canada home, whether temporarily or permanently, the changes bring both challenges and opportunities. Staying informed and understanding how these policies may affect your pathway to residency or citizenship has never been more crucial.

Navigating these shifts requires strategic planning and informed guidance. Whether you’re a temporary resident seeking a transition to permanent status, a family member aiming for reunification, or an individual pursuing asylum, understanding the intricacies of this evolving landscape will be key to achieving your goals.

Contact Garson Immigration Law for Assistance with Immigrating to Canada

The talented immigration lawyers at Garson Immigration Law are highly experienced in helping our clients with immigration matters. We provide honest, trusted opinions and work with prospective newcomers to Canada in order to provide them with the best chance of making successful applications to come to Canada.

At our firm, we develop effective, pragmatic solutions for clients in all kinds of immigration matters, including applying for permanent residence and Canadian citizenship. For a confidential consultation on your immigration matter, please contact us online or call us at 416-321-2860.