It was another record-breaking year for Canada immigration as the federal government surpassed its ambition target of 431,645 newcomers.
Of those new permanent residents, 55,900 (or 13 percent) were expected to come through the Federal High Skilled category, managed under Express Entry. You can read our Express Entry review of the year here.
That left a further 87 percent of newcomers to come through other streams, or 375,000 new permanent residents, according to the government’s 2022 Immigration Levels Plan.
Here, we look back at what happened in those other categories in 2022, including Quebec, the other provinces, the Temporary to Permanent Residence Pathway, Family Class, Business, Caregivers, other economic programs and refugees.
We also look back at work permit streams including the International Mobility Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, plus study permits and citizenship.
Quebec’s immigration year was dominated by the landslide victory for Premier Francois Legault’s Coalition Avenir Quebec in an October provincial election.
It gave Legault the mandate to double down on his policy of limiting immigration to the province, despite businesses being desperate for workers to compensate for a shrinking labour force.
Figures for January to November 2022 showed Quebec welcomed 63,440 immigrants, putting it on target to welcome about 70,000. This figure includes what the CAQ calls “rebalancing” – making up for the shortfall of new immigrants seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That total included 41,475 economic immigrants, broken down further into 36,620 skilled workers and 4,855 business class newcomers.
It also included 12,340 family class newcomers and 7,220 refugees.
Despite these numbers, the CAQ announced a plan to welcome around 50,000 new immigrants in 2023, despite there being room for more than 100,000 under the federal Immigration Levels Plan.
Legault says Quebec cannot welcome more than 50,000 and still be able to maintain its culture. The CAQ has placed the ability to speak French at the front and centre of its immigration policy, arguing the language profile of the province has been eroded and needs to be built back.
In reality, the French requirement is less important if an immigration candidate has a job offer in hand, meaning Quebec is by no means off limits to non-Francophone candidates.
a) Ontario Immigration
As Canada’s most populous province, Ontario is its biggest recipient of federal immigrants.
Statistics to November show Ontario settled 175,760 new immigrants in the first 11 months of 2022, more than 42 percent of the overall total.
Only a fraction of those newcomers – 18,120 – came through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.
Those newcomers were included in Ontario’s economic total of nearly 90,000 newcomers, with 50,000 of those coming through federal skilled programs. It also welcomed a further 21,000 newcomers via the TR to PR Pathway, a one-off federal government pathway launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ontario also settled 43,800 through the family class and 37,000 refugees.
The province continued regular draws through the OINP throughout the year, with both Express Entry-linked and provincial Expression of Interest invitations issued.
It also launched a new Entrepreneur Success Initiative, designed to welcome 100 newcomers outside the Toronto area and draw investment of $20 million.
b) British Columbia Immigration
The next most prolific province in terms of number of 2022 newcomers was British Columbia.
Canada’s westernmost province welcomed more than 58,500 new permanent residents to November last year, putting it just behind Quebec.
Those numbers included 35,670 in the economic class, divided into 13,600 federal skilled worker newcomers, 12,700 through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program and 8,800 under the TR to PR Pathway.
It also welcomed 15,400 in the family class and 6,700 refugees.
The BC PNP continue to be the most prolific PNP in terms of draws, including its success and accessible BC PNP Tech category for expediting the arrival of technology workers.
c) Alberta Immigration
Alberta’s provincial nominee programs underwent come significant changes in 2022, including its naming, becoming the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.
That February update also saw the province launch two new Canada immigration streams, the Rural Renewal Stream and the Rural Entrepreneur Stream.
The province also renamed three of its existing streams:
- The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream became the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
- The Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream became the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.
- The Self-Employed Farmer Stream became the Farm Stream.
Meanwhile, the province welcome 47,000 newcomers during the first 11 months of the year, including an economic total of 21,000.
These included 7,000 federal skilled workers, 11,000 through the AAIP and 2,900 via the TR to PR Pathway.
A further 13,100 came through the family class and 12,100 as refugees.
