Canada’s next immigration plan is expected this autumn: what newcomers should watch

Canada’s government says its 2027 to 2029 Immigration Levels Plan will be tabled in autumn 2026. The plan now in force holds permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year and cuts new temporary arrivals. Here is what is already set, what to watch, and what it means if you plan to move, study or work in Canada.

Each year Canada sets out how many permanent residents it plans to admit over the next three years, along with targets for new temporary arrivals. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) told the House of Commons immigration committee in April that work is under way on the 2027 to 2029 plan, “which will be tabled in fall 2026”. If you are thinking about moving to Canada, studying there or taking a job, this is the document to watch. The national targets are separate from selection-rule changes, including the Express Entry high-wage points update taking effect on 3 November.

When will the plan be published?

IRCC has said autumn 2026, without giving a date. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (section 94) requires the minister to table an annual report to Parliament by early November each year, or, if a House is not sitting then, within the next 30 days on which it sits. That provision covers the annual report on the operation of the Act, so it is not a fixed legal deadline for the three-year levels plan itself.

What the current plan says

The plan in force covers 2026 to 2028. IRCC describes it as a return to sustainable immigration levels, cutting temporary arrivals while keeping permanent admissions steady. The headline numbers are:

• Permanent residents: 380,000 a year in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
• New temporary residents (students and workers): 385,000 in 2026, then 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028.
• New international-student arrivals: 155,000 in 2026, then 150,000 in 2027 and 2028.
• New temporary workers: 230,000 in 2026, then 220,000 in 2027 and 2028.
• Economic immigration: the largest share of permanent admissions, reaching 64% in 2027 and 2028.

The temporary targets count new arrivals only. They do not include permit extensions, applications made from inside Canada or asylum claimants. The figures for 2027 and 2028 are notional, which means the next plan can confirm or change them.

The government has also committed to bringing Canada’s temporary population below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027, and to keeping permanent resident admissions below 1% of the population beyond 2027.

What the provinces are asking for

Federal, provincial and territorial immigration ministers met on 23 June 2026 to work on the 2027 to 2029 plan. According to IRCC, they discussed regional, rural and northern labour needs and the role of Provincial Nominee Programs, including the need for stable and adequate allocations. Provincial and territorial ministers called for larger Provincial Nominee Program and Atlantic Immigration Program allocations. No new numbers have been announced.

What it means for you

• Newcomers aiming for permanent residence: overall admissions are stable, and economic routes get the biggest share. Watch whether the new plan keeps 380,000 for 2027 and 2028.
• Students: targets for new international-student arrivals have already been cut sharply. Check the current study permit and attestation rules before you apply.
• Workers: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program target falls from 60,000 in 2026 to 50,000 in 2027 and 2028.
• Employers: fewer new temporary arrivals means hiring from abroad needs more planning.

If you are comparing Canadian job offers, our guide to Canada’s federal minimum wage explains which workers it covers and when provincial rates apply.

Levels targets are national totals. Whether you qualify depends on the rules of the specific programme you apply under, so check IRCC’s guidance for your route.

Babylon will report the new figures when the plan is tabled. Until then, the official numbers above are the ones that apply.

Sources

• IRCC: CIMM briefing, Immigration Levels Plan, 20 April 2026
• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 94
• IRCC: Federal-provincial-territorial immigration ministers meet to discuss sustainable immigration, 23 June 2026
• IRCC: Supplementary Information for the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan
• IRCC: Canada’s immigration levels