On This Page You Will Find
- How many permanent residents Canada admitted in 2026
- How 2026 compares with previous years
- Why permanent resident admissions fell sharply in the first quarter
- Which countries and provinces experienced the biggest declines
- Whether Canada can still reach its 2026 permanent residence target
- How Canada’s immigration levels have changed since 2021
Canada admitted nearly 13 per cent fewer new permanent residents during the first five months of 2026 than during the same period last year, as the federal government’s immigration slowdown continues to reshape newcomer arrivals.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) figures show 147,260 people became permanent residents between January and May 2026.
That compares with 168,800 during the same five-month period in 2025 – a decline of 21,540, or 12.8 per cent.
However, the latest figures also show that the pace of the decline has eased considerably since the beginning of the year.
Canada admitted 83,135 permanent residents during the first quarter of 2026, down 20.3 per cent from 104,320 during the same period of 2025.
Admissions then increased to 29,870 in April and 34,255 in May, making May the strongest month of 2026 so far.
The figures suggest Canada remains on course for a significantly lower level of permanent immigration than during the record-setting years of 2022 to 2024, while also showing signs that admissions are recovering from a particularly slow start to 2026.
The slowdown comes as Ottawa lowers permanent immigration under its Immigration Levels Plan, which targets 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026 – down from 393,780 admissions in 2025 and the record 483,655 recorded in 2024.
Canada Admitted 147,260 Permanent Residents Through May
Canada’s permanent resident admissions have increased in every month of 2026 so far.
IRCC recorded:
- January: 24,215
- February: 29,290
- March: 29,630
- April: 29,870
- May: 34,255
The monthly increase is significant because January represented an unusually weak start to the year.
Admissions rose by more than 10,000 between January and May, with the May total 41.5 per cent higher than January.
The improving monthly numbers have also reduced the size of the year-over-year decline.
After the first quarter, admissions were running 20.3 per cent below 2025. After five months, that gap had narrowed to 12.8 per cent.
How Does 2026 Compare With Previous Years?
The slowdown becomes clearer when 2026 is placed in the context of Canada’s recent immigration boom.
Permanent resident admissions reached successive post-pandemic highs as the federal government used immigration to support population and labour force growth.
Canada admitted:
- 406,055 permanent residents in 2021
- 437,635 in 2022
- 471,820 in 2023
- A record 483,655 in 2024
- 393,780 in 2025
The 2025 total represented an 18.6 per cent decline from the 2024 record.
The first five months of 2026 now show another decline.
Canada admitted 147,260 permanent residents from January through May, compared with:
- 221,065 during the same period in 2023
- 210,250 in 2024
- 168,800 in 2025
Admissions during the first five months of 2026 were therefore 33.4 per cent below 2023 and 30.0 per cent below 2024.
The figures increasingly suggest that 2024 represented the peak of Canada’s post-pandemic expansion in permanent immigration.
Why Did Permanent Residence Admissions Fall In 2026?
An analysis of first-quarter IRCC figures by the Association for Canadian Studies, reported by the National Post, provides more detail about where the decline occurred.
Almost half of the national reduction during the first three months of 2026 was attributable to fewer permanent residents from India.
Canada granted permanent residence to 21,565 Indian citizens during the quarter, compared with 31,690 during the same period of 2025.
That decline of 10,125 represented approximately 48 per cent of the overall reduction in permanent resident admissions.
India remained Canada’s largest source country despite the decline.
Admissions from several other important source countries also fell.
Permanent resident admissions from China declined 25 per cent, from 6,300 to 4,695, while admissions from the Philippines fell 13 per cent, from 7,160 to 6,225.
Eritrea recorded a 42 per cent decline and Afghanistan a 40 per cent decline, although both involved considerably smaller numbers.
Algeria, France and Morocco were among the major source countries to record increases.
Canada’s Immigration Slowdown Extends Beyond Permanent Residence
The change is also visible in Canada’s temporary immigration system.
According to the Association for Canadian Studies analysis, new study permits fell 24 per cent during the first quarter of 2026, while asylum claims declined 35 per cent.
The reduction in international students from India has been particularly dramatic.
