IRCC’s 2027–2029 plan sets 380,000 permanent-resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary-resident arrivals each year. It also creates a 2027 time-limited measure for up to 200,000 people already in Canada, sets category targets for 2027 and provides admissions space for the permanent rural program. IRCC has not yet published individual application instructions for the new measure in these plan materials.
What are the plan’s annual targets?
The plan sets 380,000 permanent-resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary-resident arrivals for each year from 2027 through 2029. These are the overall annual targets stated in IRCC’s supplementary levels information. IRCC says the 2028 and 2029 targets and ranges are notional and will be confirmed or adjusted, so those figures may change.
| Measure | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent-resident admissions | 380,000 | 380,000 | 380,000 |
| New temporary-resident arrivals | 370,000 | 370,000 | 370,000 |
| Workers | 220,000 | 220,000 | 220,000 |
| International students | Up to 150,000 | Up to 150,000 | Up to 150,000 |
What counts as a new temporary resident arrival?
| Category | Target | Range if stated |
|---|---|---|
| All new arrivals | 370,000 | 355,000–385,000 |
| New workers | 220,000 | — |
| International Mobility Program | 170,000 | — |
| Temporary Foreign Worker Program | 50,000 | — |
| International students | 150,000 | — |
The arrivals targets cover new workers and students. They exclude visitors, permit extensions, in-Canada work and study permit applications, and asylum claimants. IRCC also excludes post-graduation work permits from these targets because it treats them as extensions or changes of status. See the temporary resident table and footnotes 2 and 3.
What is the new measure for people already in Canada?
IRCC announced a time-limited measure for up to 200,000 people already in Canada to transition to permanent residence through two cohorts. The measure provides additional admissions space to process applications under select pathways in 2027.
| Cohort | Maximum described by IRCC | What IRCC says |
|---|---|---|
| Workers | Up to 100,000 people already in Canada, plus their families | IRCC will work with provinces and territories, including through additional Provincial Nominee Program space. |
| Humanitarian | Up to 100,000 people | IRCC says the humanitarian cohort includes the Hong Kong permanent residence pathways, the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, certain people already found eligible for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, and spouses, common-law partners and dependent children of Canadians and permanent residents already living in Canada. |
How does this differ from the earlier one-time initiatives?
IRCC also says it is continuing two initiatives announced in Budget 2025 across 2026 and 2027. One covers up to 115,000 protected persons in Canada and their dependants in Canada. The other covers 33,000 work permit holders. These earlier initiatives are separate from the new 2027 time-limited measure. IRCC’s supplementary levels information.
Which permanent-resident categories have 2027 targets?
IRCC’s supplementary table gives the following 2027 targets. Its table labels the 100,000 line “Federal High Skilled”; the accompanying footnote identifies Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades and Canadian Experience Class programs.
| Category | Target | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Federal High Skilled | 100,000 | 87,000–123,000 |
| Federal Business | 1,500 | 500–5,000 |
| Federal Economic Pilots | 7,900 | 5,000–15,450 |
| Rural Community Immigration Program | 5,500 | 4,000–6,500 |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 6,000 | 5,000–8,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 95,000 | 83,000–106,000 |
| Quebec skilled workers and business | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total economic | 244,700 | 230,000–270,000 |
| Spouses, partners and children | 66,000 | 61,000–75,000 |
| Parents and grandparents | 15,000 | 12,000–18,000 |
| Total family | 81,000 | 76,000–89,000 |
| Protected persons in Canada and dependants abroad | 20,000 | 16,000–29,000 |
| Government-assisted resettled refugees | 11,750 | 10,000–16,000 |
| Privately sponsored resettled refugees | 17,550 | 14,500–20,500 |
| Total refugees and protected persons | 49,300 | 42,000–55,000 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate and other | 5,000 | 4,500–8,000 |
| Overall planned permanent resident admissions | 380,000 | 352,500–422,000 |
Economic admissions account for about 64.4% of the overall target (244,700 of 380,000). The family target is about 21.3% (81,000 of 380,000). Program ranges do not add up to the class ranges. The federal table leaves Quebec skilled worker and business targets to be determined and points readers to Quebec’s own plan. IRCC permanent resident table and footnotes.
What are the French-speaking admissions targets outside Quebec?
IRCC targets 9.5% of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec in 2027, 10.5% in 2028 and 12% in 2029. IRCC says the figures may need updating once Quebec tables its plan. The wider 2028 and 2029 levels targets and ranges are notional. IRCC permanent resident table, footnotes 1 and 4.
What does the plan say about the Rural Community Immigration Program?
On 9 November 2026, IRCC announced that the Rural Community Immigration Pilot has been made a permanent program, the Rural Community Immigration Program. The permanent program opens on January 1, 2027, when the pilot closes.
IRCC’s levels table targets 5,500 admissions under the program in 2027 (6,000 in 2028 and 6,500 in 2029, which are notional). Under footnote 9 of the table, those figures include admissions from remaining applications already filed under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which IRCC will continue to process to completion.
IRCC says it will announce the criteria for new communities separately. Read our report on the permanent rural immigration program. IRCC describes the change as part of its response to regional and rural community needs.
Read our practical guide to the Rural Community Immigration Program for the opening date, community links and what existing pilot applicants should check.
What does IRCC say about Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed?
IRCC says provinces and territories may identify workers in Canada who have already applied under select federal immigration programs. These include Atlantic Immigration Program applications and programs closed to new applications, including the federal business programs (Start-up Visa Program and Self-Employed Persons Program), the Agri-Food Pilot and home care worker programs. The announcement does not provide details about how this identification will work. IRCC’s individual program pages still show “Paused.” See our Start-Up Visa program and Self-Employed Persons Program pages, and check the program status board and IRCC’s current instructions before relying on an intake detail.
What should applicants check next?
The plan sets government admissions targets; the sources do not provide individual instructions for the new measure. Before acting on a possible pathway, check the latest IRCC notice and the relevant program page.
Official sources
- IRCC backgrounder: Building a stronger Canada through a well-managed, predictable immigration system (published November 5, 2026; checked November 10, 2026).
- IRCC: Supplementary Information for the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan (published November 5, 2026; checked November 10, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What are Canada’s overall targets for 2027?
IRCC sets 380,000 permanent-resident admissions and 370,000 new temporary-resident arrivals for 2027.
How many people could the new 2027 measure cover?
IRCC says the time-limited measure could support up to 200,000 people already in Canada: up to 100,000 in the workers cohort and up to 100,000 in the humanitarian cohort.
Can someone apply under the new measure now?
The plan materials do not provide individual application instructions or a general application process for the measure. Do not pay anyone who promises a place.
This article is general information only. It is not legal advice or a legal opinion, and it does not create a consultant-client relationship.