On This Page You Will Find
- An overview of IRCC’s immigration priorities under Minister Lena Metlege Diab
- Changes to permanent and temporary immigration targets
- Express Entry and economic immigration reforms
- New support measures for refugees and settlement services
- Plans to modernise IRCC’s digital platforms and improve service delivery
- Budget and staffing forecasts from 2025 to 2028
A New Direction for Immigration in Canada
In June 2025, Canada’s Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab released the government’s official 2025–26 Departmental Plan for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), outlining a forward-looking three-year roadmap. The strategy marks a shift in focus toward sustainable immigration, digital modernisation, and improved integration services, while also acknowledging pressures on housing, infrastructure and public support for immigration.
The plan provides a detailed look at how Canada intends to manage both permanent and temporary immigration streams through to 2027, including policy shifts in Express Entry, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), family reunification, refugee resettlement and service delivery modernisation.
A Focus on Sustainability and Balance
The core message from the minister is clear: Canada will continue to welcome immigrants, but at levels that better reflect the country’s capacity to absorb newcomers into communities. Key elements include:
- Reducing the share of temporary residents to 5 percent of Canada’s population by the end of 2026
- Stabilising permanent residence admissions at below 1 percent of population beyond 2027
- Strengthening settlement services, particularly for racialised groups, women, and Francophone newcomers
- Expanding Francophone immigration and Express Entry’s category-based draws
- Building long-term digital infrastructure to improve application processing
Permanent Resident Admissions: Controlled Growth
Canada plans to reduce the number of new permanent residents over the next three years:
- 395,000 in 2025
- 380,000 in 2026
- 365,000 in 2027
Of these, 62 percent will be economic immigrants by 2027, with the rest distributed among family reunification (22 percent), refugees and protected persons (15 percent), and other categories (1.2 percent). More than 40 percent of 2025 admissions are expected to be current international students and workers transitioning to permanent status.
The government will continue to prioritise pathways such as:
- Express Entry draws targeting Canadian work experience, French language ability, healthcare, trades and education
- Regional programs such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Atlantic Immigration Program, especially for transitioning temporary residents
- Support for entrepreneurs through the Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons Programs
- Family reunification efforts, including simplified application guidance and faster processing for overseas spousal applications
Temporary Residents: Managing Volumes
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of arrival targets for temporary residents, including international students and temporary foreign workers. These targets will help align immigration levels with infrastructure, housing, and social service capacity.
Planned arrival caps include:
- 673,650 new temporary residents in 2025
- 516,600 in 2026
- 543,600 in 2027
Sub-quotas include:
- 305,900 international students per year
- 82,000 Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) workers per year
- 285,750 (2025), 128,700 (2026), and 155,700 (2027) International Mobility Program (IMP) workers
To ensure newcomers are prepared, the cost-of-living requirement for students is now indexed annually, with $20,635 required for 2024, in addition to tuition and travel costs.
Post-Graduation Work Permits and Spousal Work Rights
Following a major update to the PGWP program in 2024, a new framework will govern eligible fields of study, aligning more closely with national and regional labour shortages. Spousal work permits are also under review to ensure eligibility reflects labour market needs in sectors like healthcare and construction.
A Francophone Student Pilot program will launch in 2025 to support French-speaking students in minority communities outside Quebec.
Improving Refugee Protection and Crisis Response
Canada will maintain its commitment to humanitarian immigration. The Government-Assisted Refugee Program will welcome 12,000 people each from Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, and 4,000 from the Americas by 2028. The government will also:
- Work with the UNHCR and NGOs to resettle vulnerable populations
- Improve processing timelines in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program
- Deliver health coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program
- Expand its Crisis Response Framework to manage emergencies like those in Sudan or Gaza
Supporting Integration: Services, Language and Belonging
The Department will invest in settlement and resettlement services, including three-year funding agreements with hundreds of service providers. Targeted supports will be offered to:
- Women, youth, and racialised groups
- Persons with disabilities
- Francophone newcomers through expanded Welcoming Francophone Communities
Other efforts include school-based programming for newcomer children and a Council of Newcomers to advise on future programs and policy.
Economic Contribution and Labour Market Integration
With a strong focus on economic outcomes, IRCC will monitor labour market shortages and tailor immigration selection to five in-demand sectors: health, education, trades, transportation, and STEM.
Planned measures include:
- Closer alignment between licensure and immigration processes, particularly for healthcare professionals
- Better support for foreign credential recognition
- More intensive sector-specific settlement programming
- Stronger links to employers through Immigration Employment Councils
Citizenship and Travel: Improving Access and Service
Citizenship application processing will be streamlined through digitisation, while maintaining in-person and virtual ceremonies. For Canadian passports, the goal is to meet or exceed 90 percent service standards, with progress toward fully online applications.
The Department aims to maintain a citizenship uptake rate of 85 percent among eligible permanent residents and ensure digital inclusion through expanded access to e-services.
A Modern IRCC: Digital, Secure and Efficient
A major focus over the next three years is the continued rollout of Digital Platform Modernization (DPM). This includes:
- A new client portal giving applicants real-time updates and access to all services in one place
- A new Case Management Platform to replace outdated systems
- Use of advanced analytics and AI, not for decision-making, but to support application triage and fraud prevention
The IRCC will also test an AI tool called GeoMatch, developed with Stanford University, to help Express Entry candidates identify locations in Canada where they are most likely to succeed economically.
Budget and Staffing Outlook
Planned spending by IRCC will decline over the next three years:
- $5.17B in 2025–26
- $4.07B in 2026–27
- $3.60B in 2027–28
The largest budget line is for permanent immigration and refugee services, at $4.0B in 2025–26.
Staffing will also reduce gradually:
- 12,689 FTEs in 2025–26
- 11,257 FTEs by 2027–28
These reductions reflect lower immigration levels and the conclusion of temporary programs related to refugee crises and digital transformation.
Risks and Mitigation Strategies
IRCC acknowledges several key risks:
- Growing application inventories despite reduced levels
- Public backlash due to housing shortages and rapid population growth
- Service provider capacity issues, especially for refugees in temporary accommodations
- Cybersecurity and privacy concerns as digital systems expand
To address these, IRCC will continue to implement targeted reforms, use analytics for processing efficiencies, and work closely with provinces, territories, and service partners.
Comprehensive Rebalancing
Minister Lena Metlege Diab’s 2025–26 IRCC plan is a comprehensive rebalancing of immigration policy focused on sustainability, integration, and digital modernisation. While Canada continues to welcome newcomers, the plan aims to ensure that immigration works in harmony with housing, infrastructure, and economic priorities. It also signals a more measured approach to growth while maintaining Canada’s humanitarian commitments and long-standing tradition as a welcoming country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Canada’s permanent residence targets for the next three years?
Canada plans to admit 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. These figures reflect a focus on sustainable growth aligned with infrastructure and housing capacity.
How will IRCC manage the number of temporary residents?
For the first time, IRCC has set arrival targets for temporary residents. The goal is to reduce the overall share of temporary residents to 5 percent of Canada’s population by the end of 2026.
What is the role of Express Entry under the new plan?
Express Entry will continue to use category-based selection focused on in-demand sectors. In 2025, priority will be given to Canadian Experience Class applicants and Francophones.
How will Canada support integration for newcomers?
IRCC will invest in new three-year funding agreements with service providers across Canada, targeting vulnerable populations such as women, racialised groups, Francophones, and persons with disabilities.
What digital improvements can applicants expect?
By 2026, all IRCC clients will have access to a unified online portal offering real-time updates, digital applications, and improved support. A new case management system is also in development.