Draws through the AAIP stalled from July until December, with the province reaching its nomination allocation of 6,500.
d) Saskatchewan Immigration
In the 11 months to November, Saskatchewan welcomed 20,500 new immigrants to November, less than a hundred more than its neighbour Manitoba.
Those included 16,600 in the economic category, dominated by the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, which accounted for 15,140 of those newcomers. The province welcomed just 695 federal skilled worker newcomers and 760 through the TR to PR Pathway.
Saskatchewan also brought in just 2,000 in the family class and 1,870 refugees.
The SINP conducted regular draws throughout the year, issuing both Express Entry-linked and direct provincial invitations which target lists of National Occupational Classification codes.
Saskatchewan still covets more control over its immigration intake, regularly calling for Ottawa to grant it more powers.
e) Manitoba Immigration
Sat just behind Saskatchewan on immigration numbers and right next to its neighbour on the map, Manitoba welcomed 20,420 newcomers between January and November 2022.
In a similar breakdown to Saskatchewan, those included 15,800 economic, with just under 1,000 federal skilled workers and 13,100 through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. A further 1,600 came through the TR to PR Pathway.
The province welcomed 2,560 newcomers through family class programs and 1,880 refugees.
Given the high percentage of provincial immigrants in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, it could be argued that the Prairie provinces have the most control over what newcomers they bring in.
The MPNP is the oldest provincial program and conducts regular draws aimed at skilled workers in Manitoba and overseas, and international graduates.
f) Nova Scotia Immigration
Nova Scotia leads the Atlantic provinces in terms of immigration numbers, settling just under 12,000 newcomers in the first 11 months of 2022.
Of those, 9,800 were in the economic class and 3,000 of those through federal programs.
Unique to the provinces in the region is the joint federal-provincial Atlantic Immigration Program, which accounted for 2,345 of those 3,000 immigrants. The employer-led program has gone from strength to strength after started as a pilot.
Nova Scotia also welcomed 5,400 newcomers through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program and 1,350 under the TR to PR Pathway.
It welcome 890 family class immigrants and 1,260 refugees.
It was not a busy year for the NSNP, which conducted few draws through its many streams targeting a range of skilled workers, international graduates and entrepreneurs.
g) New Brunswick Immigration
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia’s neighbour in Atlantic Canada, welcomed 9,570 newcomers in the first 11 months of 2022.
Those included nearly 7,900 newcomers in the economic class, of which nearly 1,950 came through federal programs. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot accounted for nearly 1,400 of these.
The province’s biggest economic total was the nearly 5,000 newcomers who came through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, while it also welcomed 975 TR to PR Pathway candidates.
New Brunswick move to suspend the Express Entry stream of the NBPNP in June 2022 due to a flood of interest (with federal draws still paused at this point).
Later in the year, it opted to prioritize 12 NOC codes, plus applications from francophones and international graduates through the program.
The targeted codes were:
Technology Occupations
- 2147: Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- 2172: Database analysts and data administrators
- 2173: Software engineers and designers
- 2174: Computer programmers and interactive media developers
- 2175: Web designers and developers
- 2281: Computer network technicians
- 2282: User support technicians
- 2283: Information systems testing technicians
Health-Related Occupations
- 3012: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3233: Licensed practical nurses
- 3413: Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 4412: Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations
h) Newfoundland & Labrador Immigration
Newfoundland & Labrador is arguably the Canadian province that has the most difficulty attracting immigrants.
It welcomed 3,200 newcomers in the first 11 months of 2022, of which 2,210 were through economic streams.
Its 775 federal newcomers were dominated by 650 Atlantic Immigration Program candidates.
The province also welcomed 1,200 PNP immigrants, 235 TR to PR candidates, 185 in the family class and 800 refugees.
i) Prince Edward Island Immigration
At 2,575 newcomers, Prince Edward Island welcomed the fewest number of immigrants of any Canadian province in 2022.
Almost all of them – 2,330- were through the economic stream, including 1,630 PEI PNP candidates.
Of PEI’s 455 federal economic immigrants, 330 came through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
The province welcomed 150 family class immigrants and 90 refugees.
