Canada has unveiled its Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026.
Canada’s immigration quotas will remain consistent with the current objectives. In 2024, the nation will aim to admit 485,000 new immigrants. For both 2025 and 2026, Canada intends to welcome 500,000 new immigrants each year.
These targets mirror the ones previously disclosed in the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025. The newly-released information today includes the 2026 target and revisions to the immigrant admission levels for various categories and programs between 2024 and 2026.
Segmentation of immigration goals by category
In 2024, Canada is aiming to welcome approximately 281,135 immigrants in the economic class, accounting for 58% of the annual target. This number is projected to increase to 301,250 immigrants by 2026, constituting 60% of the annual target.
For the family class, the target in 2024 is set at 114,000 immigrants, making up 24% of all admissions. This figure will remain the same at 118,000 immigrants by 2026, still representing 24% of all admissions.
In the humanitarian class, the admission target for 2024 is 89,865 immigrants, which accounts for about 19% of all admissions. This category includes refugees, protected persons, and individuals admitted for humanitarian, compassionate, or other reasons. By 2026, the target will be 80,832 immigrants, making up 16% of all admissions.
Please note that the percentages may not sum up to 100% due to rounding.Segmentation of immigration goals by category
Targets for Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) admissions will increase.
In 2024, the Express Entry program is set to admit 110,700 permanent residents, with an increase to 117,500 in both 2025 and 2026.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) target for 2024 is 110,000 immigrants and will rise to 120,000 in both 2025 and 2026.
Sponsorship for Spousal, Partner, and Children will have a target of 82,000 admissions in 2024, which will then increase to 84,000 in each of 2025 and 2026. Similarly, the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) will aim to admit 32,000 immigrants in 2024, followed by 34,000 immigrants in both 2025 and 2026.
Canada is adopting a fresh approach to enhance its immigration system.
The Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 was introduced a day after Canada revealed a fresh strategy to enhance its immigration system. On October 31, Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged deficiencies within the country’s immigration system as he outlined the core principles of a new initiative aimed at modernizing the system.
The new strategy, titled ‘An Immigration System for Canada’s Future,’ encompasses three key objectives:
- Enhance the welcoming experience for newcomers.
- Harmonize immigration with the requirements of the labor market.
- Establish a comprehensive and coordinated growth plan.
The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) aims to provide a more welcoming and user-friendly experience to its clients. Additionally, the IRCC intends to better align Canada’s immigration policies with its skills and labor strategy. Lastly, the IRCC seeks to create an integrated plan involving all three levels of government in Canada to ensure the country can offer sufficient housing, healthcare, and infrastructure for its growing newcomer population.