{"id":3682,"date":"2025-10-21T12:47:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T16:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=3682"},"modified":"2025-10-21T12:47:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T16:47:20","slug":"what-to-expect-from-canadas-2026-2028-immigration-levels-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=3682","title":{"rendered":"What to expect from Canada\u2019s 2026\u20132028 Immigration Levels Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The federal government will publish the 2026\u20132028 Immigration Levels Plan on or before <strong>November 1, 2025<\/strong>. That document will set official admission targets for permanent residents and provide notional targets for the following two years. Based on public statements, past plans and recent policy signals, the 2026\u20132028 Plan is likely to emphasize stability in permanent admissions, a continued focus on in-Canada and category-based economic selection, renewed flexibility for provincial nominee programs, and tighter management of temporary resident populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Headlines you need to know<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government is expected to keep permanent resident admissions near the election commitment to limit growth to under 1% of Canada\u2019s population, which places an upper bound near <strong>416,500<\/strong> for 2027 if that pledge is honoured.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Express Entry economic allocations are likely to remain substantial \u2014 with continuing use of category-based draws (French proficiency, health, trades and other federal priorities) and a steady or modestly increased target for in-Canada selections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets will be watched closely: after 2025\u2019s sharp cut to <strong>55,000<\/strong>, provinces have successfully negotiated extra nomination slots during 2025; the new Levels Plan may increase PNP targets relative to last year\u2019s low figure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporary resident planning (students, temporary workers, and mobility streams) will continue to feature in the Plan. The government remains committed to reducing the non-permanent resident share of the population to below 5% by the end of 2027, which will shape student and temporary worker targets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Permanent residence \u2014 stability with selective increases<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent government statements and the election promise point to a posture of <strong>stabilisation<\/strong> rather than growth. The Plan published in 2024 set targets of 395,000 (2025), 380,000 (2026) and 365,000 (2027). The coming Plan is likely to remain beneath the 1%-of-population ceiling while still allocating meaningful spaces to economic classes, family reunification and humanitarian needs. Expect continued emphasis on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Category-based economic admissions<\/strong> (French-language draws, targeted sector draws such as healthcare and trades).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In-Canada focus<\/strong> \u2014 places for temporary residents already in Canada (work or study) to transition to PR. These in-Canada targets rose in the last Plan and are likely to remain a central tool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Measured family and humanitarian allocations<\/strong> consistent with past Plans but possibly adjusted to reflect processing capacity and settlement needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Express Entry and economic selection<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Express Entry will remain a core economic pathway, but the design is evolving:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Continued use of <strong>Federal Economic Priorities<\/strong> and <strong>In-Canada Focus<\/strong> categories\u2014the former for targeted occupations and language priorities, the latter for candidates already in Canada.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category-based draws (French, healthcare, education, trades) will likely continue as a way to meet labour needs without returning to a single pooled \u201chigh-skilled\u201d allotment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applicants should expect selection strategies that reward occupation relevance, language diversity (French), and demonstrated connection to Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) \u2014 possible course correction<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 Plan halved the PNP target to <strong>55,000<\/strong> for 2025\u20132027, prompting strong provincial pushback. During 2025 several provinces successfully negotiated additional nomination space, and the federal government has signalled willingness to grant targeted increases where regional labour gaps are acute. The 2026\u20132028 Plan may therefore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Restore some PNP capacity compared with last year\u2019s low baseline, subject to federal priorities and overall immigration totals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shift to a more flexible, negotiated model where provinces receive incremental top-ups tied to labour needs and settlement capacity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintain accountability measures to ensure nominations align with regional economic plans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Temporary residents: students, workers and the 5% target<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Temporary residents (international students, temporary foreign workers and mobility streams) are likely to remain a central management focus. Last year\u2019s Plan explicitly included temporary resident targets; the forthcoming Plan will probably continue that approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>International student targets may remain high but subject to continued controls such as Provincial Attestation Letters and other intake caps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) will be managed more strategically \u2014 higher wages, regional targeting, and restrictions in high-unemployment CMAs \u2014 and annual TFWP targets (previously 82,000) may be adjusted to reflect sectoral needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The government\u2019s goal to reduce the non-permanent resident share of the population to under 5% by the end of 2027 will drive conservative but targeted temporary resident levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">TFWP reforms and regional targeting<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Recent policy changes to the TFWP \u2014 higher wage thresholds for the high-wage stream, moratoria on low-wage LMIAs in certain CMAs, and new limits on spousal open work permits for some occupations \u2014 will influence how the Plan allocates temporary worker spaces. The Plan may emphasise:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Regional and sectoral targeting<\/strong> (healthcare, construction, agri-food, northern\/remote regions).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tighter worker protections<\/strong> and employer accountability measures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Flexibility to expand targeted temporary worker spaces where provinces demonstrate capacity and need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Francophone immigration priority<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Francophone immigration outside Quebec remains a stated government priority. The last Plan set incremental targets for the francophone share of newcomers outside Quebec: <strong>8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027.<\/strong> Expect the new Plan to reaffirm or modestly accelerate this trajectory, with continued support for French-language pathways and selection draws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Student caps and study permit management<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The previous Plan held international student targets steady and introduced mechanisms (caps, PALs) to manage intake and improve program integrity. The 2026\u20132028 Plan may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep overall student targets stable or slightly constrained while improving quality assurance (provincial attestation processes and DLI oversight).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prioritize study pathways that show clear labour market links and settlement outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Practical implications \u2014 what applicants and employers should do<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Applicants:<\/strong> monitor the November 1 release, and prepare documentation early. Candidates already in Canada should consider options to strengthen in-Canada PR profiles. Language testing, credential assessments and up-to-date work records are essential.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employers:<\/strong> ensure job offers, wages and workplace compliance meet evolving TFWP and PNP rules; be prepared to support provincial nomination requests as provinces receive additional flexibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International students:<\/strong> verify whether your program and institution meet DLI and provincial attestation requirements; plan study and work timelines with future PR pathways in mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bottom line<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2026\u20132028 Immigration Levels Plan will aim for balance: stabilizing permanent resident admissions consistent with political commitments while using targeted, flexible tools (category-based economic draws, in-Canada selection, and negotiated PNP allocations) to meet labour market needs. Temporary resident management will remain a priority as the government seeks to reduce non-permanent resident population share and align intake with settlement capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Watch for the official release on or before <strong>November 1, 2025<\/strong> \u2014 the new Plan will set the direction for Canada\u2019s immigration intake and provincial negotiations for years to come.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\">For a <strong> consultation<\/strong> about Immigration options, reach out to the <strong>CAD IMMIGRATION <\/strong>today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cadimmigration\/profilecard\/?igsh=aWYzamtvMzlvZHUy\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">INSTAGRAM<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cad_immigration?_t=8rYlOtSiktj&amp;_r=1\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(317deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TIKTOK<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cad-immigration\/\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(42deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\">LINKEDIN<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The federal government will publish the 2026\u20132028 Immigration Levels Plan on or before November 1, 2025. That document will set official admission targets for permanent residents and provide notional targets for the following two years. Based on public statements, past plans and recent policy signals, the 2026\u20132028 Plan is likely to emphasize stability in permanent [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":3683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[79,83,49,3,78,76,77,57,70],"class_list":["post-3682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cicnews","tag-cad-immigration","tag-cad-immigration-news","tag-cadimmigration","tag-canadaimmigration","tag-immigration-canada","tag-immigration-new-rules","tag-immigration-new-updates","tag-immigration-trend","tag-immigration-updates-canada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3682"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3684,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682\/revisions\/3684"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}