Despite the low numbers, PEI conducted monthly PNP draws throughout 2022, targeting skilled worker and entrepreneur candidates.
At federal level, Canada’s business immigration offering is focused on the Start-Up Visa and the Self-Employed Class.
Quebec also operates business programs, although its flagship Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) has been on hold for an extended period.
Most provinces although have business options through their PNPs.
a) Start-Up Visa
Canada’s Start-Up Visa is a growing program with huge potential that saw its best year in terms of numbers of new permanent residents in 2022.
It offers permanent residence to candidates with a business idea who can attract funding from a Canadian entity and successfully establish their project here.
In the 11 months to November, 555 new immigrants had already come through the program, more than any previous year and a big increase on the 385 newcomers in the whole of 2021.
The federal business portion of the Immigration Levels Plan grows to 3,500 in 2023, to 5,000 in 2024 and 6,000 in 2025. Expect the SUV to grow with it.
b) Self-Employed
Canada’s Self-Employed Class welcomed 680 newcomers in the 11 months to November, dominated by Ontario (345) and British Columbia (265).
To qualify for the Self-Employed Class, candidates must have:
- self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics;
- participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics
c) Quebec Business Programs
Despite being on pause to new applications since 2019, Quebec still welcomed 4,680 new permanent residents through the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) in the first 11 months of 2022.
This is an indication of the number of applications in the backlog with the provincial government.
The QIIP is currently on pause until at least April 2023. It is unknown what the provincial government intends to do with the program. It is controversial because so many of the permanent residents it brings in do not settle in Quebec, instead choosing to move to Ontario or British Columbia.
Current requirements are a net worth of $2 million, investment of $1.2 million, two years of management experience and the intention to settle in Quebec.
A combined 175 newcomers came in through Quebec’s other business programs, the Quebec Entrepreneur and Quebec Self-Employed, in the first 11 months of 2022.
d) Provincial Entrepreneur Programs
Entrepreneur programs are operated by many of Canada’s provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
They each operate on a two-stage basis, where candidates come in on a work permit and must establish their business before qualifying for permanent residence.
The programs saw varying levels of activity in 2022, with more invitations issued by the bigger provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
Although economic immigration remains Canada’s priority, the Family Class continued to grow in 2022.
Programs for spouses and partners, children and parents and grandparents were all over subscribed as Canada continued to tackle its immigration backlog.
Canada also continued to offer open work permits to spouses and partners while their permanent resident applications were being processed.
a) Spouses, Partners and Children
Canada welcomed more than 50,000 spouses and partners as permanent residents in the first 11 months of 2022. A further 4,005 children were welcomed in the period.
This total of 54,555 is significantly lower than the 2022 target of 80,000 in the category. With a further month of statistics still to be published, it is realistic that more than 60,000 spouses, partners and children will end up being welcomed in 2022.
Spouses and partners were heavily impacted by the application backlog at IRCC, although it is understood processing times are now back under control.
Canada plans to welcome 78,000 newcomers in the category in 2023.
b) Parents and Grandparents
Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program is a regular source of controversy, given how many citizens and permanent residents was to bring in their family members.
The lottery nature of the application process can leave candidates wondering if they will ever get that coveted invitation to apply.
IRCC has not opened the Interest to Sponsor pool since 2020, meaning ITAs issued in the last three rounds have been to those who expressed their interest at that time.
Canada planned to welcome 25,000 parents and grandparents in 2022, and in the first 11 months 23,545 new permanent residents came in through the program. That puts it well on track to achieve its goal.
The category will expand to 28,500 in 2023, then 34,000 in 2024 and 36,000 in 2025.
Candidates who do not receive an ITA for the permanent residence program can also consider the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa. The length of stay under the program was extended in 2022 to five years, extendable by two years, meaning candidates can stay for up to sevens years at a time.
Canada’s caregiver immigration system includes the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot, both of which have a pathway to permanent residence once two years of Canadian work experience is accrued.
