Canada sets 370,000 annual temporary arrival target through 2029
Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, released by IRCC on November 5, 2026 as “Building a stronger Canada through a well-managed, predictable immigration system,” sets annual targets of 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals and 380,000 permanent resident admissions for each year from 2027 to 2029. The targets cover new workers and international students, as well as permanent residents already working or studying in Canada and new arrivals. If you’re already in Canada, a one-time initiative aims to speed up some permanent residence applications in 2027.
What are Canada’s 2027–2029 immigration targets?
Quick answer: Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan sets annual targets of 370,000 new temporary resident arrivals and 380,000 permanent resident admissions. The temporary-arrival target includes 220,000 workers and up to 150,000 international students. If you’re already in Canada, the one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative aims to accelerate some permanent residence applications, with work planned for completion in 2027.
- The targets apply to each year from 2027 to 2029.
- Permanent resident admissions include people already working or studying in Canada, as well as new arrivals.
- The initiative aims to help up to 200,000 people already in Canada become permanent residents through workers and humanitarian cohorts.
- Read the official plan for its targets and initiative details.
What changed and when it starts
The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan starts in 2027 and sets targets for each of the three years. It covers new temporary resident arrivals and permanent resident admissions.
The plan assigns more than 64% of permanent resident admissions over its three years to the economic class. It also sets a goal to raise Francophone immigration to 12% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec by 2029.
The official IRCC plan also includes a one-time initiative to accelerate permanent residence applications for people already contributing to Canada’s economy, with work planned for completion in 2027.
Who is affected and who is not
Workers and international students are included in the temporary-arrival targets, while permanent resident admissions include people already working or studying in Canada and new arrivals.
The plan also addresses:
- Economic-class applicants: The economic class will account for more than 64% of permanent resident admissions over the plan’s three years.
- Francophone immigration outside Quebec: The government is working toward a target of 12% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec by 2029.
- Provincial and Atlantic programs: Planned admissions under the Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Program are increasing, with provincial and territorial collaboration to address labour needs.
- People already in Canada: The In-Canada Workers Initiative, announced in May 2026, aims to accelerate permanent residence applications for people contributing to Canada’s economy.
The initiative aims to help up to 200,000 people already living in Canada become permanent residents through two cohorts: up to 100,000 people in a workers cohort and up to 100,000 people in a humanitarian cohort. No groups are expressly named as unaffected.
Key figures from the official page
Annual immigration targets and plan commitments
| Measure | Target |
|---|---|
| New temporary resident arrivals, each year from 2027 to 2029 | 370,000 |
| New workers, each year from 2027 to 2029 | 220,000 |
| New international students, each year from 2027 to 2029 | Up to 150,000 |
| Permanent resident admissions, each year from 2027 to 2029 | 380,000 |
| Economic-class share of permanent resident admissions over the plan | More than 64% |
| Permanent resident admissions as a share of Canada’s population beyond 2027 | Below 1% |
| Francophone share of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec by 2029 | 12% |
The economic-class figure applies across the full three-year plan, while the Francophone target is for admissions outside Quebec. The below-1% commitment applies beyond 2027, not to the temporary-arrival target.
What to do next
- Read the plan and initiative details. Visit the official IRCC page on building a stronger Canada through a well-managed, predictable immigration system for information about the plan and the In-Canada Workers Initiative.
- If you’re already in Canada, review the announced information. The initiative aims to help people already living in Canada become permanent residents through workers and humanitarian cohorts, with additional admissions space in 2027 for applications under select pathways. Use the IRCC page to review the initiative details if you want to know whether a select pathway may apply to you.
Last checked: November 5, 2026. Rules and dates can change; confirm on Canada.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 370,000 target include spouses and children accompanying workers or students?
The plan doesn’t say whether spouses and children accompanying workers or students are included in the 370,000 annual target.
Will the new targets change my chances of getting a work or study permit?
The targets set annual arrival numbers for workers and international students, but don’t state how an individual’s chances of getting a work or study permit will change.
Do the annual targets guarantee approval for temporary or permanent residence?
Annual targets set planned numbers of arrivals and admissions.
Does the official announcement give individual eligibility rules or processing dates?
The announcement says the initiative provides additional admissions space in 2027 for applications under select pathways.
