Canada’s 2026–2028 Immigration Plan: What It Means For You
Starting in 2026, the Government of Canada is adjusting immigration to keep the system sustainable while still welcoming new immigrants and reuniting families. The new plan covers both temporary residents (students and workers) and permanent residents for the years 2026, 2027 and 2028. (Canada)
Key goals
- Keep immigration at stable, predictable levels so newcomers can integrate and public services can keep up.
- Prioritize economic immigration to fill skill shortages and support Canada’s economy.
- Maintain strong commitments to family reunification and refugees/protected persons.
- Reduce the share of temporary residents in Canada to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.
Temporary residents (students and workers)
Canada is tightening new arrivals of temporary workers and international students:
- New temporary resident arrivals:
- 2026: 385,000
- 2027: 370,000
- 2028: 370,000
- This includes:
- Workers under the International Mobility Program and Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
- International students with study permits of 6 months or more.
This means that getting a study or work permit may be more competitive, and programs may be more targeted to specific skills or labour needs.
Permanent residents (PR)
Canada plans to hold permanent resident admissions at about 380,000 people per year from 2026 to 2028, with some flexibility above or below that number.
The main focus areas are:
- Economic immigration (largest share)
- Express Entry (Federal High Skilled)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Economic pilots (Caregivers, Agri-Food, Rural/Francophone community pilots, etc.)
- Family reunification
- Spouses, partners and dependent children
- Parents and grandparents
- Refugees and Protected Persons
- Government assisted refugees
- Privately sponsored refugees
- Protected Persons in Canada
- Humanitarian and other special programs
- For example, measures linked to situations like Ukraine, Sudan or Hong Kong. (Canada)
Special one-time measures
The government will also:
- Fast track about 115,000 Protected Persons in Canada to permanent residence over roughly two years.
- Transition up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027, focusing on those who are already well established in Canada.
These are one-time measures meant to recognize people already living in Canada who are contributing to the country.
What this means for you as an applicant
- Temporary pathways may be tighter. Getting a study permit or work permit could involve more conditions and caps.
- Permanent residence remains very important. Economic programs, family sponsorship, and protected person pathways stay central.
- Being well prepared matters even more. Strong, complete applications with clear documentation and strategy will have an advantage.
At D2CIS Immigration, we help you understand where you fit in this new plan and design a pathway tailored to your goals, whether you are a student, worker, family member, or seeking protection.
English (UK)