Applications are also received from legacy programs including the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, the Interim Pathway For Caregivers, which opened and closed in 2019, and the Live-In Caregiver Program.
In the first 11 months of 2022, Canada welcomed 4,165 new permanent residents through the various caregiver streams.
Canada has three further immigration programs or pilots to bring in immigrants to specific regions or in specific occupations.
They are: Atlantic Immigration Program, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and Agri-Food Pilot.
These are employer-led, meaning the employer identifies the need and offers a job, before bringing the person in using the program.
The AIP is now an established immigration program that has become extremely important to the Atlantic region. It has categories for high-skilled and intermediate skilled workers, as well as international graduates.
Canada welcomes 4,720 new permanent residents through the AIP in the first 11 months of 2022.
The RNIP operates in 11 communities with specific immigration needs. Each community has its own requirements, and candidates must also meet general federal requirements.
Participating communities:
- North Bay, ON
- Sudbury, ON
- Timmins, ON
- Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- Thunder Bay, ON
- Brandon, MB
- Altona/Rhineland, MB
- Moose Jaw, SK
- Claresholm, AB
- Vernon, BC
- West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), BC
Canada welcomed 1,795 newcomers through the program in the first 11 months of 2022.
The Agri-Food Pilot targets specific industries, as its name suggests.
Those industries are:
1) Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- NOC 63201 – Butchers – retail and wholesale
- NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
- NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
- NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
2) Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
3) Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
Canada welcomed 960 newcomers through the program in 2022.
Canada boosted the number of work permits it issued under both the International Mobility Program and Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2022.
Most of Canada’s work permits are issued through the IMP. Employers do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment when hiring through the program. It includes those entering through trade agreements, on open work permits and intra-company transferees.
Figures show 428,500 work permits were issued under the IMP in the first 11 months of 2022, up from nearly 311,000 in the whole of 2021, an increase of 38 percent without the December 2022 figures.
Fewer work permits are issued through the TFWP, in positions which require an LMIA. Canada’s Global Talent Stream for tech workers falls under the TFWP. It also has high wage, low wage and seasonal agriculture streams.
There were just over 129,000 new work permits issued through the stream in 2022, up from over 103,000 in 2021, an increase of 25 percent.
Temporary to permanent residence transition remains an established way to immigrate to Canada. Candidates can gather the experience needed while here on a work permit to allow them to qualify for one of the permanent residence programs.
During COVID-19, the TR to PR Pathway made this even easier.
Figures show nearly 102,000 of Canada’s new permanent residents were previously work permit holders under either the IMP or TFWP.
In a major policy shift towards the end of 2022, Canada announced it would start issuing work permits to spouses of TFWP work permit holders.
Canada Family Work Permits: Three Phases
Phase One
Family members of workers coming to Canada through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program will be eligible to apply for an open work permit in January 2023.
Phase Two
The aim of phase two is to expand the measure to the family members of workers from the low-wage stream of the TFWP, following consultations.
Phase Three
After consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders to assess operational feasibility, phase three is to see the measure expanded to family members of agricultural workers.
Canada continues to covet international students and continues to increase the number of study permits it issues.
Foreign students are back in Canadian universities and colleges after hundreds of thousands were forced to learn from their home countries during the pandemic.
Figures show Canada issued 458,650 new study permits in the first 11 months of 2022, up from 444,330 in the whole of 2021.
Canada also promotes a pathway to permanent residence for international students. The Post-Graduation Work Permit allows students to stay and work after graduation, which can lead to them qualifying for permanent residence.
The pathway is by no means guaranteed. In 2022, just over 19,000 former study permit holders became permanent residents of Canada.
Citizenship applications were among those affected by Canada’s processing backlog in 2022, although the situation is now much improved.
The Liberal government has regularly talked about abolishing Canada’s citizenship fee, but that is yet to happen.
In the first 11 months of 2022, 351,486 people became new Canadians, more than double the 137,000 who became citizens in 2021.
To qualify for citizenship, a permanent resident must have been physically present in Canada for three years in the last five and have paid taxes in those years.