Canada issued 93,840 study permits to Indian students in 2025, compared with 277,950 in 2023.
That represents a 66 per cent decline in two years.
Study permits across all nationalities fell 44 per cent over the same period, meaning the decline among Indian students was substantially greater than the overall reduction.
The figures reflect the federal government’s broader effort to reduce temporary resident arrivals following several years of rapid population growth.
Ontario And British Columbia See Biggest Declines
The reduction in permanent resident admissions has also been uneven across Canada.
Ontario and British Columbia accounted for 81 per cent of the national decline during the first quarter, according to the Association for Canadian Studies analysis.
Ontario recorded a 26 per cent reduction in new permanent residents, while British Columbia’s admissions fell 31 per cent.
Alberta recorded an 18 per cent decline but nevertheless overtook British Columbia to receive the second-highest number of new permanent residents, with 11,135.
Quebec moved in the opposite direction.
Permanent resident admissions to Quebec increased 12 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2025.
The difference was particularly noticeable for economic immigration.
Economic admissions fell 34 per cent in Ontario and 40 per cent in British Columbia but increased seven per cent in Quebec.
Quebec selects most of its own economic immigrants and operates under a separate immigration agreement with the federal government, meaning its admissions pattern does not necessarily follow those of other provinces.
Can Canada Still Reach Its 2026 Immigration Target?
Despite the year-over-year decline, the latest figures do not indicate that Canada will necessarily miss its permanent residence target.
Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan calls for 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026.
With 147,260 admitted through May, Canada had reached approximately 38.8 per cent of that figure after five months.
Another 232,740 people would need to become permanent residents between June and December for admissions to reach 380,000.
That requires an average of approximately 33,250 admissions per month for the remainder of the year.
May’s 34,255 admissions were already slightly above that required monthly pace.
If admissions remain around May’s level or increase further during the second half of the year, the 380,000 target therefore remains within reach.
Canada Has Shifted Away From Record Immigration Levels
Whether Canada reaches exactly 380,000 admissions may be less important than the broader change shown by the figures.
Permanent immigration expanded dramatically following the pandemic, rising from 184,605 admissions in 2020 to a record 483,655 four years later.
That expansion has now reversed.
Admissions dropped by almost 90,000 in 2025 and are running another 12.8 per cent lower during the first five months of 2026.
Even if Canada reaches its 380,000 target this year, annual admissions would be more than 100,000 below the 2024 record and would represent the lowest annual total since 2020.
At the same time, the steady increase from 24,215 admissions in January to 34,255 in May suggests the sharp decline seen at the beginning of 2026 may be moderating.
Canada is therefore not simply experiencing another record immigration year.
The latest figures point instead to a controlled reduction from the exceptionally high immigration levels reached between 2022 and 2024 – while maintaining permanent immigration at levels that remain historically significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many permanent residents has Canada admitted in 2026?
Canada admitted 147,260 new permanent residents between January and May 2026. Admissions increased each month, from 24,215 in January to 34,255 in May. The five-month total was 12.8 per cent lower than the 168,800 admissions recorded during the same period in 2025.
Why are Canada’s permanent resident admissions falling?
The decline comes as the federal government deliberately reduces overall immigration levels following several years of rapid growth. The reduction has affected some source countries and provinces more heavily than others, with particularly large first-quarter declines among Indian nationals and in Ontario and British Columbia.
How much have permanent resident admissions from India fallen?
Canada admitted 21,565 Indian citizens as permanent residents during the first quarter of 2026, compared with 31,690 during the same period in 2025. The decline of 10,125 accounted for approximately 48 per cent of Canada’s overall first-quarter reduction in permanent resident admissions.
What is Canada’s permanent residence target for 2026?
Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 permanent resident admissions in 2026. With 147,260 admissions through May, Canada needs approximately 232,740 more during the final seven months of the year, equivalent to an average of about 33,250 per month.
Is Canada on track to meet its 2026 immigration target?
Canada remains within reach of its 380,000 permanent resident target. Although admissions are down compared with 2025, May produced 34,255 new permanent residents – slightly more than the average monthly number required between June and December to reach the annual target.